Why Christians Shouldn’t Observe the Seder
As Easter approaches, many evangelical Christians prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of our faith. Yet, in recent decades, a growing number of churches and believers have adopted practices borrowed from Jewish tradition, most notably the Passover Seder. Promoted as a way to connect with the “roots” of Christianity, Seder observance has gained traction, particularly among those influenced by premillennial dispensationalism—a theological framework that emphasizes a distinct role for Israel in God’s plan. While the intention may be to honor biblical history, this practice raises serious concerns. Talmudic Judaism, which underpins the modern Seder, is not the authentic Judaism of Moses, Abraham, or the Old Testament prophets. Instead, it represents a later development that lacks the priesthood, temple, and sacrifices central to Mosaic faith, denies the Messiahship of Jesus, and diverges from the faith of Abraham, who looked forward to Christ.
Evangelical Christians should reject Seder observance during Easter, because it is a form of syncretism—a blending of true and false worship condemned in Scripture. The Seder, as practiced today, originates in Talmudic or Rabbinic Judaism, formalized in the 2nd century AD, long after the destruction of the Second Temple and the fulfillment of the Law in Christ. By participating in this ritual, Christians risk diverting attention from the resurrected Savior, conflating Talmudic Judaism with the religion of Abraham, and engaging in what Scripture warns is false worship akin to “demon worship” (1 Corinthians 10:20–21).
THE ORIGINS OF THE SEDER: TALMUDIC JUDAISM, NOT MOSAIC FAITH
To understand why Seder observance is problematic, we must first examine its origins. The Passover Seder, as practiced today, is not the Passover described in Exodus 12, nor is it a direct continuation of the practices of the Old Testament. The biblical Passover was instituted by God through Moses, requiring the sacrifice of a lamb, the application of its blood to doorposts, and the eating of unleavened bread in haste (Exodus 12:1–28). It was a memorial of God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt, pointing forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, the “Lamb of God” (John 1:29). This observance was tied to the Levitical priesthood, the sacrificial system, and, after Solomon’s time, the temple in Jerusalem, where all males were required to appear (Deuteronomy 16:16).
However, after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD, the biblical Passover could no longer be observed as prescribed. Without a temple, priesthood, or altar, the sacrificial system ceased. In response, Jewish leaders developed Rabbinic Judaism, a new framework based on oral traditions later codified in the Mishnah (c. 200 AD) and Talmud (c. 500 AD). This tradition reimagined Passover as the Seder, a ritual meal with symbolic foods, prayers, and readings, centered on the Haggadah, a text outlining the order of the service. The earliest Haggadah texts date to the 2nd–3rd centuries AD, reflecting a post-temple adaptation designed to preserve Jewish identity in the absence of sacrifice.
This shift marked a profound departure from Mosaic Judaism. The biblical Passover required a blood sacrifice, which Rabbinic Judaism replaced with storytelling and symbolic acts, such as eating bitter herbs and reciting the Exodus narrative. While these practices may seem harmless, they reflect a religion that no longer adheres to the Torah’s explicit commands. Mosaic Judaism was defined by obedience to God’s covenant, centered on the temple and priesthood (Leviticus 1–7; Numbers 18). Talmudic Judaism, by contrast, elevates human tradition—the “oral Torah”—to equal or greater authority than Scripture, a practice Jesus Himself condemned (Mark 7:8–13).
For Christians, this distinction is critical. The Seder is not a neutral cultural practice but a product of a religious system that emerged after Christ’s fulfillment of the Law. By adopting it, evangelicals risk endorsing a framework that lacks the divine institutions of Mosaic faith and implicitly rejects the Messiah who completed them.
