Can Gentiles Keep the Jewish Feasts?
While Jews continue to enjoy the meaningful celebrations of the Feasts of Yisrael, the context of scripture presents no requirement for Gentiles to observe the Feasts pointed out in the book of Leviticus. Yet neither does it prohibit them for the most part even though there are some restrictions concerning Pesach (Passover).
The Mo’edim were given to Yisrael. Scripture shows us when we are grafted in and we become a Jew inwardly, then we are united with Yisrael and we keep the Mo’edim and other commands given to Yisrael. Bear in mind that Elohim chose Yisrael to perform his works through. This does not mean the rest of the world is exempt from Torah. There is one Torah for the native Jew and the sojourner.
I want to address a belief not only held by many people in mainline Christian theologies, but also heard from teachers within ‘Messianic Judaism’ or other similar thinking. This is the view that the Torah is the special possession of the Jewish people, or exclusive to Yisrael and therefore many of its stipulations are directed toward Jews, not Gentiles. Let’s stop listening to the lies of men and lay hold on the truths of scripture!
All who call on his name will be saved! Just because his word was delivered to Yisrael does not exlude the Goyim (Nations or Gentiles).
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all—richly generous to all who call on Him. For “Everyone who calls upon the name of Adonai shall be saved.”
Romans 10:12,13 TLV
Peter’s vision reveals we are not to call any man common or unclean. Salvation is for all who will come to Messiah. Do you see the Father’s mercy here? Salvation is extended to all the world!
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some consider slowness. Rather, He is being patient toward you—not wanting anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 TLV
There are however, conditions concerning Passover about who may or may not partake.
Institution of the Passover
Then Adonai said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the ordinance of the Passover. No foreigner may eat it, but every man’s servant that is bought for money, after you have circumcised him, may eat it. Nor should a visitor or hired servant eat it. It is to be eaten inside a single house. You are not to carry the meat out of the house, nor are you to break any of its bones. All the congregation of Israel must keep it. But if an outsider dwells with you, who would keep the Passover for Adonai, all his males must be circumcised. Then let him draw near and keep it. He will be like one who is native to the land. But no uncircumcised person may eat from it. The same Torah applies to the native as well as the outsider who dwells among you.” So all Bnei-Yisrael did so. They did just as Adonai commanded Moses and Aaron. It was on that very day that Adonai brought Bnei-Yisrael out of the land of Egypt as armies.Exodus 12:43-51 TLV
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the Lord’s cup in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and then let him eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For the one who eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and quite a few have died.
1 Corinthians 11:26-30 TLV
Every Festival of Yehovah, in each instance Moshe (Moses) emphatically said that this shall be the commandment for the native born, alien and sojourner within your gates. Which means this command is for everyone who believes in the Elohim of Yisrael, not just Yisrael.
Because Yehovah chose Yisrael to perform his works through and gave them Torah many people think the Torah is only for Yisrael, which is simply not true.
When we look at the 7 annual Mo’edim they are all prophetic pictures of the Messiah. Why would anyone be exluded from any of them if we are to bring our outside friends to them? But I would say that we should make them aware of this fact so they will understand it better. The pinnacle of our faith is believing in Messiah! Hello? What better way to introduce people to Messiah than showing them his ways? While the nations and false churches and denominations are teaching them lies, why don’t we begin teaching them the truth? The entire plan of Elohim is layed out in the Mo’edim.
If we are lights in this world and ambassadors for Messiah, why would we lock our doors and keep the world out? Are we not here to win more souls into his Kingdom?
If an outsider dwells with you in your land, you should do him no wrong. The outsider dwelling among you should be to you as the native-born among you. You should love him as yourself—for you dwelled as outsiders in the land of Egypt. I am Adonai your God.
Leviticus 19:33,34 TLV
Circumcise the foreskin of your heart therefore, and do not be stiff-necked anymore. For Adonai your God is God of gods and Lord of lords—the great, mighty and awesome God, who does not show partiality or take a bribe. He enacts justice for the orphan and widow, and loves the outsider, giving him food and clothing. Therefore love the outsider, for you were outsiders in the land of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 10:16-19
Get rid of the old hametz, so you may be a new batch, just as you are unleavened—for Messiah, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast not with old hametz, the hametz of malice and wickedness, but with unleavened bread—the matzah of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:7,8 TLV