“The Gospel According to Leviticus 23”
Leviticus 23:1-14
By
Dr. Steven G. Cook
I. Introduction
A. Read – Leviticus 23:1-14
B. God instituted “7 Feasts” for the nation of Israel to observe.
C. These feasts provide a 2-Fold Purpose.
D. To Israel, the 7 Feasts provided “Object Lessons” to remind them how merciful and gracious Jehovah had been to them as a nation.
E. To the Church, the 7 Feasts provide us a beautiful portrait of Christ and God’s prophetic time-table for the ages.
F. The first three (3) feasts, Feast of Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, and Feast of Firstfruits, are all closely related, and they are observed in the first month of the Jewish calendar, Nisan.
G. The last three feasts, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Feast of Tabernacles are also closely related, and they are observed in the seventh month of the Jewish calendar.
H. Between these two groups is the fourth feast called the Feast of Pentecost.
I. The first four feasts are Past and have been literally fulfilled by Christ.
J. These last three feasts are Future, and will be literally fulfilled by Christ.
K. The 23rd Chapter of Leviticus is replete with symbolism, types, and shadows.
L. God was very practical in giving instructions for all 7 Feasts in only one chapter.
M. If there was one portion of the Torah that every Jew knew and remembered, it was this chapter; Any error in observing these feasts would mean banishment!
N. Today, religious Jews observe these feasts in “altered forms”; without a temple & sacrificial worship it is impossible for them to observe the “letter of the Law”.
O. Because of this, the 7 Feasts have largely lost their “efficacy & meaning”, therefore, the Jews do not comprehend the important “prophetic inferences” contained in these feasts.
II. The Establishment of the Sabbath (Lev. 23:1-3)
A. The “religious calendar” of Israel is the subject of the entire chapter.
B. Notice that the Sabbath was established as a day of “NO WORK”
C. In all of the feasts there was NO WORK to be done, except by the Priest!
D. What a beautiful picture of salvation – Only the work of our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ, availeth anything!
III. The Feast of Passover (Lev. 23:4-5)
A. The Passover – not much is stated concerning this first feast; Obviously, most Jews fully understood it well, for not long ago it was first observed in Egypt.
B. On the 10th day of the first month (Nisan), each Jewish family chose a lamb, without spot or blemish, and observed it for 4 days (Exodus 12).
C. This lamb was provided “redemption from bondage” – It was slain and roasted with fire; its blood was smeared upon the door posts and lintels.
D. 1 Cor. 5:7 clearly reveals the type fulfilled by Christ – “Christ is our Passover!”
E. Gal. 4:4-6 reveals that the “Blood of Jesus Christ” was shed for the sins of the world.
F. The Passover clearly depicts the “Sacrificial, Substitutionary Death of Christ”.
IV. The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Lev. 23:6-8)
A. The Feast of Unleavened Bread occurred in close conjunction with Passover.
B. It lasted 7 days, beginning with the 15th day of the first month, and continued until the 21st day.
C. During this feast, NO unleavened bread was to be eaten – Leaven in the Word of God depicts SIN.
D. This feast illustrates that one’s life should be free from all sin and malice – of course the only way this is possible is to be “IN Christ”
E. You will notice that there is no lapse of time between “Passover (Redemption)” and “Unleavened Bread (Holiness)”
F. Many today attempt to “excuse themselves” because they are “babes in Christ”
G. Today, religious Jews eat “matzo” (unleavened bread) during this feast – This matzo bread is pin-striped, pierced, & pure, yet they do not see the significance.
V. The Feast of Firstfruits (Lev. 23:9-14)
A. On the 17th day of the first month, every Jew was to offer a “wave offering”, made up of a sheaf of barley wheat as the firstfruits of their harvest.
