Nazarene Israelite Two House Congregation of Port Elizabeth

The Feast of Unleavened Bread 2021.

Most people, who confess to believe Messiah, teach that there is nothing more for them to do, but believe in His sacrifice for our sin. That is perhaps why they portray Messiah as a dead Savior hanging on a cross. Messiah’s death on the final Passover that He kept, was necessary to pay the death penalty that we deserved for our past sins, in order to reconcile us to the Father. However, His death alone will not finally save us!  If Messiah Y’shua had died for our sins, but had not been resurrected, His death alone would not make eternal life possible for us. Accepting Y’shua Messiah as our personal Passover sacrifice is only the beginning of G-d’s plan to bring human beings into His Family. 

Shall we continue to sin, after our past sins have been covered by the blood of Messiah? This is exactly the question asked by Rav Shaul in Roman 6: 1, in this way: ‘What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? He answers in verses 2, saying: ‘May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Rav Shaul continues saying in verses 15 - 18, ‘What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! (16) Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? (17) But thanks be to G-d that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, (18) and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.’ It is true; we are saved by grace through faith (as per Ephesians 2: 8). Rav Shaul therefore asks again in Romans 3: 31, saying: ‘Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.’ In fact, when someone asked Y’shua in Matthew 19: 16, saying: “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?  Y’shua answered in verses 17, saying: “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into (eternal) life, keep the commandments.” G-d is at this time busy creating holy, righteous and perfect characters in those of us whom He has called out of the world into His congregation of believers. Man, presently only a clay model, is in the process of being created in the character of the image of G-d. This is confirmed in Romans 8: 29, as follows: ‘For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-bornamong many brethren.’

Since the Ten Commandments describe G-d’s character and nature, keeping His Law is absolutely necessary to ensure spiritual growth.  We are required to obey the Master Potter allowing Him to mold His perfect character in us, while we are still mortal flesh and blood. Accepting Y’shua Messiah’s sacrifice for the forgiveness of our past sins is only the first step on the road to salvation. To help us understand the next step in G-d’s Master Plan of salvation, HASHEM instituted the second annual festival, the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It is by observing the Feast of Unleavened Bread that we get to understand that we must do our part to keep the sins that Y’shua covered by His shed blood out of our lives. It is as witnessed in Exodus 13: 9, by keeping the Feast of Unleavened Bread as a sign that we want to be obedient to G-d’s Torah, in this way: ‘And it shall serve as a sign to you on your hand, and as a reminder on your forehead (like tefillin), that the law of HASHEM may be in your mouth; for with a powerful hand HASHEM brought you out of Egypt (symbolic of our personal sin).’As Rav Shaul explains in 1 Corinthians 5: 8, leaven is also a symbol of sin, as follows: ‘Let us therefore celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.’ G-d commanded our ancient forefathers to put all leaven out of their homes and off their property and to eat unleavened bread during this seven-day long festival. It is for this reason that the Feast of Unleavened Bread reminds believers in HASHEM that we are to strive to put sin out of our lives completely. After we have repented and are immersed into Y’shua’s saving name, G-d expects us to strive to obey Him and keep His commandments. He wants us to ‘spiritually de-leaven’ our lives, in the same way as we physically de-leaven our homes before the Feast of Unleavened Bread. In fact, the observance of G-d’s Passover and then fail to keep the Feast of Unleavened bread is tantamount to accepting Messiah’s sacrifice and then saying that G-d’s Law is done away with – because we are ‘under grace’ and have permission to continue in our sin. Rav Shaul continues to inform us in Galatians 2: 17 through his questioning technique, that Messiah is not a minister if sin, in this way: ‘But if, while seeking to be justified in Messiah, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Messiah then a minister of sin? May it never be!’One of the clearest Renewed Covenant commands to G-d’s congregation of called out believers is to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread, as recorded in the last part of 1 Corinthians 5: 7 and 8, as follows: ‘For Messiah our Passover also has been sacrificed. (8) Let us therefore celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.’

