Are "Holy Day Offerings" Commanded in the Bible?

by Garry D. Pifer

I have been attending services on God’s Holy Days for the last 45 years.  In that time I have heard (or in a few cases given) “offering messages” over 300 times.  And, I think it to be a fair estimate that in at least 75% of them the speaker has turned to and read our traditional “proof text” that God commands us to bring an offering on the Holy Days.  You all know which scripture I’m referring to, Deut. 16:16-17.  Yet, in all of those messages (235-250 estimated) I can’t recall any one ever going through the context and REALLY explaining those verses.

If one honestly does so he will discover that those verses ARE  NOT commanding us to bring a “Holy Day offering” to God.  Let us study this together.

As students of the Bible most of us are familiar with the fact that Deuteronomy was spoken and written to the Israelites on the eve of their entry into the promise land.  Let me quote a few sentences from the Davis Dictionary of the Bible, article Deuteronomy.  “Thirty and eight years have elapsed since the greater part of the old legislation was given.  The new generation, on the eve of taking possession of Canaan, is summoned to hear the law of the nation, to be instructed in the application of its principles to the new circumstances which await them, ...”  Those new circumstances dealt with them becoming a settled people, no longer a people living in temporary dwellings.

Some of the instructions that Moses gave to the Israelites were somewhat different than what had been given to them nearly 40 years earlier.  For instance, while they were wandering in the wilderness the Tabernacle was set up in the middle of the encampment.  We find, from Moses instructions, that once they inherit the land that had been promised to them the Tabernacle would be set up in one city within the land.  This city would be chosen by God and this would be the place He would choose to place His name.

The first 11 chapters of the book of Deuteronomy contain a review of the happenings of the previous 40 years, an explanation of why they had been wandering and a straight forward statement that it wasn’t because of their righteousness that they were now going to go into the land.  However, the main point that Moses stresses to them was that they were NOT to worship the gods of the inhabitants of the land, nor to attempt to worship God as these people worshiped their gods.

Verse 5 “But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, [even] unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:”

We find the first mention of the place that God would choose.  They are told that it was to this place that they were to “seek, and thither thou shalt come.”

In verse 6 and 7 we find a listing of what they are to bring to this place which God will choose and in which He would place His name.   Notice.  Burnt offerings, sacrifices, tithes, heave offerings, vows, freewill offerings, and firstlings of the herds and flocks.  And, it says that they were to eat and rejoice there before God with their households.

In verse 8 Moses tells them that they are to no longer do whatsoever was right in their own eyes.  Not condemning them for anything, just telling them that no longer would they be deciding for themselves when to take their offerings to God.  There would now be a specific time and place.  In verse 9-11 he specifically tells them again that there would be a place which God would choose to place His name.  And, he again enumerates what is to be taken there; all that was commanded, burnt offerings, sacrifices, tithes, heave offerings, and all the choice vows which they vow unto God.

Moving on we come to chapter 14.  In verse 23 we see that once again Moses tells them that they are to eat “in the place which he shall choose to place his name there.”  And, specifically it mentions the tithe of various produce items, and firstlings.  Verse 25 states again, “shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose.”

Now, let us go on to chapter 16.  In verse 1 the reminder and instruction to keep the passover is mentioned.  Verse 2 specifically tells them to sacrifice the passover “in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there.”  In verse 5 and 6 Moses tells them again.  He states clearly that they are NOT to sacrifice the passover within their own gates BUT “at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in,...”  Verse 7, “eat it in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose.”  Verse 11, the Feast of Weeks is to be kept  “in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.”  Verse 15, the Feast of Tabernacles is to be kept  “in the place which the LORD shall choose.”

Nowhere in all of these verses does Moses tell them, or us, where this place would be.  Most likely God hadn’t revealed that to him at that time.  God had made it clear to him that he was to instruct the people that there would be a place and it was to that place they were to go.  We find later in Scripture that God chose Shiloh at first (Jer. 7:12) and then later He chose Jerusalem (1 Kings 11:13, 32, 36).

But, now we come to the verses in question, verses 16 and 17 of Deuteronomy 16.  “Three times in a year...”  How many times have we heard this read and then been told that this means “three seasons?”  This is just an aside, but it doesn’t mean three seasons.  It means “times.”  The Hebrew word used here means “stroke, beat.”  It is almost like counting cadence.  Very specifically there were to be three times in the year when “all thy males” were to appear before God.  And, they were to appear “in the place which he shall choose.”  Moses then names those three times, “in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.”  When they came to this place God would chose those three very specific times in the year they were told that “they shall not appear before the LORD empty.” 

Is this a command to bring a “holy day offering?”  What was it that the Israelites were commanded to bring to “the place which the LORD your God shall choose?”  Let’s rehearse again what we read in chapter 12 and verse 6, “burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks.”  “Holy day offerings” aren’t listed.  That offering is never mentioned in all of the Bible.

Let us read again verse 16.  On the three named festivals all Israelite males were to appear before God in “the place which he shall choose,” and they were not to appear emptyhanded.  What were they to bring?  We just read again the listing from chapter 12 (and we could look again at chapter 14).  Now, let us read verse 17.  “Every man [shall give] as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.”  Here is a clear and specific command to give an offering, a freewill offering.  And, it was to be determined according to the blessings of God.

Just as there were changes when the Israelites went into the promised land, other changes have now been made.  Through the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ the numerous animal sacrifices and various offerings have been negated.  The Levitical priesthood has been superceded by Jesus Christ who is now our High Priest at the right hand of God the Father.  There is no longer a physical place to which we must take our offerings.  We have direct access to God through Jesus Christ.  God doesn’t dwell in a Tabernacle or Temple made with hands.  We are told that Jesus and the Father now dwell within each of us, they Tabernacle with us.  And, His name has been placed on each of us, the Sons of God.

The New Testament gives us extensive instruction regarding giving and sharing.  All of our offerings don’t have to be taken to some physical location and be given to a physical priesthood.  Jesus Christ told us, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”  Other instructions are given regarding providing for the “household of faith.”  Paul explains that those serving and performing the various responsibilities of the Gospel should be provided for.

However, there are no specific examples or instructions in Scripture regarding “Holy day offerings.”  Based on the Old Testament examples and instructions relative to special offerings made on the Holy Days it would seem proper to give an offering to offset expenses incurred or to take care of specific needs.  But, to take a couple of verses out of context and claim they are a “thus saith the Lord” that commands you to give generous “Holy day offerings” seven times a year is WRONG, and a total wresting of the Scripture.