Dear friends:

Many people are confused as to whether or not God wants Gentile believers to keep the various feasts under the Law of Moses.

Below is what Messianic Jew, pastor and author Marvin Byers says about it, in his book, "The Mystery: a Lost Key," page160:
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Should we keep the Jewish feasts each year? Keeping the three main feasts in accordance to God’s way, as opposed to the way of Rabbinical Judaism, begins with a journey to Jerusalem (Deut. 16:16; Lk. 2:42; Acts 20:16). Of course, part of the reason for the journey was that certain animal sacrifices had to be offered in the temple there. Obviously, we can no longer do this. Some are saying that God requires us to celebrate the Jewish feasts. Since we cannot fulfill the most important aspects, who is ordained to tell us which aspects we can and should observe and how to observe them? Again, Rabbinical Judaism is what is being observed today. However, I am not saying that it is wrong for believers to remember the biblical feasts of the Lord and observe them in some way. How could it be wrong to remember the holidays that the Lord Himself ordained? I am saying that it is wrong to make the observance of the feasts to be part of the gospel, and to say that it is a requirement of God if we want to be more spiritual. All Gentile believers should note God’s love for the feasts. Once the Lord is reigning in Jerusalem, the biblical feasts will be observed again, as Zechariah 14:16-19 indicates.
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For more of what Pastor Byers says, including the requirement for Gentiles to "keep Torah," see my article, "Christians and the Law of Moses," at http://www.choicesforliving.com/spirit/part4/lawofmoses.htm

Another Messianic Jew, Matt Schwarz, points out that it is impossible to keep 80% of the Torah because it involves the temple, the Levitical priesthood and the system of blood sacrifices, which no longer exist.  And as Byers says, "Who is ordained to tell us which aspects we can and should observe and how to observe them?

In fact, no one  -- no rabbi or no Christian leader -- is authorized to change God's Law --- not one word, jot or tittle.  We cannot pick and choose what parts to observe and what parts not to observe.  To do so is futility, even sin, as it tries to change God's Word.  And James says that to violate one part of it is the same as violating it all.

The answer, according to Hebrews 10:8-10: "First he said, 'Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them' (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, 'Here I am, I have come to do your will.' He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (KJV).

"Once for all"!  Halleluyah!  Now that's something to shout about!

Jim