Many people really enjoy the coming Easter celebrations. Many will take part in Lent, sunrise service, baking and eating the Easter ham, choosing a new suit or an Easter bonnet. There will be Easter egg hunts and Easter baskets full of those little yellow chick-peeps, chocolate eggs, jelly bean eggs, and of course a chocolate Easter bunny along with general eating and drinking and merry-making. This sounds totally harmless and for many, it holds some fond memories that they are eager to pass on to their children.
But did you ever stop to think, what do any of these things have to do with God, Jesus Christ, the crucifixion, the resurrection, or God's Word?
I challenge you, where is the New Testament precedent for such a massive day of feasting?
False Teaching #1: Easter replaces Passover
Many teach that Easter is necessary for the remembrance of the crucifixion and the resurrection, but this simply proves that Easter is a devilish usurper. Passover is given to us to remember the crucifixion and celebrate the Lord's sacrifice, as laid out in the New Testament.
Matthew 26:26-28 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. (27) And he took the
cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; (28) For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; (28) For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Mark 14:22-24 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. (23) And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. (24) And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
Luke 22:13-20 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. (14) And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. (15) And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: (16) For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. (17) And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: (18) For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. (19) And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. (20) Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: (24) And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. (25) After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. (26) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
This passage makes it clear that we no longer keep Passover as the Jews did in the Old Testament (though it isn't forbidden to do so), but as the Lord's Supper, which we do as often as we will.
This passage makes it clear that we no longer keep Passover as the Jews did in the Old Testament (though it isn't forbidden to do so), but as the Lord's Supper, which we do as often as we will.
1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
*If you're about to quote to me Acts 12:4, you can save yourself the trouble. The King James Bible translates pascha as Easter and NOT as Passover because Herod was not, I repeat, was not a Jew. He would not have kept Passover. Point of fact, he would have despised Passover, considering he had John the Baptist beheaded because John quoted Jewish Law to him concerning his brother's wife. Why would he want anything to do with God's laws concerning Passover? Herod would have kept the ancient equivalent of the festival of the spring goddess that you and I refer to as Easter, the same as every other Roman in the Empire. (For more info on the pagan origins of individual Easter traditions, see the links and videos sections at the end of this article.)
Not to mention the fact that in Acts 12:3 we are told: “And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)” emphasis added
Peter was arrested during the seven days of unleavened bread which took place during the seven days after Passover. Meaning Passover had already been and gone!
This is an accurate translation despite the fervent protests of many a heretic to the contrary. Of course, this warning verse concerning the pagan Easter has been changed to read Passover in the new translations, making their version of this passage make no sense whatsoever.
“It is amazing to consider that professing Christians around the world keep days and festivals never once enjoined on them in God's Word (Sunday, Good Friday, Easter, Halloween, Christmas), yet the ones God tells them to keep (the Sabbath, Passover, God's holy days), they ignore!“(1)
False Teaching #2: It's okay to celebrate pagan holidays as long as we worship God with them.
There are so many warnings against having anything whatsoever to do with mixing God's worship with paganism, if I tried to list them all, we might be here quoting scripture all day. For the record, one single warning from God should be enough, but I'll list a few.
Deuteronomy 12:2-4 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: (3) And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. (4) Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 12:8 Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.
Deuteronomy 12:13 Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest:
Deuteronomy 12:30-32 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. (31) Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. (32) What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
These verses make it plain what is God's whole and perfect will concerning how his servants may worship him when pagan elements are involved. We are plainly instructed not to attempt to worship God using pagan altars or high places, not in their groves or under their green trees (ahem... Christmas trees?), and not using their graven images, statuary, or symbols. We are told plainly in the Deuteronomy 12:8 passage that we cannot draw our own conclusions concerning this subject and do what is right in our own eyes.
1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Jeremiah 10:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
1 Corinthians 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? (16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
1 Corinthians 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
False Teaching #3: It's okay to observe Easter because it is a long-standing tradition.
As a culture, we love our traditions, but let's take a look at how Jesus Christ sees our man-made traditions.
Matthew 15:2-3 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. (3) But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
Mark 7:5-13 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? (6) He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. (7) Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (8) For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. (9) And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. (10) For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: (11) But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. (12) And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; (13) Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Jesus makes it plain that people reject the commands of God in favor of their traditions, which is exactly what wicked man is doing when he tells you that you can ignore God's warnings concerning idolatry and dabble in idol worship just because everyone else in your congregation/job/personal life is doing it. Easter is a perfect example of verse six in this passage. Claiming Easter is for God (honoring him with your lips) while your heart is set on feasting on the Easter ham (in celebration of Tammuz) and finding the “blessed” Ishtar (pronounced ees-ter) egg, having “sunrise” service (in honor of the sun god), and wearing the Easter “bonnets” of the priestesses of Ishtar (your heart is far from him). People have made the word of God concerning idols of none effect because of their tradition of keeping idolatrous pagan observances.
Most man-made tradition is steeped in pure evil. Paul tells us he was zealously partaking of time-honored tradition when he persecuted the church!
Galatians 1:13-14 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: (14) And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
It's not enough to be zealous of God, you must have a zeal according to knowledge.
Romans 10:2-3 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. (3) For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Look closely at that last verse, “going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” This is not talking about people who walk with God or who are going to escape God's wrath, this is a verse about the very idolatrous people of ancient Israel.
Colossians 2:8-9 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (9) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
False Teaching #4: Easter isn't strictly forbidden in the New Testament, so therefore is okay to keep.
This teaching, which is given by many in the evangelical world, is misleading. Many will say that unless the practice of Easter is forbidden by commandment, then it isn't forbidden at all.