Our study of G-d’s second annual festival begins where G-d instituted it at the time of Israel’s exodus from Egypt. Remember how in the evening of the 14th of Abib each family in Israel had to kill the lamb they selected on the 10th day of the same month and smeared some of the blood of the lamb on the doorposts and lintels of their homes. This was what protected their firstborn from the plague of death as per Exodus 12: 6 – 13. These unblemished lambs were symbolic of Messiah, the Lamb of G-d and their blood pictured Messiah’s blood, which was shed many years later, to pay the penalty due for the sins of the world (His creation). We see from Exodus 12: 22 that after the Israelites partook of the first Passover and smeared the blood on the doorposts and lintels of their homes, they had to remain indoors until the morning, in this way: ‘And you shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning.’ We see that early the next morning the Israelites were instructed to burn whatever was left over of the Passover lamb with fire (Exodus 12: 10).  During the day part of the 14th of Abib, the Israelites despoiled the Egyptians, as HASHEM told them, as recorded in verses 35 & 36 of Exodus 12, as follows: ‘Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; (36) and HASHEM had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus, they plundered the Egyptians.’  We see from verses 41 & 42, that the children of Israel left Egypt in the night of the 15th of Abib in the light of the full moon, in this way: ‘And it came about at the end of four hundred and thirty years, to the very day, that all the hosts of HASHEM went out from the land of Egypt. (42) It is a night to be observed for HASHEM for having brought them out from the land of Egypt; this night is for HASHEM, to be observed by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations.’

A second witness comes from Numbers 33: 3, as follows: ‘And they journeyed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the next day after the Passover the sons of Israel started out boldly in the sight of all the Egyptians.’ The fifteenth day of Abib was also the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, as also attested in Leviticus 23: 6, in this way: ‘Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to HASHEM; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.’ The Israelites were instructed to especially remember their deliverance from Egypt in Exodus 13: 3 & 4, where Moses said to them: “Remember this day in which you went out from Egypt, from the house of slavery; for by a powerful hand HASHEM brought you out from this place. And nothing leavened shall be eaten. (4) On this day in the month of Abib, you are about to go forth.”G-d commanded ancient Israel through Moses to commemorate their deliverance in verses 6 & 7 of Exodus 13, saying: “For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to HASHEM. (7) Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and nothing leavened shall be seen among you, nor shall any leaven be seen among you in all your borders.” Therefore, the eating of unleavened bread was a yearly reminder (a memorial) of the haste in which they fled Egypt. Moses told the people to put out all their leaven according to G-d’s instructions. In their escape from Egypt, their dough did not have enough time to ferment and rise naturally, as witnessed in Exodus 12: 33 & 34, as follows: ‘And the Egyptians urged the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, “We shall all be dead.” (34) So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls bound up in the clothes on their shoulders.’ The eating of unleavened bread was therefore an appropriate yearly reminder of the haste in which they left Egypt.

After camping at Succoth, the Israelites went on to Etham on the edge of the wilderness (Exodus 13: 20). Then HASHEM said to Moses to tell the Israelites to turn back and camp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; in front of Baal-zephon, opposite the sea. HASHEM had one more thing to show them. We see from Exodus 14: 5 – 8, that the Egyptians chased and overtook the Israelites at this very spot. It was on the sixth day of Unleavened Bread that the Egyptians overtook the Israelites. The Red Sea, to the east was just about eight miles across at that point and Pharaoh’s army stood behind the Israelites – they were trapped! However, knowing that Pharaoh would overtake them, HASHEM told the Israelites to leave the road normally travelled, leading them into a trap, to prove to them, as well as to us, that He alone offers salvation – if we trust in Him! But, when the Israelites understood their predicament, they became very frightened and cried out to Moses in Exodus 14: 11 & 12, saying: “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? (12) Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians?’ For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”  Their elation and joy turned to fear and anger when they realized that it was not humanly possible to escape from Pharaoh at that point.

But G-d again provided a way to escape, as we read from Exodus 14: 13 – 16, in this way: ‘But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of HASHEM which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. (14)HASHEM will fight for you while you keep silent. (15) Then HASHEM said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. (16) And as for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land.”’ Reading from verses 23 – 28, we see what happened to the Egyptian army and their chariots when they followed the Israelites through the seabed, as follows: ‘Then the Egyptians took up the pursuit, and all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots and his horsemen went in after them into the midst of the sea. (24) And it came about at the morning watch, that HASHEM looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud and brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion. (25) And He caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty; so, the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from Israel, for HASHEM is fighting for them against the Egyptians.” (26) Then HASHEM said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and their horsemen.” (27) So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state at day-break, while the Egyptians were fleeing right into it; then HASHEM overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. (28) And the waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them remained.’ According to tradition, the miraculous opening of the Red sea and the completion of the Israelites escape from slavery took place before dawn on the seventh and last day of the first Feast of Unleavened Bread. Then in the daylight part of the annual Sabbath, there was great rejoicing in celebrating their complete deliverance from Egyptian slavery, as recorded in Exodus 15: 1 – 21 in the song of Moses.

