FOLLOW JUDAH'S EXAMPLE

The Keepers of the Oracles & Holy Days

"What advantage then hath the Jew? Much every way: chiefly, because unto them were committed the oracles of Yahuah" - Romans 3:1-2

Judah: Keepers of the Oracles

Romans 3:1-2: "What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of Yahuah."

The Jewish people were entrusted with:

  • The Sacred Scriptures: Preserved the Hebrew Bible perfectly
  • The Calendar: Maintained the lunar-solar calendar for millennia
  • The Feast Days: Kept the appointed times through persecution
  • The Sabbath: Never lost track of the seventh day
  • The Hebrew Language: Preserved the original tongue

A Critical Truth:

If Yahuah entrusted them with His oracles,
shouldn't we follow their example in keeping His Holy Days?

Blinded for Our Sake - Not Condemned

Romans 11:25: "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in."

The Divine Purpose of Their Blindness:

  • It's temporary - "until the fulness of the Gentiles"
  • It's partial - "in part" not complete
  • It's for our benefit - so Gentiles could be grafted in
  • It's mysterious - part of Yahuah's plan

Romans 11:11: "I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? Yahuah forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy."

Romans 11:28-29: "As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of Yahuah are without repentance."

Key Point: They are still beloved! Their blindness serves a purpose, but it doesn't invalidate their role as keepers of the oracles!

Faithful Preservation for Over 3,500 Years

Historical Facts of Jewish Faithfulness:

1. The Calendar - Never Lost

  • Since Mount Sinai (1446 BC): Jews have maintained the lunar-solar calendar
  • Through Babylonian Exile (586 BC): Calendar preserved
  • Through Roman Dispersion (70 AD): Calendar maintained globally
  • Through Medieval Persecution: Never lost track
  • Today: Same calendar calculation method for 2,000+ years

2. The Sabbath - Every Seventh Day

  • Historical Fact: Jews worldwide have kept the same seventh day
  • Despite Dispersion: Jews in Yemen, Ethiopia, Europe, Asia - all same day
  • Never a Dispute: No historical record of Jews losing the weekly cycle
  • Died for It: Chose death rather than break the Sabbath

3. The Feast Days - Precisely Observed

  • Passover: Kept on 14th of Aviv for 3,500 years
  • Yom Kippur: Observed on 10th of Tishrei without fail
  • Sukkot: Celebrated on 15th of Tishrei continuously
  • All Seven Feasts: Maintained in their proper seasons

Leviticus 23:4: "These are the feasts of YHWH, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons."

The Seven Annual Holy Days We Should Keep

Leviticus 23:2: "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of YHWH, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts."

Note: Yahuah calls them "MY feasts" - not Jewish feasts!

Holy Day Hebrew Date Approximate Time Significance
Passover 14th of Aviv/Nisan March/April Death of Yahusha our Lamb
Unleavened Bread 15-21 Aviv/Nisan March/April Remove sin from our lives
FirstFruits Sunday during ULB March/April Resurrection of Yahusha
Pentecost (Shavuot) 50 days from FirstFruits May/June Giving of Torah & Spirit
Trumpets (Yom Teruah) 1st of Tishrei Sept/Oct Return of Yahusha
Atonement (Yom Kippur) 10th of Tishrei Sept/Oct Final judgment
Tabernacles (Sukkot) 15-22 Tishrei Sept/Oct Millennium reign

Follow Judah's Calendar!
They have preserved the correct dates for 3,500 years.
Don't try to calculate your own - use their faithful preservation!

Why Follow Judah's Example?

1. They Were Given Authority

Matthew 23:2-3: "Yahusha said: The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not."

Yahusha Himself said to observe what they teach from Moses' seat - which includes the calendar and feast days!

2. They Preserved It Perfectly

  • The Dead Sea Scrolls proved their textual accuracy
  • Jewish communities worldwide keep the same days
  • Historical records confirm continuity
  • No competing calendar claims validity

3. Paul Kept Their Calendar

Acts 18:21: "But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if Yahuah will."

