The Feasts Series

May 31, 2025

Today we are wrapping up the book of Leviticus and we begin with the Feasts/Festivals of chapter 23.

Yahweh begins by restating the Sabbath Commandment – once again setting the 7th day apart from all other special days or events.

Next, He designated 6 feasts/festivals that Israel was to celebrate throughout the year. 3 of these festivals were designated as “Pilgrim Feasts” in which all able-bodied men as well as those who could make the journey, were required to come to the Sanctuary to worship.

Just like the Sacrifices pointed to Christ’s Atoning work, the Festival Season pointed to the entire arc of Salvation History.

The first 3 festivals occurred in the spring and happened almost simultaneously:

Passover (14th day of the 1st month at sundown)

The Passover celebration with its solemn ceremonies was intended to cause the people to remember their deliverance from Egyptian bondage – a magnificent act of redemption in the OT that foreshadows the cross in the NT.

Christ was “The Passover Lamb” that would deliver the people from the bondage of sin.

John 1:29 - The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Luke 22:7-8, 14-20 - Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover." …. 14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Unleavened Bread (15th-21st = A Pilgrim Feast)

The 1st and 7th days were holy and no work was to be done. During this festival, the people were to eat bread with no yeast in remembrance of their haste in preparing for their exodus from Egypt.

Christ was the pure unleavened “Bread of Life”

John 6:51 - I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

and pointed believers to the importance of removing all spiritual leaven from their lives.

1 Corinthians 5:6-8 - Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast-- as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us keep the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.

First Fruits (16th day)

On the 2nd day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread was the celebration of the First Fruits of the Harvest. A barley sheaf was waved by a priest before the altar of God – acknowledging God’s care and sovereignty. After this ceremony, the grain could be harvested.

Jesus was the First Fruits of the Resurrection and when he returned to heaven, he took with him the firstfruits of the harvest as a promise to his waiting people:

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 - But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

Matthew 27:52-53 - The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

Ephesians 4:8 - This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."

Romans 6:4-5 - We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.