Faith and Salvation

Must Christians Observe Passover and the Biblical Feast Days?

The New Testament does not require Gentile Christians to keep Israel's annual feast calendar, though believers may study or voluntarily observe aspects of it without making them a condition of salvation.

Published 2026-09-13 · Updated 2026-09-27

Written and reviewed by the Word Oasis Editorial Team. Read our editorial policy.

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Biblical explanation

Israel's annual feasts commemorated God's saving acts and pointed forward to Christ's work. The New Testament identifies Christ as “our passover” and applies the feast imagery spiritually to sincere Christian living (). When the early church considered which requirements should be placed on Gentile converts, the Jerusalem council did not command them to observe the annual festivals (). Paul warned believers not to let others judge them concerning festivals, new moons, or sabbath days that functioned as shadows of things to come, because the substance belongs to Christ (). Christians may find historical and spiritual value in learning about the feasts, but they should not present voluntary observance as a means of earning salvation or a universal test of faithfulness.

In brief

Israel's annual feasts commemorated God's saving acts and pointed forward to Christ's work.

Bible references

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Editorial note

This answer is written and reviewed by the Word Oasis Editorial Team, and is presented with supporting references so you can examine each passage in context. If you notice an error or unclear statement, please suggest a correction.