How does the Feast of Unleavened Bread connect to Jesus' sacrifice in the New Testament? Exodus 13:6—A Seven-Day Picture of Redemption “For seven days you must eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there is to be a feast to the LORD.” Why God Banned the Leaven • Leaven works invisibly, spreading through the dough—an everyday picture of how sin permeates a heart (cf. Galatians 5:9). • Removing every trace of yeast taught Israel to take sin seriously and to act quickly in obedience (Exodus 12:39). • Eating only unleavened bread underscored purity and separation unto God for the full span of seven days—symbolic completeness. Jesus—The True Unleavened Bread • Sinless nature: “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.” (1 Peter 2:22, cf. Hebrews 4:15) • Bread from heaven: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven.” (John 6:51) • In His body, there is no “leaven”; His flawless life qualified Him to be the once-for-all sacrifice (2 Corinthians 5:21). From Exodus to Calvary—How the Feast Finds Its Fulfillment 1. Timing in the Gospels – “On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?’” (Matthew 26:17). – Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper during the same feast, holding the unleavened bread and declaring, “This is My body, which is given for you.” (Luke 22:19). 2. Death and burial – Passover (Jesus’ crucifixion) is immediately followed by Unleavened Bread (His burial). The spotless Lamb is slain, and the sinless body rests in the tomb—no corruption, no leaven (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27). 3. Corporate cleansing – “Get rid of the old yeast, that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the feast…” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). Paul applies the feast’s meaning to church discipline and holy living. 4. Ongoing fellowship – The seven-day span mirrors continual communion with Christ. Believers feed on His sinless life day by day, not just at conversion. Living the Feast in Daily Discipleship • Search and sweep: Regular self-examination, confessing any hidden sins as Israel searched houses for yeast (Psalm 139:23-24). • Feast on Christ: Nourish the soul with Scripture and the Lord’s Table, remembering His body given for us (John 6:56). • Walk in newness: Put off “old yeast” of malice and wickedness; put on sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8). • Celebrate deliverance: Just as Israel left Egypt in haste, we keep moving forward, refusing to return to old bondage (Romans 6:17-18). The Old Testament calendar marked the moment Israel walked out of slavery with bread untainted by yeast. The New Testament reveals the deeper reality: the sinless Savior whose sacrifice sets us free and invites us to a lifelong, leaven-free feast of holiness with Him. |
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