B. This feast is a wonderful picture of Christ’s Resurrection from the Grave!
C. 1 Cor. 15:20 – “Jesus Christ is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep”
D. In these first 3 Feasts we see a clear presentation of the Gospel – The DEATH, BURIAL, & RESURRECTION OF CHRIST (1 Cor. 15:3-4)
E. Question: Was Jesus Crucified on a Friday? Or Wednesday?
F. On Sunday 10th day of 1st month – Jesus presented Himself as Messiah (Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem)
G. On Wednesday at 9:00am, Jesus was crucified as our Passover Lamb
H. He was hurriedly buried BEFORE 6:00pm because the Jews were about to observe the Feast of Passover on 14th day of Nisan
I. Sometime after 6:00pm Saturday, Jesus arose from the grave – on the 17th day of 1st month – 1 Cor. 15:20 – “Jesus Christ is the Firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep”
J. The Gospel According to Leviticus 23! Jesus literally fulfilled each of these feasts as our Passover, without spot or blemish (sin), & the Firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep! Because HE LIVES, we shall live also!
K. Matt. 12:38-40 – By this explanation, we also see how Jesus literally spent 3 days & 3 nights in the heart of the earth as He said He would.
VI. The Feast of Pentecost (Lev. 23:15-22)
A. Having examined the first three feasts, we now come to the fourth – The Feast of Pentecost.
B. This fourth feast is called by a variety of names – Pentecost (Greek for Fifty); Feast of Weeks; Feast of Harvest; Shavuot (Hebrew for Feast of Weeks)
C. This feast marked the “summer harvest” – the second harvest of the year; a greater harvest than that of Firstfruits, but not as many as the fall harvest.
D. This feast was observed “exactly 50 days” after Firstfruits.
E. How significant that the Day of Pentecost would also be exactly 50 days following the Resurrection of Christ (17th day of Nisan).
F. In Acts 1:1-14; 2:1-6 we read of the Day of Pentecost, in which the Church was empowered by the Holy Spirit.
G. It is also significant that 2 “Wave Loaves” were offered – These 2 loaves were to be equal in weight, baked with leaven (type of sin), and called firstfruits.
H. These loaves picture sinful mankind – both Jew & Gentile – equal in importance to the Lord, but diseased by the leaven of sin.
I. On this historic Day of Pentecost, the Church was empowered and Peter preached boldly – 3,000 souls were saved – both Jew & Gentile (Acts 2:21; 39)
J. The number, 3,000, is same number that perished for worshiping the golden calf when the Law came down at Mt. Sinai (Exod. 32:28).
K. Today, the Church is made up of both Jew & Gentile (1 Cor. 12:13) baptized by one spirit into one body – The Church.
VII. The Feast of Trumpets (Lev. 23:23-25)
A. We now come to the 5th feast – The Feast of Trumpets.
B. Remember, the first four feasts are history – They have already been fulfilled.
C. In the Feast of Trumpets, we see a beautiful illustration of the Rapture of the Church – the next great event on God’s prophetic calendar.
D. The Feast of Firstfruits celebrated the “spring harvest” and was observed in the fist month, Nisan.
E. The Feast of Pentecost celebrated the “summer harvest” and was observed 50 days after Firstfruits. The summer harvest yielded more fruit than the first.
F. The Feast of Trumpets celebrated the “fall harvest” which was the greatest harvest of the year.
G. It was celebrated on the 1st day of the 7th Month, Tishrei, and was initiated by the blowing of the Trumpet.
H. God seems to enjoy the Trumpet ever since Isaac was spared by virtue of the “ram’s horn” caught in the thicket on Mt. Moriah (Gen. 22)
I. On the first day of the Feast of Trumpets, the high priest would stand upon the SW parapet of the Temple and blow the trumpet.
J. At that time, the Jewish workers in the fields would immediately stop harvesting and go up to the Temple mount and worship.
K. Those who were not religious would continue on with their harvesting.
L. What a picture of the Rapture of the Church!
M. The longest span of time between any two feasts is the time between the Feast of Pentecost & Feast of Trumpets.
N. The Church was empowered on Pentecost and it has been nearly 2,000 years since the Lord ascended to His Father.
O. 2 Peter 3:9 gives us the reason why the Lord has not yet returned for His Bride, the Church – He is longsuffering toward usward, not willing that any perish.
