Commentaries:
Jeremiah 10:1-5 reveals a principle that we need to consider in terms of Halloween. The context is the heathen practice of idolatry. In this sense, it is ironic that Halloween comes primarily from the Celts, descendants of the Israelites.
God commands us not to learn the way of the Gentiles, the nations who do not have the revelation of God. The Israelites were different from all the nations chiefly because God had revealed Himself to them and given them His law (Deuteronomy 4:5-8; Amos 3:1-2). The Gentiles invented their own futile, meaningless ways of worship because they did not have the truth.
This is the first reason why we should not keep Halloween. It adds nothing good, that is, nothing of God or godliness, to our character. Being devoid of God's truth, it is simply worthless and a waste of time.
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Halloween
Does Jeremiah Describe a Christmas Tree in Jeremiah 10:2-5?
Although these scriptures picture the carved idols of Jeremiah's time, they are also an accurate description of the Christmas tree we are familiar with today. The practice Jeremiah wrote about was a custom (verse 3) and was associated with "the signs of heaven" (verse 2)—just as Christmas today is a custom and is associated with the winter solstice. People today do not normally associate Christmas with the winter solstice, but that does not change its pagan origin.
Even though these scriptures no doubt had an application to the customs practiced some 2500 years ago, we must keep in mind that the book of Jeremiah is primarily prophecy. Just as with other prophecies, this was written for our time, to our people, and referring to the common customs of the modern world! For instance, Jeremiah also accurately describes such things as hot-cross buns for Easter (Jeremiah 7:18), and Ezekiel sees a vision of worship very much like sunrise services (Ezekiel 8:16)!
We should especially note that cutting down and setting up a tree is termed "the way of the Gentiles [heathen, KJV]." We are commanded not to learn or follow that way (verse 2). This whole passage clearly tells us that using a tree in this manner is idolatry. The basic commandment against idolatry, of course, is found in Exodus 20:4-6. If we try to honor God through any sort of idol or icon, we are guilty of breaking this commandment.
Additional Reading:
'Tis the Season: Help for Our Young People
Christmas, Syncretism and Presumption (1994)
A Sanitary Christmas
Celebrating a Lie
Excusing Paganism in Christmas
The Rea$on for the Season
Insinuating the Savior Into Paganism
The Names of Christmas
Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Jeremiah 10:4:
Jeremiah 10:1-5
John 4:23-24
