Why Esteeming Days (Including Holidays) is Weak and Beggarly

Under the Mosaic Law, Jews were required to observe holy days. Some examples are Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Day of Atonement, and Sabbaths.

This is the only time in the Bible we see any elevation or observance of a holy (sanctified) day (Lev 23, Num 28, 1Ch 23:31-32, 2Ch 8:12-13). If Israel did not keep these days, there were severe consequences, including death (Exo 31:13-16, Num 15:32-36).

They were important because they were a shadow of things to come in Israel’s prophesied millennial kingdom (Isa 66:22-23, Rom 11:25-28, Heb 8:1-6, 10:1, 13:14, Rev 21, Col 2:17).

While these days served a purpose for Israel under the law, is esteeming and observing holy days something we should do today under grace?

Let us search the scriptures and observe the passages about this very concept in order to better understand how we should walk in Christ under grace.

In Galatians 4 and 5, Paul is afraid that the Galatian church didn’t truly understand the grace of God because of their desire to put themselves back under the bondage of holy days and religious mandates in the law: 

“[9] But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? [10] Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. [11] I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain… [1] Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” – Galatians 4:9-11, 5:1

The law, which is weak and beggarly compared to grace, puts you back into bondage. Rather than resting in what Christ has already done, it requires you to do good works in order to maintain your good standing with God. In Colossians 2, we see some additional information on the subject.

“[13] And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; [14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; [15] And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. [16] Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: [17] Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” – Colossians 2:13-17

Because you are complete in him, because your old man is dead, because you are quickened with him, because you stand completely forgiven, because the law no longer condemns you, and because we have victory with Christ no one can condemn you for not observing what was previously required under the law. Those things are a shadow of things to come, but now, you are in the body of Christ and have a mission and purpose that is distinct from Israel’s (Col 2:10-23, 1Co 2:15).

Lastly, we see that in Romans 14, there is a distinction between a strong and weak doctrinal position in regard to esteeming days, which the previous two passages help us understand. Biblically speaking, esteeming days is the weaker position while regarding all days the same is the stronger position. 

“[1] Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. [2] For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. [3] Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. [4] Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. [5] One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. [6] He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.” – Romans 14:1-6

 Romans 14 isn’t saying that it doesn’t matter whether you observe holy days or not, but rather, that we are all accountable to God for what we do and that whatever we do, we should do it for the Lord because we will face Him in judgment (Rom 14:10-12). Once you learn the truth of God’s liberating grace, and what it accomplished, it is now up to you to walk with a pure conscience and help others see the truth as well in love. Walking in charity toward one another is the goal, not to destroy one another (Rom 14:13-22, 1Co 8:4-13).

Now to the elephant in the room: modern religious holy days (holidays).

Modern religious holidays aren’t mandated in the Bible and aren’t scriptural. Nothing is special about them. They stem from the melding of pagan and Catholic traditions. For example, Christmas is the catholic mass on top of Saturnalia around the winter solstice and Easter was originally a pagan celebration during the spring equinox celebrating fertility.  

“[8] Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. [9] For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. [10] And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” – Colossians 2:8-10

Beware of the traditions of men, as they hide the simplicity of the gospel and turn the focus away from esteeming Christ’s finished work every single day of our lives. You are complete in Christ: don’t be robbed of this truth. Every day is a day to glorify Christ and His finished work on the cross to save us from our sins, in fact, it is the only thing we should glory in (2Co 5:2, Gal 6:14). He’s offered His abundant grace already and delivered you from the bondage of the law.

Trying to do the law or redeem something rooted in pagan and catholic tradition that obfuscates the clarity of the gospel, adds work for you to do, and creates vicious cycles of religious and personal unmet expectations and guilt, is ultimately a losing battle from the start. But don’t take my word for it though, search the scriptures, let God be true and every man a liar, and be fully persuaded in your own mind (Acts 17:11, Rom 3:4, 14:5).