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Why Do Some Believers Turn to Jewish Customs? – LIVE Q&A from April 18, 2024

Why Do Some Believers Turn to Jewish Customs? – LIVE Q&A from April 18, 2024

Why Do Some Believers Turn to Jewish Customs?

From Sherry via email –

Dear Brother David, 

I just want to tell you how incredibly thankful for this ministry! God is using you to help us with HIS Word! Enduring Word has become an integral part of my daily Bible Study through the commentary, podcasts, and videos! I am wondering if you have any information or opinion regarding the Hebrew Roots Ministry (or others like it). My son has married into a family that is steeped in it, and while I’ve done much research on it myself, I would rather like to hear what you have to say, and of course, what the scriptures say to back it up.

Why is it that some Christians turn to the Old Covenant and customs?

I do not believe this way, as I am not a Jew, but I know that there is freedom in Christ… could it be a false path, or even wrong for non-Jewish Christians to do these things? Or am I wrong to oppose it?

I am praying that my son steps up as the spiritual priesthood of his family and doesn’t allow this to creep into their little family, but he has already abstained from certain foods in order to please his wife. I’m unsure how to approach this. Again, thank you for any information or insights you have! Prayers and Continued Blessings on the Enduring Word ministry!

Sherry really is asking two questions. Why do some Christians turn to the old covenant, and why do some Christians turn to Jewish customs.

There is nothing in the old covenant for the believer in Jesus Christ, except for what we learn by principle and example. In no sense in the believer “under” the old covenant. In Jesus Christ, we are under the new covenant. Chapter after chapter in Hebrews explains this.

For believers under the new covenant, there is nothing wrong in following Jewish customs and traditions, as long as three dangers are avoided:

  • They recognize this is not the basis of their standing or status with God, their righteousness. In Jesus, they are not under the old covenant, but the new. Following Jewish customs or traditions does not make them one bit more right with God.
  • They do not judge, or think themselves superior to, other believers who do not follow Jewish customs or traditions.
  • Jesus, especially in His work on the cross and in His resurrection, isn’t obscured by attention to Jewish customs and traditions – rather, Jesus is highlighted and exalted.

Colossians 2:16-17

So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

So let no one judge you: The opening “so” is important. It connects this thought with the previous thought. Because Jesus won such a glorious victory on the cross, we are to let no one judge you in food or in drink or in other matters related to legalism. A life that is centered on Jesus and what He did on the cross has no place for legalism.

Food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come: The Old Testament law had certain provisions that are done away with as laws in Jesus, regarding such things as food and sabbaths. It isn’t that those laws were bad, simply that they were [17] a shadow of things to come. Once the substance – Jesus Christ – has come, we don’t need to shadow any more.

The point is clear: days and foods, as observed under the Mosaic Law, are not binding on new covenant people. The shadow has passed, the reality has come. So for the Christian, all foods are pure (1 Timothy 4:4-5) and all days belong to God.

  1. Christians are therefore free to keep a kosher diet or to observe the sabbath if they please. There is nothing wrong with those things. However, they cannot think that eating kosher or sabbath observance makes them any closer to God, and they cannot [16] judge another brother or sister who does not observe such laws.

Romans 14:5-6

One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike: By bringing in the aspect of observing certain days, Paul lets us know that he is talking more about principles than specific issues. What he says has application to more than just eating meat.

[5] Let each be fully convinced in his own mind: In such issues, Paul is willing to leave it up to the conscience of the individual. But whatever we do, we must be able to do it [6] to the Lord, not using “conscience” as an excuse for obviously sinful behavior.

Romans 14:10

But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? Probably, the use of both judge and show contempt is meant to have application to both those who would celebrate Jewish customs and traditions, and those who do not. Neither should think of themselves as better because of what they do or don’t do. In either case, the attitude is wrong because we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

The Christian who celebrated some Jewish customs and traditions found it easy to judge his brother, writing him off as someone who was unenlightened, ignorant of the Jewish background to the Christian faith.

The free Christian who did not celebrate some Jewish customs and traditions found it easy to show contempt against his brother, regarding him as a uptight-legalistic-goody-good. Essentially, Paul’s answer is “Stop worrying about your brother. You have enough to answer for before Jesus.”

The judgment seat of Christ is where the life and motives of the believer will be judged. This isn’t a judgment of salvation, but relevant to reward.

Sherry, you are right to oppose the direction your son is going if:

  • He thinks any of the Jewish customs or traditions makes him more righteous.
  • He thinks himself superior to other Christians who don’t observe Jewish customs and traditions.
  • He seems to, in some way, “lose” Jesus in the focus on Jewish customs and traditions.

These are the dangers of “Hebrew Roots” movements and must be avoided.