In parts of Christianity, there is zeal to embrace Israel as a means of currying favor with God. In doing so, some even go so far as to adopt Jewish beliefs and customs that are part of the Jewish ceremonial law.

For instance, for spiritual reasons, some Christians believe in and practice physical circumcision. They also maintain Jewish daily, monthly, and yearly observances. It’s true that these events were prescribed by God in the Mosaic Law, but they were shadows. They were signs that were meant to point to and be fulfilled in Jesus.

I’m saying this because of what I read in Hebrews 9: 8-10. Therein, it states that the tabernacle and its attendant ceremonial observances were a mere, symbolic imposition until the time of reformation; this meaning Jesus’ death that would cause the ceremonial law to cease (Daniel 9: 27; Matthew 27: 50, 51).

The apostle Paul addressed this matter to the Galatians who had fallen under the persuasion of some of the Jewish converts. These particular Jews effectually replaced a personal relationship with Jesus with their legalistic, ceremonial form of religion. The Galatians bought into this because, as former pagans, they were used to ritualistic worship.  Paul sought to bring the Galatians back to reality…

“When you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. But now after you have known God…how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.” Galatians 4: 8-11

Paul was telling the Galatians and the Jews that in Jesus they were freed from the foundations and features of the world that offered godliness. Those things were nothing and had been done away with. Paul wanted them to look at the Mosaic ceremonial laws in the same way.

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PS: The weekly, seventh-day Sabbath is not part of the ceremonial law written by Moses. It is part of God’s moral law written by the finger of God Himself.