Bible Verses For Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a celebration of African heritage. The holiday was created by Maulana Karenga, who wanted to create a new cultural identity for black Americans. Kwanzaa celebrates seven principles: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Nia (purpose), Kuumbwa (creativity), Imani (faith), and Imali (community).
Kwanzaa was originally celebrated from December 26th through January 1st but has become an annual event. In 2016, President Obama declared the last Monday of December as Kwanzaa Day.
To celebrate Kwanzaa, you should read these Bible verses. They are perfect for the occasion.
1 Corinthians 10:31 – “And God is not a God of disorder but peace.”
2 Timothy 2:22 – “God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved.”
Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Isaiah 43:18 – “I am Yahweh, that is my name; My glory will I not give to another or let my praise go forth to a mortal.”
Psalm 23:6 – “Even though I walk in dark places, Your light shines on me.”
Matthew 5:13 – “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”
Luke 4:16 – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed.”
Matthew 25:34 – “For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger, and you welcomed Me into your home, I was naked, and you clothed Me, I was sick, and you cared for Me, I was in prison, and you came to visit Me.”
Deuteronomy 30:19 – “May Yahweh bless you and keep you; May Yahweh makes His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; May Yahweh turn His face toward you and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26 – “Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron and his sons and say to them, “This is what Yahweh says: If any man sins against his neighbor unintentionally without malice, he must restore him. And if the matter involves damage done to his neighbor’s property, he must pay back double the amount. For every violation, there is now restitution.”‘”
Numbers 15:30 – “But when you come to the land which Yahweh gives to you, and your children and they take some woman, and she bears a son, and you see him among those who are living alone, and one does not know whether the boy is his father’s or not, then you shall bring out the young woman to the elders of the city, and you shall say before their eyes, ‘The girl is a virgin; she bore a son, and now she is living with her parents, and they were not aware of the young woman being pregnant. This is the thing that Yahweh commanded me: so shall the case be. You shall require the young woman to live as a daughter-in-law with you, and you shall take her to yourself to wife. For thus said Yahweh, ‘Look after the welfare of Levite’s widow and fatherless child, so that they may continue in your midst and you may not suffer loss.'”
Romans 12:17 – “Therefore, I exhort you, brothers, because of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind so that you may approve what is superior about the law, the gospel, and the commandments.”
Romans 13:8 – “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, do not covet,’ etc., have been summed up in this word, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.”
1 Corinthians 8:4 – “Now these things happened to us as examples, just as we are also going through the same things, so that you should beware of becoming entangled again in such things.”
And in addition to the above, Paul also speaks of the Law of Moses in Romans 3:31 – “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.”
Jesus Christ himself refers to the Old Testament numerous times (see Luke 24:44, 47, 49). He taught that the Law of Moses was still applicable to Christians (Matt 5:17) but pointed out that it would be impossible to follow all of its requirements:
Matthew 5:21–22 – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these great commandments that I am commanding you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them at home, in the street, everywhere.”
Matthew 22:37–40 – “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment? Jesus replied, ‘The most important one is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole strength.’ These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress these words on your children. Talk to them about them while sitting down to eat and standing up to pray.”
Luke 10:27–28 – “For whoever keeps my commands will never see death.”
Luke 11:29–32 – “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
John 14:15 – “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”
Acts 2:38 – “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and turn to God, so your sins may be wiped away.’ When they heard this, they began to mourn and weep.”
Act 17:11 – “I know that fierce wolves will come in among you after my departure, not sparing the flock. Also, from among yourselves, men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore be on the alert. Remember that night and day for three years. I did not cease warning every person with tears.”
Act 20:20 – “And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all sanctified.”
In sum, nothing in the Bible says that Christians must live according to the Mosaic Laws. The New Covenant is much more comprehensive than the old covenant. It includes the entire law of God, including the Ten Commandments, but it goes far beyond that.
