PASSOVER & THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD BASICS

PASSOVER BASICS

What is the Passover & Feast of Unleavened Bread in the Bible?

Passover or Pesach (/ˈpɛsɑːx, ˈpeɪsɑːx/; from Hebrew פֶּסַח Pesah, Pesakh), is the MOST important, biblically commanded High holy day, it celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery and their exodus from Egypt, almost 3000 years ago. The Israelites were led out of slavery in Egypt by The God of Israel and His humbled servant Moses. When the Pharaoh freed the Israelites, it is said that they left in such a hurry that they could not wait for bread dough to rise (leaven). In commemoration, for the duration of Passover no leavened bread is eaten, for which reason Passover was called the feast of unleavened bread in the Torah or Old Testament.

What to eat on Passover:

Israelites eat unleavened bread throughout the 8-day holiday. They are prohibited from eating any leavened product (including pasta, cereal, wheat crackers and (of course) bread) during the week of Passover. Israelites are required by the scriptures to eat roasted Lamb with bitter herbs and unleavened bread with a glass of (kosher) wine.

Luke 22:1 "Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover."

The Passover, also known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread, is a High Holy Day. This convocation serves to bring into remembrance the day when the Children of Israel were delivered from ancient Egypt (house of bondage). The name “Passover” was given to this holy day because the Most High brought the curse of the slaying of the firstborn upon Egypt. The blood which was sprinkled on the two side posts would cause the destroyer to “Passover” the homes of those that kept this ordinance (Exodus 12:12-13, 21-23). This ordinance was to be taught and recalled by every generation.

Exodus 12:26-27 "And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?" 27 "That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD’S Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped."

Exodus 12:30-34 "And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead."  31 "And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said." 32 "Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also." 33 "And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.  And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders."

Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread is kept in the first month of the true year (Abib) on the 14th day at even. This feast is kept during the spring season. The Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread is kept for seven days until the 21st day at even. During the week of the feast, no leavened foods or products can be consumed, instead we must eat “unleavened” bread during the feast week.

Exodus 34:18 "The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt."

Exodus 12:18 "In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even."

Exodus 12:19 "Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land."

Exodus 12:16 "Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land."

It was also commanded that we take a lamb and sacrifice it for the Passover.

Exodus 12:21 "Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the Passover."

But now Christ (Yahawashi) has become that lamb without blemish for Israel. Through him we shall receive deliverance from our sins and bondage from our enemies as our forefathers did from Egypt.

1 Corinthians 5:7 "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:" 8 "Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."

Jeremiah 16:14-15 "Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; 15 But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers."

Now it was said above by the Apostle Paul "therefore let us keep the feast;" and we should ask ourselves how do we keep the feast? By congregating with your family and fellow believing Israelites as our forefathers did in the past.

Luke 22:8-12 "And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the Passover, that we may eat." 9 And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? 10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. 11 And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples?" 12 And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

Luke 22:8-12 describes how Christ kept the Passover with his disciples and how they prepared the same meal that we are to eat even today on this High Holy Day. What does the meal consist of? The Passover meal consists of Lamb or Goat (read Exodus 12:5), Bitter Herbs, Unleavened Bread (read Exodus 12:8) and Wine (read Matthew 28:18-20, 26-29). Please also read the whole chapter of Exodus 12 to be instructed in how to prepare the Passover Meal.

We pray and hope that this lesson will guide you to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread/Passover in accordance to the desire of the Heavenly Father in the name of his Holy Son Jesus the Christ.

Exodus 12:17 "And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever."