What connections exist between Exodus 34:25 and New Testament teachings on sacrifice? Exodus 34:25—The Command Reviewed “You must not offer the blood of My sacrifice with anything leavened, and the sacrifice of the Feast of Passover must not remain until morning.” Leaven Forbidden: A Picture of Sin and Purity • In Scripture, leaven often pictures sin’s silent, spreading influence. • Jesus: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” (Luke 12:1) • Paul: “A little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough.” (1 Corinthians 5:6) • Exodus 34:25 insists that no leaven accompany the blood offering. • New Testament connection: Christ’s sacrifice is utterly pure, undefiled by sin (Hebrews 4:15). • Believers sharing in His sacrifice are called to remove spiritual leaven—repentance and holy living (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). The Blood Set Apart: Christ’s Pure Sacrifice • Old Covenant: Blood of the Passover lamb spared Israel’s firstborn (Exodus 12:13). • New Covenant: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). • Christ’s blood is not mixed with leaven (sin, human merit, religious add-ons). • Hebrews 9:12-14—His own blood secures eternal redemption, cleansing the conscience. Nothing Left Until Morning: Completeness and Urgency • Passover lamb consumed entirely the same night (Exodus 12:10); Exodus 34:25 repeats that principle. • New Testament echoes: • Deuteronomy 21:23 required that a hanged body not remain overnight; John 19:31 records Jesus’ body removed before morning, fulfilling the law. • Christ’s sacrifice is fully effective once for all—nothing “left over” to finish later (Hebrews 10:12-14). • Application: respond to the Gospel now; do not postpone appropriating the finished work of Christ (2 Corinthians 6:2). Paul’s Passover Message: 1 Corinthians 5 • “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” (v. 7) • Two commands that mirror Exodus 34:25: • Remove the old leaven (sin, malice, wickedness). • Keep the feast with unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. • Paul sees the original Passover regulations as directly pointing to Christian holiness flowing from Christ’s sacrifice. Hebrews: One Sacrifice for All Time • Hebrews 9–10 contrasts repeated animal offerings with Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice. • No admixture of leavened works—salvation rests solely on His blood (Hebrews 9:14). • No leftovers—nothing further needed; “By one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14) Living Out the Connection Today • Trust wholly in Christ’s unmixed, sufficient blood; avoid blending the Gospel with human effort or tradition. • Keep short accounts with sin—clear out “leaven” quickly, guarding purity of life and doctrine. • Let urgency mark devotion: cling to Christ’s sacrifice today, not “leaving it until morning.” • Celebrate the continual “feast” of sincerity and truth, displaying the moral freedom His Passover accomplishes. |
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