The Jewish Roots of Christianity: How Jesus and the Apostles Kept the Law

Michie · Feb 16, 2025

Why did Jesus tell people to make offerings in the Temple? Why did Paul call himself a Pharisee? The Bible’s answer might surprise you.

Many assume that Jesus came to abolish Jewish religious practices, but the Gospels tell a different story. The New Testament is filled with references to Jesus and his family and disciples actively participating in Jewish rituals. When Jesus was young, Joseph and Mary had a sacrifice offered in the Temple:

Luke 2:22-24 — And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord’) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.’

Jesus observed Passover with his parents (2:41-43) and urged others to make such Temple sacrifices (Luke 5:14; cf. Matthew 8:4; Mark 1:44). The following passage illustrates this:

Matthew 5:23-24 — So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

This reflects existing Jewish understanding, as seen in the Mishnah (Yoma 8:9): “If a man said, ‘I will sin and repent, and sin again and repent,’ he will be given no chance to repent. [If he said,] ‘I will sin and the Day of Atonement will effect atonement,’ then the Day of Atonement effects no atonement. For transgressions that are between man and God the Day of Atonement effects atonement, but for transgressions that are between a man and his fellow the Day of Atonement effects atonement only if he has appeased his fellow.”

Jesus and his disciples and later followers observed Temple sacrifices and other worship practices. The Passover involved a sacrificed lamb, and they observed it (the Last Supper being one such instance: see Mark 14:12; Luke 22:7-8). Acts 2:46 refers to the early Christians “day by day, attending the Temple together.” And Acts 3:1 informs us that “Peter and John were going up to the Temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.” This time (3 p.m.) was when sacrifice was offered with prayer (see Exodus 29.39; Leviticus 6:20).

Continued below.