After G-d delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, they promised to obey G-d. However, we know that they failed completely, except for times during which G-d gave them a righteous ruler. They obeyed G-d under the leadership of Joshua, who succeeded Moses, but after he died and the death of the elders of that generation, the next generation did not. This cycle was repeated time and again under the rulership of the judges. Then during the reign of King David, the Israelites prospered, as they did under Solomon’s reign. But all the later kings of Israel and most of Judah disobeyed G-d, leading the nations further into sin. They cursed themselves and were eventually taken captive; Israel first followed by Judah about 120 years later.Prior to Judah’s captivity, King Hezekiah did what was right in G-d’s sight, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 29: 1 & 2, in this way: ‘Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. (2) And he did right in the sight of HASHEM, according to all that his father David had done.’ Hezekiah, at that time, realized that Judah’s national troubles were the result of the nation having forsaken G-d (verses 6 – 9). So, Hezekiah opened the doors of the house of HASHEM and repaired them (verse 3). Then he got the priests and the Levites to consecrate themselves as well as the House of HASHEM (verses 4 & 5). After the priesthood had been rededicated to the service of G-d, Hezekiah re-instituted the Passover, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 30: 5, as follows: ‘So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout all Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to celebrate the Passover to HASHEM G-d of Israel at Jerusalem. For they had not celebrated it in great numbers as it was prescribed.’ However, the first Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread to be kept in many years were not observed in the month of Abib. The priesthood was not properly prepared at the time, and the people had not gathered yet in Jerusalem to attend these festivals. But they followed the instructions given in Numbers 9: 9 – 12 for observing the Passover one month later, if necessary. They observed it and immediately afterward the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread.

G-d prospered the nation of Judah under Hezekiah, but after His death, the Jews again forgot G-d and His festivals. They returned to idolatry under the wicked rule of Kings Manasseh and Amon. Later under King Josiah, G-d’s annual Feast days were restored for a short while again. Reading from 2 Chronicles 34: 1 & 2, we see that King Josiah was a righteous king, in this way: ‘Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.(2) And he did right in the sight of HASHEM, and walked in the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right or to the left.’We see from verse 8 that by the time Josiah came to rule, the Temple has again fallen in disuse and disrepair, as follows: ‘Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah an official of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of HASHEM his G-d.’ After the repair work started on the Temple the high priest found the book of the Law of HASHEM (Torah) in the Temple (in verse 14). At that time King Josiah publicly declared in verse 31, to keep (HASHEM)’s commandments and testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant written in this book. He also led all the people to obey G-d, as recorded in verses 32 & 33, in this way: ‘Moreover, he made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand with him. So the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of G-d, the G-d of their fathers. (33) And Josiah removed all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the sons of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel to serve HASHEM their G-d. Throughout his lifetime they did not turn from following HASHEM the G-d of their fathers.’

We see further from 2 Chronicles 35: 1, that Josiah celebrated the Passover to HASHEM in Jerusalem, and they slaughtered the Passover animals on the fourteenth day of the first month. After Josiah’s death most Jews again lost sight of G-d, ignoring the weekly and annual Sabbaths. G-d then punished the nation of Judah, by having them taken captive by king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. However, seventy years later G-d allowed as many Jews as wanted to return to Jerusalem to do so and rebuild the Temple. After the Temple was rebuilt under guidance of Ezra and Nehemiah, they again observed the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, as recorded in Ezra 6: 19 – 22, as follows: ‘And the exiles observed the Passover on the fourteenth of the first month. (20) For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were pure. Then they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, both for their brothers the priests and for themselves. (21) And the sons of Israel who returned from exile and all those who had separated themselves from the impurity of the nations of the land to join them, to seek HASHEM G-d of Israel, ate the Passover.  (22) And they observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for HASHEM had caused them to rejoice, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to encourage them in the work of the house of G-d, the G-d of Israel.’ We see that every time the worship of G-d was restored, the keeping of His Set-apart Days was also resumed and emphasized. G-d was pleased with this national repentance because He knows that when people have the right attitude towards all His commandments and Set-apart Days that His people learn to fear Him and obey His Torah.

