Topical Bible: Passover: Penalty for Neglecting to Observe

◄ Passover: Penalty for Neglecting to Observe ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Passover, a pivotal feast in the Jewish calendar, commemorates the Israelites' deliverance from Egyptian bondage, as described in the Book of Exodus. It is a time of remembrance and obedience, instituted by God as a perpetual ordinance for the people of Israel. The observance of Passover is not merely a cultural tradition but a divine commandment with significant spiritual implications.

Biblical Mandate

The institution of Passover is detailed in Exodus 12, where God commands the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb and mark their doorposts with its blood, signifying their faith and obedience. This act was to be remembered annually as a lasting ordinance. The Berean Standard Bible states in Exodus 12:14, "This day is to be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a feast to the LORD. You are to celebrate it as a permanent statute for the generations to come."

Penalty for Neglect

The seriousness of observing Passover is underscored by the penalties prescribed for neglecting this command. Numbers 9:13 provides a clear directive: "But if anyone who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, that person must be cut off from his people because he did not present the LORD’s offering at its appointed time. That man will bear the consequences of his sin."

This passage highlights the gravity of failing to observe Passover without a valid reason, such as ceremonial uncleanness or being on a journey. The phrase "cut off from his people" indicates a severe consequence, often interpreted as excommunication or exclusion from the community of Israel. This penalty reflects the covenantal nature of the feast and the importance of communal participation in God's redemptive acts.

Theological Implications

The penalty for neglecting Passover underscores the broader theological theme of covenant faithfulness. Observing Passover is an act of obedience and a demonstration of one's commitment to the covenant relationship with God. It serves as a reminder of God's deliverance and the necessity of aligning one's life with His commands.

In the New Testament, the significance of Passover is further illuminated through the lens of Christ's sacrificial death, often referred to as the "Passover Lamb" (1 Corinthians 5:7). This connection reinforces the importance of remembrance and obedience, as believers are called to live in light of Christ's redemptive work.

Historical Context

Historically, the observance of Passover has been a central aspect of Jewish identity and religious practice. The penalties for neglecting this feast reflect the communal and spiritual dimensions of the law, emphasizing the collective responsibility of the Israelites to uphold God's statutes. Throughout the Old Testament, the failure to observe Passover and other feasts often coincided with periods of spiritual decline and disobedience, leading to divine judgment and calls for repentance.

In summary, the penalty for neglecting to observe Passover serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of obedience to God's commands and the communal nature of worship. It highlights the enduring significance of Passover as a testament to God's deliverance and the call to live faithfully within the covenant community.

Nave's Topical Index

Numbers 9:13
But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and declines to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

That the Fast of Lent is not Sufficient to Make us Competent to ...
... for thee, but will also demand a penalty of thee ... to call upon God, whilst thou art
thus neglecting His laws ... out of his reverence for the Holy Passover, will be ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily xx that the fast.htm

Covenant Duties.
... charge preferred against some who, either by neglecting the duty ... the power of those
to inflict a penalty, or from ... stranger, had a right to eat of the passover. ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter iv covenant duties.htm

Christ a Complete Saviour:
... priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that
this man have somewhat also to offer.' (Hebrews 8:3) And, observe it, the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/christ a complete saviour .htm