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TALMUDIC JUDAISM AND THE DENIAL OF CHRIST
Beyond its historical divergence, Talmudic Judaism poses a theological problem for Christians: it explicitly denies Jesus as the Messiah. The religion of Moses and the prophets was forward-looking, anticipating the promised Redeemer (Deuteronomy 18:15; Isaiah 53). Abraham, the father of the faith, rejoiced to see Christ’s day (John 8:56), and his trust in God’s promise prefigured the gospel (Galatians 3:8). The Old Testament sacrifices, priesthood, and temple all pointed to Jesus, who fulfilled them as the ultimate sacrifice, priest, and temple (Hebrews 9:11–28; John 2:19–21).
Talmudic Judaism, however, developed in direct opposition to Christianity. After 70 AD, as Jewish leaders sought to unify their community, they rejected the claims of Jesus’ followers, codifying a religion that dismissed Him as a false prophet. The Talmud contains passages critical of Jesus, portraying Him as a sorcerer or blasphemer, though these are debated among scholars for their historical context. More fundamentally, Rabbinic Judaism reinterprets messianic prophecies—such as Isaiah 7:14 or Psalm 22—to exclude Jesus, focusing instead on a future human deliverer or national restoration. This rejection of Christ as Messiah severs Talmudic Judaism from the faith of Abraham, who believed in the God who would provide the ultimate sacrifice (Genesis 22:8, 14).
For evangelicals, participating in a Talmudic ritual like the Seder risks blurring this divide. The Seder’s prayers and readings, drawn from the Haggadah, do not acknowledge Jesus as the fulfillment of Passover. Instead, they reinforce a worldview that awaits a different messiah, undermining the gospel’s claim that “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). By joining in this observance, Christians unwittingly lend legitimacy to a religion that denies the core of their faith, creating confusion about the sufficiency of Christ’s work.
PREMILLENNIAL DISPENSATIONALISM: A ROOT OF CONFUSION
The popularity of Seder observance among evangelicals owes much to premillennial dispensationalism, a theological system that emerged in the 19th century through figures like John Nelson Darby and was popularized by the Scofield Reference Bible. Dispensationalism teaches that God has distinct plans for Israel and the Church, with Israel retaining a unique covenantal role that will culminate in a future millennial kingdom. This view often leads to a heightened reverence for Jewish practices, seen as a way to honor God’s “chosen people” and align with biblical prophecy.
While dispensationalism varies in its forms, its influence has led many evangelicals to equate modern Judaism—Talmudic in nature—with the Judaism of the Old Testament. Pastors and ministries encourage Seder celebrations, arguing that they help Christians understand the “Jewish roots” of their faith and prepare for Christ’s return. Some even claim that observing Jewish feasts fulfills a spiritual mandate, citing Romans 11’s imagery of Gentiles being grafted into Israel’s olive tree.
However, this perspective misunderstands both Scripture and history. The Judaism of Abraham, Moses, and David was not Talmudic but covenantal, centered on God’s promises fulfilled in Christ (Galatians 3:16). The New Testament is clear that the Old Covenant’s rituals—sacrifices, feasts, and priesthood—were shadows pointing to Jesus (Colossians 2:16–17; Hebrews 10:1). After His death and resurrection, these practices became obsolete, as the temple veil was torn (Matthew 27:51) and the Law’s demands were nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14). Paul warns against returning to “weak and worthless elements” of the Law, equating it to slavery (Galatians 4:9–11).
Dispensationalism’s emphasis on Israel’s distinct role often ignores this fulfillment, fostering a romanticized view of Jewish tradition. By promoting Seder observance, it conflates Talmudic Judaism with the faith of Abraham, leading Christians to embrace practices that lack biblical warrant and obscure the gospel’s clarity. Easter, a season to exalt Christ’s victory over death, should not be clouded by rituals that belong to a different religious system.
THE BIBLICAL CONDEMNATION OF SYNCRETISM
Scripture is unequivocal in its condemnation of syncretism—the blending of true worship with false. God commanded Israel to worship Him alone, rejecting the practices of surrounding nations (Exodus 20:3–5; Deuteronomy 12:29–31). When Israel adopted pagan rituals, such as the golden calf or Baal worship, God judged them harshly, calling it idolatry (Exodus 32; 1 Kings 18). The prophets warned against mixing the worship of Yahweh with foreign gods, labeling it spiritual adultery (Jeremiah 3:6–10; Ezekiel 8).
