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The apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians was written to address a pressing issue among early Christian churches. After Paul had preached the gospel of grace through faith in Jesus Christ, certain teachers—commonly referred to as Judaizers—insisted that the Gentile converts to Christianity follow Jewish laws and traditions to be fully accepted by God. The teaching promoted practices like circumcision and adherence to the Mosaic calendar of holy days. In Galatians 4:8–11, Paul rebukes the Galatians for reverting to legalism in their religious practices. He writes, “You observe days and months and seasons and years!” (Galatians 4:10, ESV).
In Galatians 4:1–7, Paul appeals to the Gentile believers to remember the freedom they have in Jesus. Before coming to Christ, they had been enslaved to false gods and pagan rituals. Now, as God’s children, they were delivered from such bondage. Paul asks, “How can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world?” (Galatians 4:9, ESV). These “elementary principles” refer to basic, worldly systems of thought and practice, including reliance on human effort, to achieve righteousness and salvation. Why would the Galatians become slaves to obeying the Old Testament law if they were recipients of God’s grace?
By observing rituals and festivals, the Galatians were detracting from the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. Paul was not as concerned with the actual practices themselves as with their misuse. These legalistic observances of “days and months and seasons and years” had become a stumbling block in the church, leading many to believe that observing such ceremonies were necessary for salvation. Scripture reveals that these rituals, while once meaningful under the Old Covenant, are now fulfilled in Christ, who is the ultimate expression of God’s grace (see Matthew 5:17–18; Galatians 5:6; Colossians 2:13–17).
Days and months and seasons and years specifically refers to the religious and ceremonial observances prescribed by the Mosaic calendar. These seasonal events included the following:
• Days – Observing special days, such as the weekly sabbath and other holy days.
• Months – Commemorating rituals tied to the new moon, such as Rosh Chodesh.
• Seasons – Celebrating festivals such as Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles.
• Years – Observing the sabbatical year and the Year of Jubilee, which were significant in Old Covenant.
By observing days, months, seasons, and years, the Galatians were exchanging spiritual freedom for a form of slavery. They were placing their trust in their own observance of rituals rather than in Christ’s redemptive work.• Months – Commemorating rituals tied to the new moon, such as Rosh Chodesh.
• Seasons – Celebrating festivals such as Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles.
• Years – Observing the sabbatical year and the Year of Jubilee, which were significant in Old Covenant.
Paul’s core issue was with legalism—the belief that outward rituals and works can earn favor with God. If the Galatians continued down the path of legalism, Paul feared that all his efforts on their behalf would be wasted (see Galatians 4:11).
In Galatians 4:10, Paul calls believers to remain steadfast in the gospel of grace. Legalism remains a persistent issue in the church today. While we may not feel compelled to observe Jewish holy days, we may emphasize church attendance, prayer, the exercise of spiritual gifts, or the performance of charitable works as the basis for salvation. We could be tempted to let adherence to rules or customs overshadow the gospel’s message of grace. We might judge someone’s spiritual condition based on his or her observance of certain religious practices.
Paul’s message to the Galatians offers a timeless lesson that speaks to the broader temptation among Christians to prioritize ritual and tradition over genuine faith. Legalism stands in glaring contrast to the gospel of God’s grace (Romans 3:20; 9:31–32). The Christian message is that salvation is a gift received through faith and not through works (Romans 3:20–24; Galatians 2:16; 3:10–11; Ephesians 2:8–9; Philippians 3:8–9).
Observing days and months and seasons and years is not inherently wrong. Paul is not dismissing all forms of religious observance. Discipline, devotion, and regular prayer and worship enrich our faith and draw us closer to God. But these things should be expressions of love and gratitude toward God and not to earn His salvation. When rituals are prioritized over faith in Christ and treated as a pathway to salvation, they become a hindrance. “By the works of the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16). As believers, we should continually examine the motivations behind our actions. Are we trusting in Christ alone, or are we adding human effort to the equation?
