Why Study the Feasts?

In Leviticus 23 God commanded the Jews to celebrate seven feasts.

1. The Passover, v.5 
2. Unleavened Bread, v.6
3. First Fruits, v.11
4. Pentecost, v.16 
5. Trumpets, v.24
6. Atonement, v.27
7. Tabernacles, v.34 

Why is it important to study these feasts? 

1. Though God gave the feasts to the Jews, Leviticus 23:2 refers to the feasts as “the…feasts of the Lord…” not "the...feasts of the Jews..." This implies that the feasts have just as much significance for Gentiles as Jews (“Gentile” is the Bible term for anyone who isn’t Jewish). 
2. Some mistakenly believe that Jesus came to do away with the feasts and the other rules of the Old Testament Law so they think the feasts aren't important to study, but that's not what Jesus taught. Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.” That is, Jesus came as the reality of Who the feasts had pointed to for 1,500 years. But without studying the feasts we'll never understand how Jesus fulfilled them. And without understanding how Jesus fulfilled the feasts we won't have nearly the confidence we could have that Jesus is indeed God's promised Messiah. 
3. Christianity is rooted in Judaism. To better appreciate Christianity, one must be somewhat familiar with Judaism. And a huge part of Judaism was the annual celebration of these seven feasts. 
4. When we better understand the feasts we will worship God with renewed passion, for we will have new understanding of the depths of his wisdom in unfolding to us his plan of salvation, which is vividly portrayed through the feasts.