What does Ezekiel 45:21 teach about the role of religious festivals today? The Verse “On the fourteenth day of the first month you are to observe the Passover, a feast of seven days, during which unleavened bread shall be eaten.” (Ezekiel 45:21) Setting the Scene • Ezekiel’s temple vision (chs. 40–48) looks ahead to a restored worship order. • In the midst of future details, God singles out Passover—the foundational act of redemption for Israel (Exodus 12:1-14). Why God Highlights Passover in a Future Age • Redemption remains the center of worship. • Memorial acts are not discarded; they are renewed. • God’s calendar roots His people in specific, shared experiences of salvation. Passover’s Fulfillment in Christ • “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). • The Last Supper occurred on Passover (Luke 22:7-20) and was recast as the New Covenant meal. • Unleavened bread pictures the sinless Christ (John 6:48-51). What Ezekiel 45:21 Teaches About Festivals Today • God still values collective remembrance. If Passover is commanded in a future millennial context, memorial worship has ongoing significance. • Festivals serve as teaching tools: they dramatize doctrine for every generation (Exodus 13:8-9). • They point forward as well as backward—Passover anticipated the cross; future observance will look back to both Egypt and Calvary while celebrating Messiah’s reign. • The verse guards against purely individualistic spirituality. Salvation history is celebrated in community and time. Guiding Principles for the Church • Celebrate redemption regularly. The Lord’s Supper is the direct New-Covenant expression, but special seasons such as Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday echo Passover’s themes. • Keep worship anchored in Scripture’s storyline—creation, fall, redemption, consummation. • Use tangible symbols (bread, cup) the way unleavened bread functioned: to reinforce holiness and sincerity (1 Corinthians 5:8). • Maintain God’s rhythm. Weekly worship and annual celebrations cultivate gratitude and guard against forgetfulness (Deuteronomy 8:11-14). Personal and Corporate Takeaways • Remember: set aside times to recount how the Lord saved you. • Rejoice: festivals foster joy rooted in accomplished redemption (Psalm 118:24). • Renew: search out any “leaven” and walk in purified devotion (2 Corinthians 7:1). • Reach: use celebratory gatherings to testify to unbelievers, just as Passover proclaimed God’s mighty acts to the nations (Joshua 2:9-11). In short, Ezekiel 45:21 reminds us that God-ordained festivals, fulfilled in Christ, still serve the church by anchoring worship in redemption, fostering holiness, and uniting believers in joyful remembrance until He comes. |
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