The New Testament extends this principle to the Church. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:20–21 that sacrifices offered to idols are offered to demons, and believers cannot partake of both the Lord’s table and the “table of demons.” While the Seder is not overtly occultic, its roots in Talmudic Judaism—a system that rejects Christ—place it outside the worship prescribed by God. Jesus warned that worship must be “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24), and Paul cautioned against being yoked with unbelievers in matters of faith (2 Corinthians 6:14–16). For Christians to adopt a ritual from a religion that denies their Savior risks violating these commands.
The Seder’s symbolism further complicates its use. The Haggadah’s elements—matzah, bitter herbs, the afikomen—carry meanings shaped by Rabbinic tradition, not the New Testament. While some Christians reinterpret these to point to Jesus (e.g., the afikomen as His broken body), this imposes a Christian lens on a non-Christian ritual, creating a hybrid worship that neither fully honors Christ nor respects the Seder’s original context. Such blending dilutes the gospel, suggesting that Christ’s work needs supplementation from human tradition.
Scripture also warns that false worship distracts from true devotion. In Galatians 5:1, Paul urges believers to stand firm in the freedom Christ provides, not submitting to a “yoke of slavery” through legalistic practices. The Seder, as a Talmudic invention, carries the weight of a system that seeks salvation through works and tradition, not faith in Christ. By observing it, Christians may inadvertently shift focus from the resurrection—the ultimate victory—to a ritual that obscures Jesus’ role as the true Passover Lamb.
THE SEDER AS A DISTRACTION FROM CHRIST’S RESURRECTION
Easter is the pinnacle of the Christian calendar, celebrating Jesus’ triumph over sin and death. The resurrection is not merely a historical event but the foundation of the gospel, proving Christ’s deity, atoning work, and promise of eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:14–17). Paul declares that believers are raised with Christ, freed from the Law’s demands, and seated with Him in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:4–6). This season calls for undiluted focus on Jesus, not divided attention with practices that belong to another faith.
The Seder, however well-intentioned, competes for this focus. Its elaborate rituals—reciting the Haggadah, eating symbolic foods, asking the Four Questions—create a spectacle that can overshadow the simplicity of the gospel. Many evangelical Seders are marketed as educational, promising a deeper appreciation of Passover’s “Christian meaning.” Yet, this assumes the Seder has inherent spiritual value for believers, ignoring its post-biblical origins and non-Christian theology. The New Testament provides all the instruction needed to understand Passover’s fulfillment: Christ’s death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 5:7–8).
Moreover, the Seder’s timing during Holy Week heightens its potential to distract. Easter is a time for reflection on the cross and empty tomb, not for reenacting a ritual that looks backward to Egypt rather than forward to the New Jerusalem. The Lord’s Supper, instituted by Jesus Himself, is the appropriate Christian observance, uniting believers in remembrance of His sacrifice (1 Corinthians 11:23–25). Unlike the Seder, Communion is rooted in Christ’s command and carries no risk of syncretism, focusing solely on His body and blood.
The emotional appeal of the Seder—its sense of history, community, and tradition—can also ensnare believers. In a culture craving authenticity, the Seder feels ancient and rooted, even though it is a relatively late invention. This allure can lead Christians to prioritize experience over truth, valuing sentimentality over the sufficiency of Scripture. Easter demands a higher standard: worship that exalts Christ alone, untainted by traditions that dilute His glory.
THE DEMONIC DANGER OF FALSE WORSHIP
The strongest biblical warning against Seder observance comes from Paul’s teaching on false worship. In 1 Corinthians 10:20, he writes, “What pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.” While Paul addresses idolatry in a pagan context, the principle applies to any worship that departs from God’s revealed will. Talmudic Judaism, by rejecting Christ, aligns with a spiritual rebellion that Scripture associates with demonic influence. Jesus Himself warned the religious leaders of His day that their traditions nullified God’s Word, implying a deeper spiritual error (Matthew 15:6–9).