Acts 20:16: "For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus... for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost."

4. It's Prophetic

The Spring Feasts were fulfilled on the exact days:

  • Passover: Yahusha died on Passover
  • Unleavened Bread: His sinless body in the tomb
  • FirstFruits: He rose on FirstFruits
  • Pentecost: Spirit given on Pentecost

The Fall Feasts will be fulfilled on the exact days too!

Common Objections Answered

"But they rejected the Messiah!"

Romans 11:7-8: "What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (According as it is written, Yahuah hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day."

Answer: Yahuah Himself blinded them for our sake! This doesn't invalidate their role as oracle keepers.

"But we're under grace!"

Romans 3:31: "Do we then make void the law through faith? Yahuah forbid: yea, we establish the law."

Answer: Grace doesn't abolish Yahuah's appointed times. These are HIS feasts, not Jewish feasts!

"But Colossians 2:16 says not to judge!"

Answer: Read it carefully - it says don't let anyone judge you FOR keeping them! The Colossians were being judged BY pagans for observing Yahuah's days!

"But the calendar has changed!"

Answer: The Gregorian calendar changed, but the Jewish calendar calculation method has remained constant since the 4th century AD (Hillel II), and the weekly cycle has NEVER been broken.

A Serious Warning

Don't Be Arrogant Against the Branches!

Romans 11:18-21: "Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if Yahuah spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee."

Remember:

  • We are grafted into THEIR tree
  • They are the natural branches
  • Their blindness is temporary
  • All Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26)
  • We should provoke them to jealousy by keeping Torah better than they do!

How to Start Following Their Example

1. Get a Jewish Calendar

  • Use Chabad.org or MyJewishLearning.com
  • Look for "Hebrew Calendar" or "Jewish Calendar"
  • Note when the Biblical feasts occur
  • They often list them as "Pesach" (Passover), "Shavuot" (Pentecost), etc.

2. Start with the Sabbath

  • Friday sunset to Saturday sunset
  • The same day Jews have kept for 3,500 years
  • Rest from work, gather with believers, study Torah

3. Observe the Annual Feasts

  • Start with Passover - the foundation feast
  • Add others as you learn
  • Find Messianic believers who keep them
  • Learn the Messianic significance of each

4. Learn from Jewish Sources (with Discernment)

  • They understand the Hebrew mindset
  • They preserve ancient traditions
  • Filter everything through Yahusha and the New Testament
  • Take the good (calendar, Hebrew, culture) leave the bad (Talmud over Torah)

The Beautiful Picture of Unity

Ephesians 2:14-15: "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace."

When We Follow Their Example:

  • We honor the oracles they preserved
  • We recognize their calling hasn't been revoked
  • We prepare for Yahusha's return together
  • We become one new man in Messiah
  • We provoke them to jealousy by our faithfulness

The Final Outcome:

Romans 11:26: "And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob."

When their blindness is lifted, and they see Yahusha,
we will celebrate the feasts together in perfect unity!

Conclusion: Honor the Keepers

Our Jewish brothers have:

  • ✓ Preserved the Scriptures perfectly for millennia
  • ✓ Maintained the calendar through persecution
  • ✓ Kept the Sabbath without interruption
  • ✓ Observed the feast days faithfully
  • ✓ Died rather than abandon Yahuah's Torah

They are temporarily blinded but NOT rejected. They are beloved for the fathers' sakes. Their calling and gifts are irrevocable.

Zechariah 8:23: "Thus saith YHWH of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that Elohim is with you."

The Bottom Line:

If Yahuah trusted them with His oracles,
If Yahusha said to observe what they teach from Moses' seat,
If they've faithfully kept it for 3,500 years,
Then we should follow their example in keeping the Holy Days!

Back to Timeline Torah Made Flesh