P. 1 Thess. 4:16-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-52 clearly reveal that the Rapture will also be initiated by the sounding of a Trumpet.
Q. Certainly, it will be the greatest harvest of all time – Every believer since Pentecost will be resurrected or translated, caught up together in the air to meet Christ in the clouds! Hallelujah!
R. We see a beautiful picture of the Rapture in Joshua 6:5, when Israel was told to “ASCEND UP into the city” after they heard the blowing of the trumpet!
S. Sadly, only a remnant of Israel will be harvested on that great day – Jer. 8:20 states, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!”
VIII. The Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:26-32)
A. We now come to the 6th feast – The Day of Atonement.
B. Even in Leviticus, we find that the Pre-Tribulation View of the rapture!
C. The purpose of the Day of Atonement was to illustrate that God “requires blood for atonement of sin” (Lev. 17:11).
D. This feast began on the 10th day of the 7th Month (Tishrei)
E. During this feast, the Jew was not allowed to work, and each Jew was to “afflict their souls” for a period of 24 hours.
F. Can YOU imagine staying awake for 24 hours “confessing your sins”?
G. You might if you believed that your eternal destiny depended upon it!
H. During this day, only the high priest was allowed to work.
I. Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest – only He can do the work necessary for our salvation!
J. This Day of Atonement gives us a prophetic picture of the Tribulation, in which the nation of Israel will be judged for rejecting Messiah, and purged in order to prepare them for the Kingdom.
K. Read – Zach. 12:10-13:1; 6
IX. The Feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:33-44)
A. The 7th and last feast outlined in Leviticus is The Feast of Tabernacles.
B. It was observed following the Day of Atonement and was a week long feast beginning on the 15th day of the 7th Month (September/October).
C. The purpose of reminding Israel that Jehovah alone was responsible for bringing them out of bondage. Their deliverance was not by works, but by grace!
D. It was also gracious in a day of when Israel “afflicted their souls” that God provided them a brighter day to look forward to in the Feast of Tabernacles.
E. During this particular feast, the Jews were to build little shelters, tabernacles (tents), outside their houses and worship in them.
F. It marked the completion of the whole harvest by the ingathering of the grapes.
G. This time of harvesting was an excellent time for them to reflect upon the goodness and grace of God in their lives.
H. It was a time of “thanksgiving” for the blessings of the Lord.
I. This feast also pictures a future event – The Millennial Kingdom of Christ.
J. Christ will provide Shelter during His 1,000 year reign!
K. The Feast of Tabernacles will be observed during this time as well – Read Zech. 14:16-19
L. ALL THE WORLD WILL KNOW JESUS IS MESSIAH!
X. Conclusion
A. In the 7 Feasts of the Lord we see God’s plan for the ages.
B. Jesus first came as the Lamb of God to offer Himself for the sin of the world, but the next time He comes, He will come as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
C. It is interesting to consider that Antichrist will commit the “Abomination of Desolation” in the middle of the Tribulation Period (Matt. 24:15).
D. Since the Day of Atonement depicts the Tribulation, and it begins on the 10th day of the 7th Month, let us consider for a moment why Antichrist chooses to announce he is God to the world in the middle of the Tribulation.
E. Christ is our Passover (1 Cor. 5:7), and Jesus entered Jerusalem on Sunday, 10th of Nisan (1st month) announcing He was Messiah, however He was rejected by the ruling Jews of that day.
F. Antichrist is nothing but Satan’s counterfeit Christ who attempts to imitate God.
G. IF the Day of Atonement begins on the 10th day of the 7th month, and 3 ½ years pass, then this would bring us to the 10th day of the 1st month, the exact same day in which Christ presented Himself!
H. HAVE YOU ACCEPTED CHRIST AS SAVIOUR? WHY NOT DO SO NOW!