This is not to demonize Jewish people or their faith but to recognize that any religion denying Christ operates outside God’s covenant. The Seder, as a Talmudic ritual, carries the theological weight of this denial. Its prayers and symbols, while meaningful to Jewish practitioners, do not glorify Jesus or acknowledge His fulfillment of the Law. For Christians to participate is to engage in a form of worship that, at best, confuses the gospel and, at worst, opens the door to spiritual deception.
The demonic danger lies in the subtle shift of allegiance. Satan’s strategy is not always overt but often works through distraction and compromise (2 Corinthians 11:14). By adopting the Seder, Christians may believe they are honoring God, but they risk exalting human tradition over divine truth. The Bible warns that even well-meaning worship, if misdirected, is unacceptable (Leviticus 10:1–3; Matthew 7:21–23). Easter, a season of spiritual warfare and victory, demands vigilance against practices that could dilute devotion to Christ.
RECLAIMING EASTER: A CALL TO PURITY
How, then, should evangelicals approach Easter? The answer lies in returning to Scripture’s simplicity. The New Testament prescribes no feasts or rituals beyond Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, both of which center on Christ’s finished work. Easter worship should focus on proclaiming the resurrection, singing hymns of praise, and sharing the gospel with a lost world. Churches can teach about Passover’s significance without reenacting Talmudic rituals, using Scripture to show how Jesus fulfills the Law and prophets (Luke 24:44–47).
Pastors and leaders bear a special responsibility to correct the errors of dispensationalism and syncretism. Teaching on the unity of God’s covenant—fulfilled in Christ, not divided between Israel and the Church—can clarify the relationship between Judaism and Christianity. Believers should be encouraged to study the Old Testament, not to imitate its practices, but to see its promises realized in Jesus. Resources like the book of Hebrews or Paul’s epistles provide ample guidance for understanding this transition.
Families tempted to host Seders should consider alternatives that keep Christ at the center. A meal reflecting on the Last Supper, paired with readings from the Gospels, can foster community without compromising truth. Prayer and worship focused on the resurrection can replace the Seder’s scripted format, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide rather than tradition to dictate.
Ultimately, Easter is a time to celebrate the new creation inaugurated by Christ’s victory (2 Corinthians 5:17). The old has passed away—temple, sacrifices, and feasts included. To cling to shadows when the substance has come is to diminish the glory of the risen Lord.
CHOOSING CHRIST OVER TRADITION
The rise of Seder observance among evangelicals reflects a sincere desire to connect with biblical history, but good intentions cannot override biblical truth. The Seder, rooted in Talmudic Judaism, is not the Passover of Moses or Abraham but a later invention that lacks the priesthood, temple, and sacrifices of authentic Judaism. More critically, it belongs to a religion that denies Jesus as Messiah, diverging from the faith of the patriarchs who looked to Him in hope. Influenced by premillennial dispensationalism, many Christians have embraced this practice, conflating Talmudic tradition with the covenant fulfilled in Christ.
Scripture warns against syncretism, equating false worship with demonic influence and urging believers to worship in truth. The Seder, by diverting attention from the resurrected Christ, risks this very error, turning Easter into a stage for human tradition rather than divine triumph. I urge evangelical Christians to reject Seder observance this Easter, choosing instead to exalt Jesus through worship, proclamation, and obedience to His Word. Let us honor the faith of Abraham—not by imitating Talmudic rituals, but by trusting in the God who raised Christ from the dead, fulfilling every promise and securing our salvation.
This article appeared first at Insight to Incite, and republished by permission in accordance with our partnership to provide Protestia Insiders free access to material behind the paywall on my (JD) personal Substack.