What does the "day of Unleavened Bread" symbolize in the context of Luke 22:7? Setting the Scene Luke 22:7 records a decisive moment: “Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed.” With those few words, Luke links three powerful ideas—Unleavened Bread, Passover, and sacrifice—into one rich symbol that points directly to Jesus. Old Testament Roots of the Day • Exodus 12:14–20; 13:6–10—God commands Israel to eat unleavened bread for seven days after the Passover night. • Leviticus 23:6–8—The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a separate, week-long festival that begins the day after Passover but is so closely tied to Passover that the two are often spoken of together. • Deuteronomy 16:3—Unleavened bread is called “the bread of affliction,” a permanent reminder of Israel’s hasty exit from Egypt. Why Remove the Leaven? • Leaven works silently and pervasively; in Scripture it often pictures the spreading effect of sin (Genesis 19:3; Luke 12:1). • Removing every trace of leaven (“yeast”) from the house dramatized God’s call to a clean break with Egypt’s pagan culture and a fresh, holy start (Exodus 12:15). • Paul makes the symbolism explicit: “Clean out the old leaven… For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7–8). How the Day Points to Jesus • Timed with the Sacrifice—Luke 22:7 stresses that the day arrived “on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed.” Jesus is that Lamb (John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:18-19). • Sinless Savior—Just as the bread was to be without leaven, Christ lived without sin (Hebrews 4:15). • Immediate Departure—Israel left Egypt in haste; at the cross, believers are transferred instantly “from the domain of darkness” (Colossians 1:13). • Ongoing Purity—The week-long feast pictures a lifetime of walking in the holiness Christ secured (Romans 6:4). Key Symbolic Layers Summarized • Deliverance: God’s mighty rescue from bondage. • Substitution: A spotless lamb died so the firstborn could live. • Purity: All leaven (sin) removed, signaling wholehearted devotion. • Communion: Shared, simple bread unites the redeemed people around God’s provision. Practical Takeaways • Celebrate your rescue—regularly remember that freedom from sin’s penalty came at the cost of the Lamb. • Sweep out old leaven—confess anything that infects your heart, home, or relationships (1 John 1:9). • Keep the feast—live every day in the sincerity and truth pictured by unleavened bread (1 Corinthians 5:8). • Look forward—just as Unleavened Bread followed Passover, resurrection life follows the cross; the empty tomb validates the sinless sacrifice (Luke 24:1-7). On the Day of Unleavened Bread, Luke shows us more than a date on the calendar; he shows us a living portrait of Jesus—our sinless, sacrificial, saving Passover Lamb—and calls us to walk in the freedom and purity He provides. |
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