Study Guide: Halloween, the Dead and the Spirits
Quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB); please check each one in your own Bible.
The Big Idea
The big idea: Scripture says that “the dead don’t know anything,” (Ecclesiastes 9:5), forbids seeking them or practising sorcery, and says Christ came to free those held by the fear of death (Deuteronomy 18:10–12; Hebrews 2:14–15).
Read Aloud
For the living know that they will die, but the dead don’t know anything, neither do they have any more a reward; for their memory is forgotten. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy has perished long ago; neither do they any longer have a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun. Go your way—eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works. Let your garments be always white, and don’t let your head lack oil. Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your life of vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity, for that is your portion in life, and in your labor in which you labor under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor plan, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where you are going.
— Ecclesiastes 9:5–10
When you have come into the land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who tells fortunes, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or someone who consults with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh. Because of these abominations, Yahweh your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless with Yahweh your God. For these nations that you shall dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery and to diviners; but as for you, Yahweh your God has not allowed you so to do.
— Deuteronomy 18:9–14
When they tell you, “Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter,” shouldn’t a people consult with their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? Turn to the law and to the covenant! If they don’t speak according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.
— Isaiah 8:19–20
Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
— Hebrews 2:14–15
One man esteems one day as more important. Another esteems every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks. He who doesn’t eat, to the Lord he doesn’t eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord. Or if we die, we die to the Lord. If therefore we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
— Romans 14:5–8
Where We Stand
Scripture says
- “For the living know that they will die, but the dead don’t know anything,” (Ecclesiastes 9:5).
- Jesus called death a sleep, and said, “Lazarus is dead.” (John 11:14).
- God forbids “one who uses divination, one who tells fortunes, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,” (Deuteronomy 18:10), and the one who “consults with a familiar spirit” (Deuteronomy 18:11).
- “Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?” (Isaiah 8:19).
- Paul lists “idolatry, sorcery” (Galatians 5:20) among the deeds of the flesh.
- Christ came to “deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:15).
- “greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4).
- “He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it.” (Romans 14:6).
We conclude
- Our conclusion: the dead know nothing and sleep until the resurrection, and do not return of themselves to haunt the living (Ecclesiastes 9:5–6; John 5:28–29).
- Our conclusion: Samuel appeared at Endor to speak Yahweh’s judgment, and the account does not make consulting the dead lawful (1 Samuel 28:12, 16–19; 1 Chronicles 10:13).
- Our conclusion: no custom may include practising divination or sorcery or seeking the dead, even in play (Deuteronomy 18:10–11; Isaiah 8:19; Galatians 5:20).
- Our conclusion: Ephesians 5 forbids taking part in the deeds, not every mention or picture of them (Ephesians 5:3–6, 11).
- Our conclusion: a believer need not fear the dead, spirits or the night, for Christ has triumphed over the powers (Colossians 2:15; 1 John 4:4).
- Our conclusion: each believer may keep such a day to the Lord or not, and no one may judge another over it (Romans 14:5–6, 13).
- Our conclusion: the line falls at worship itself, including the nations’ ways of worship brought into the worship of God (Deuteronomy 12:31; Exodus 32:8).
- Our conclusion: a thing once used for idols is not forbidden for that alone (1 Corinthians 10:25–26).
The Hard Questions
- Didn’t Samuel speak after he died, at Endor (1 Samuel 28:11–19)? See The strongest objection under The Dead Know Nothing, and Jesus Will Raise Them.
- Doesn’t Hebrews 12:1 say the dead watch us? See the answer under The Dead Know Nothing, and Jesus Will Raise Them.
- Didn’t Jesus and the disciples speak of ghosts (Matthew 14:26; Luke 24:37–39)? See A second objection under The Dead Know Nothing, and Jesus Will Raise Them.
- Isn’t fortune telling harmless if it is only a game (Romans 14:14; 1 Corinthians 10:19)? See The strongest objection under God Forbids Seeking the Dead and Practising Sorcery.
- Must believers avoid anything that portrays witchcraft, spirits or the dead (Ephesians 5:3–12; Romans 12:9)? See A second objection under God Forbids Seeking the Dead and Practising Sorcery.
- What about 1 Thessalonians 5:22 and 2 Corinthians 6:14–17? See the answer under God Forbids Seeking the Dead and Practising Sorcery.
- Does a costume give “place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27; 1 Peter 5:8)? See The strongest objection under Christ Has Freed His People from the Fear of Death.
- Don’t Halloween’s origins make it pagan (Deuteronomy 12:30–31; Jeremiah 10:2–3; Galatians 4:8–10)? See The strongest objection under Each Believer Keeps a Day, or Does Not, to the Lord.
- Isn’t God to be worshipped only as he commands (Deuteronomy 12:32; 1 Kings 12:33)? See the answer under Each Believer Keeps a Day, or Does Not, to the Lord.
- Are the dead conscious before the resurrection? See Whether the dead are conscious before the resurrection under Questions Answered.
- What about days Scripture does not command? See Days Scripture does not command, such as Christmas and Halloween under Questions Answered.
- Does salvation depend on settling every one of these questions? See Whether salvation depends on these questions under Questions Answered.
Discussion Questions
- What does Ecclesiastes 9:5 say the dead know? (See The Dead Know Nothing, and Jesus Will Raise Them.)
- How does 1 Chronicles 10:13 help you read Saul’s visit to Endor? (See the answer under The Dead Know Nothing, and Jesus Will Raise Them.)
- What does Deuteronomy 18:9–10 forbid, and why does it reach even a game? (See The strongest objection under God Forbids Seeking the Dead and Practising Sorcery.)
- According to Hebrews 2:14–15, why did the Son share our flesh and blood? (See Christ Has Freed His People from the Fear of Death.)
- How do Romans 14:6 and 1 Corinthians 10:29 fit together when believers choose differently about a day? (See Each Believer Keeps a Day, or Does Not, to the Lord.)
- What does Jesus promise in John 11:25, and what does it mean to you this season? (See Hope.)
Hope
He told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.” (John 11:25). And of the day to come, God promises, “Death will be no more;” (Revelation 21:4).
For the Leader
Allow about 45 minutes for one session. Read Ecclesiastes 9:5–10 first, then Deuteronomy 18:9–14, Isaiah 8:19–20, Hebrews 2:14–15 and Romans 14:5–8. Invite everyone to open and check each verse in their own Bible.
© 2026 Elvis Lucas, Open the Text. Original: https://openthetext.com/series/days-and-feasts/02-halloween-the-dead-and-the-spirits-study-guide/
Quoting and Sharing