This is a great and mighty load of nonsense designed to confuse and to subvert the unstudied. Of course there is no mention of Easter being kept or not kept among the New Testament congregation. It was forbidden by God long before the New Testament church was assembled! As was any form of idol worship.
“It’s ludicrous to suggest that God would have to list everything He does not want us to do in worship for it to be specifically forbidden.” (2)
Some teach that there are no New Testament examples of weddings or funerary rituals but we observe those, therefore the observance of Easter, Christmas, Halloween, and other pagan observances are acceptable.
There are wedding ceremonies and funeral rites detailed in the New Testament. John 2:1-11 tells of the wedding in Cana of Galilee, a Jewish wedding and Mark 15:46-16:1 describes the funerary rites of Jesus in some detail both of whose ceremonial rituals and rites can be easily accessed in the Old Testament. People simply choose to continue in pagan ritual in wedding and funeral just as they do in pagan holy days.
*Peter also tells us that we should not walk in the will of the Gentiles, which includes excess of wine, banquetings, and abominable idolatries.
*Herod did keep Easter, and we are told plainly in Mark 8:15 by Jesus, "And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod."
This begs the question, "What was the leaven of Herod?"
In this case Jesus was using leaven to refer to sin. What were the sins of Herod mentioned specifically in the Bible? We know he was murderer because he killed John the Baptist and James. We know he was a fornicator because of the situation with his brother Philip's wife. We know he hated the brethren, because the Bible says he set out to vex certain people in the church. We know he was a false accuser because he arrested Peter for no reason. We know he was a hypocrite who did things to be seen of men because he arrested Peter just to please the Jews and killed John to please Herodias. And we know he was an idol worshiper because the Bible speaks of his intention to keep Easter before turning Peter over to the people.
*Acts 12:1-4 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
False Teaching #5: The church is free to Christian-ize pagan observances.
*There is no such permission given by the Lord to any individual or group concerning the taking on of known pagan rituals. Only God can appoint holiness to anything. People are in great error thinking that man can make anything holy from unholiness. This is a presumptuous sin.
Psalms 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
“Hardly anything more clearly illustrates the self-deceived perverseness of human nature as its presumptuous additions of the observation of Christmas and Easter to the worship of the God of the Bible. That Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea is indisputable, but among other things, He was not born on December 25, nor did anybody exchange gifts on that date. Scripture nowhere says there were three wise men, and it is clear they gave gifts only to Christ as King.
Regarding Easter, Jesus was not resurrected on a Sunday morning, nor was He crucified on a Friday afternoon. It is impossible to squeeze three days and three nights, which Jesus Himself said would be the length of time He would spend in the tomb (Matthew 12:40), between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning. Even so, fantastically detailed and emotionally appealing traditions have presumptuously been built around both these events and have been taught to a deceived public as though they were true.
Beyond what has been already mentioned regarding these days, where in God's Word does He command that we believe and do these commonly accepted practices? Men have presumptuously taken them upon themselves.
The addition of Christmas and Easter to Christianity happened so long ago that they have come to be accepted as part of the Christian religion, and most people celebrate them without thought. Nevertheless, adding to so-called Christian beliefs has not ended—in fact, it is still happening.”(3)
In Jeremiah 10:2, God makes it plain when he says, "Learn not the way of the heathen".
False Teaching #6: God doesn't care how we worship him.
This is absolutely false. “Some Christians think that as long as we’re sincere, we can worship God however we want. But throughout the Bible God shows us that he cares deeply about how he is worshiped, not only that he is worshiped.” (4)
Isaiah 1:11-15 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. (12) When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? (13) Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. (14) Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. (15) And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
Deuteronomy 13:13-17 Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known; (14) Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you; (15) Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword. (16) And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again. (17) And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;
Deuteronomy 27:15 Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.
Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. (2) Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
Ephesians 5:15-17 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, (16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (17) Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Men have tried in the past to alter the worship of God. The punishment was swift and harsh. Take Nadab and Abihu for example:
Leviticus 10:1-2 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. (2) And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
And then there was Korah and those who murmured against Moses and Aaron:
Numbers 26:9-10 And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram, which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD: (10) And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.
Numbers 16:41-45 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD. (42) And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared. (43) And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation. (44) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (45) Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.
If using known pagan practice to try to worship the God of the Bible doesn't constitute "strange fire" then I don't know what does.
Conclusions
*I'd like to make clear that I am not a legalist, nor do I believe in a works-based salvation. Whether or not you chose to keep God's appointed feast days, such as Passover or the Sabbath, is purely up to you, as laid out in Paul's epistle to the Colossians, chapter 2, verse 16.
One thing is for certain, nearly all of the man-made and pagan based holidays are steeped in wickedness and lies. The Easter bunny is a lie, claiming Easter is about Jesus is a lie and a blasphemy, saying Jesus was born on December 25th is a lie, claiming we give gifts because of Jesus on December 25th is a lie, insisting pagan worship can be Christianized is a lie. No Christian who is determined to serve God would have anything to do with such lies.
Revelation 22:14-15 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (15) For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
We are told plainly not to touch the unclean thing and the Lord will receive us. This is clear. Don't touch it. Certainly, don't dabble in it.
A Christian reading this has two possible routes. One could go on as if they were never warned, as if they were never given the information, but be warned. One day, maybe today or maybe next week or maybe at the judgment, you will have to answer to God for continually exposing yourself and your family to these wicked and forbidden practices. Or one could give heed to God's word, repent quickly and fervently, abandon the vain and abominable traditions of man, and walk in holiness according to the Bible as God commands.
*2 Timothy 2:19 KJV Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
*2 Timothy 2:19 KJV Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Thanks For Reading! Please Like and Share!
Links
Forerunner Commentary on EasterWhat's Wrong With Easter?
Where Did Easter Get It's Name?
