We have seen the spiritual condition of those who transgress the Torah, who work wickedness and evil, the pa’ali aven.  What is the alternative?

Mattithyahu (Matthew) 28:19

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the RUACH HAQODESH: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Yahuchanon (John) 14:15

If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Yahuchanon (John) 15:10

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Yahuchanon Ri’shon (1 John) 5:1-3

Whoseover believes that YAHUSHA is HAMASHIACH is born of ELOHIYM: and everyone that loves him that begat loves him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of ELOHIYM, when we love ELOHIYM, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of ELOHIYM, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Chizayon (Revelation) 12:17

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of ELOHIYM, and have the testimony of YAHUSHA HAMASHIACH.

There are some who would reason that the Commandments of YAHUAH are somehow vitiated by the teaching of YAHUSHA.  Yet, YAHUSHA says categorically I have kept my Father’s commandments (Yahuchanon 15:10).

Let us consider the commandment to keep the feasts – the appointed times - of YAHUAH as set forth in Vayiqra (Leviticus) Chapter 23:

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 23:2

Speak to the children of Yisra’el, and say to them: Concerning the feasts (Heb. moediym) of YAHUAH, which ye shall proclaim as holy convocations (Heb. qodesh miqra), even these are my feasts (Heb. moediym). 

So, how did YAHUSHA do in keeping these feasts?

SHABBAT (Shabbat שַׁבָּת)

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 23:2-3

Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the Shabbat of rest, an holy convocation (Heb. qodesh miqra); ye shall do no work (Heb. mela'kah): it is the Shabbat of YAHUAH in all your dwellings.

Practiced: Marcus 1:21; 2:23, 24, 27, 28; 3:2, 4; 6:2; 15:42; 16:1; Lucas 4:26, 30; 6:1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9; 13:10, 14, 15, 16; 14:1, 3, 5; 23:54, 56; Mattithyahu 12:1, 2,5, 8, 10, 11, 12; 24:20; 28:1; 5:9, 10, 16, 18; 7:22, 23; 9:14, 16; 19:31; 20:1

PECACH (Passover פָּ֫סַח)

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 23:5

In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is YAHUAH’S Pecach.

Practiced: Lucas 2:41; 22:1, 7, 8, 11, 13, 15; Mattithyahu 26:2, 17, 18, 19; Yahuchanan 2:13, 23; 6:4; 11:55; 12:1; 13:1; 18:28, 39; 19:14

MATSTSAH (Unleavened Bread מַצָּה)

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 23:6-8

And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of Matstsah (unleavened bread) to YAHUAH: seven days ye must eat Matstsah (unleavened bread).  In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation (Heb. qodesh miqra): ye shall do no servile work therein.  But ye shall offer an offering made by fire to YAHUAH seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation (Heb. qodesh miqra): ye shall do no servile work (Heb. abodah melakah) therein.

Practiced: Marcus 14:1, 12; Lucas 22:1, 7; Mattithyahu 26:17

YOM KIPPURIYM (Yom Kippur כִּפֻּרִים)

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 23:26

And YAHUAH spoke unto Mosheh, saying, 27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month is Yom Kippuriym: it shall be a holy assembly unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto YAHUAH. 28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is Yom Kippuriym, to make an atonement for you before YAHUAH your ELOHIYM. 29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. 30 And whatsoever soul it be that does any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. 31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It shall be unto you a Shabbat of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening unto evening, shall ye celebrate your Shabbat.

Practiced: Lucas 4:16-21

CUKKOT (Booths or Tabernacles סֻכָּה)

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 23:34-36

Speak to the children of Yisra’el, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of tabernacles for seven days to YAHUAH. The first day is an holy convocation (Heb. qodesh miqra): ye shall do no servile work (Heb. abodah melakah).  Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire to YAHUSHA: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation (Heb. qodesh miqra) to you;

Practiced: Yahuchanan 7:2

CHANUKKAH (Dedication הַקדָשָׁה)

2 Makkabiym (Maccabees) 1:9; 18

And now see that ye keep the Feast of Chanukkah in the month Kiclev. 18 Therefore whereas we are now purposed to keep the purification of the temple upon the twenty-fifth day of the month Kiclev, we thought it necessary to certify you, that ye also might keep it, as the Feast of Chanukkah. 

Practiced: Yahuchanan 10:22

Many who are resident in the American church have been taught that these feasts are gone, relying upon the teaching of Sha’ul (Paul).

Qolasiym  (Colossians) 2:16-17

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day, or of the New Moon, or of the Shabbat: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come for the body of MASHIACH.

For many, this means if you completely ignore the feasts, and eat unclean animals (declared to be an abomination), or take up another calendar, or ignore Shabbat – you cannot be judged a sinner. That of course is one view.  However, the respecting of the edicts regarding clean animals, the respecting of the feast days, the New Moons, and Shabbat is not to be judged by men either.  The Council of Nicea, in its rejection of the practice of the true Shabbat, and the command to judge people by whether they practiced worship on Roman Sunday, or whether the kept the “holy Easter” is a direct violation of this edict.

For those who believe that this teaching overturns these statutes (chukkah) of YAHUAH (it shall be a statute forever (chukkah olam) in all your dwellings throughout your generations; (Vaiyqra 23:14, 21, 35, 41), explain then what it means that these are a shadow of things to come for the body of MASHIACH.