HASHEM instituted His seven annual festivals including the Feast of Unleavened Bread in Leviticus 23: 1 & 2, saying to Moses: “Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them, ‘(HASHEM)’s appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy (Set-apart) convocations— My appointed times are these.’” So, we see that these are (HASHEM)’s Set-apart Days to be kept by His people forever, as recorded in Exodus 12: 17, in this way: ‘You shall also observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt; therefore, you shall observe this day throughout your generations as a permanent ordinance.’ HASHEM our G-d is the Supreme Lawgiver and made sure that the knowledge of His laws, including His Sabbath and set-apart Days would be preserved for us His latter-day congregation of called out believers. We see that Y’shua kept both the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, as witnessed in Luke 2: 41 – 43. Even in the year that Y’shua was crucified, His enemies expected Him to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread, as we read from Mark 14: 1 & 2, as follows: ‘Now the Passover and Unleavened Bread was two days off; and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to seize Him by stealth, and kill Him; (2) for they were saying, “Not during the festival, lest there be a riot of the people.”’ More than 20 years after Y’shua had been crucified and resurrected there is a clear indication that His disciples kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread, as recorded in Acts 20: 6, in this way: ‘And we sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas within five days; and there we stayed seven days.’ Rav Shaul and his companions observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread at Philippi. This Feast was still being kept by G-d’s congregation, showing that it was not abolished at Y’shua’s death. As we have read from 1 Corinthians 5: 7 & 8, Rav Shaul told G-d’s congregation to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. He was telling the Corinthian congregation to put out spiritual leaven, just as they had already put out all physical leaven in preparation for this Festival. They were to keep the Feast not only with unleavened bread, but also with the spiritually unleavened attitude of righteousness, truth and sincerity. This is a direct command from G-d’s apostle to His congregation of called out believers to continue to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

The verse most often used against G-d’s Feast days, namely Colossians 2: 14 – 17, proof that they were in fact being kept by G-d’s congregation. We understand from Colossians 2: 13 that these Colossians were Gentile converts living in a Gentile city. They had previously not known G-d’s commandments and Feast days. Unless the teachers of the congregation of G-d had taught them to observe these Set-apart Days, they would not have been ‘judged’ by their pagan relatives and neighbors for doing so. Rav Shaul did not say that believers should not observe G-d’s Set-apart Days. He merely said to them, that they should not let anyone other than the congregation of G-d, otherwise known as the ‘body of Messiah’ judge them in the way they keep, or even for keeping these days. Nevertheless, some have linked this reference to G-d’s Set-apart Days and Sabbath with a misinterpretation of verse 14, claiming that all G-d’s Laws, annual and weekly Sabbaths were nailed to the cross. However, reading verse 14 with an open mind will reveal that it was not the Law that was nailed to the cross, but the certificate of debt, consisting of the decrees against us. This is similar to when we receive a traffic ticket for parking in a loading zone. After paying the traffic ticket for the offense that we committed, we are not allowed to continue breaking the traffic laws, are we?  In a similar way, after Y’shua paid the death penalty due to each one of us, because of our disobedience to Torah, we cannot go on sinning; else we are crucifying Messiah, repeatedly.

We understand from these verses in Colossians 2, that believers at Colossae were being criticized by their pagan relatives and neighbors for violating their customs, which included the observance of pagan holidays. It is almost the same with believers today, who stopped keeping Xmas and Easter and are being judged by their families and friends for keeping so-called Jewish holidays, in place of the Christian holidays they used to keep. Rav Shaul was simply saying to these believers that no unauthorized person is to sit in judgment of a true believer’s conduct, as that responsibility is vested in the congregation of G-d, also known as the body of Messiah; as long as the teachers in the congregation of G-d teach the proper use of food and drink, the proper time and manner for observing G-d’s annual and weekly Sabbaths and other doctrinally related matters. Therefore, the complete interpretation of Colossians 2; 14 – 17, should be: ‘Let no man therefore judge you in regard to food and drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day, but rather let the body of Messiah determine it.’ The expression ‘let no man’ shows that we should not be guided by people outside of the congregation or judge our behavior and obedience to G-d’s Torah.The annual Feast Days of G-d picture events of historic and future importance. The Sabbath as HASHEM revealed to ancient Israel was a sign that they were His people and that He was their G-d. However, as we read from Exodus 31: 13, it was a sign between G-d and His people throughout their generations, as follows: “But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely observe My Sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am HASHEM who sanctifies you.” As modern-day Israelites, whether bloodline Israelites or Israelites because of our faith in Messiah (as per Galatians 3: 26 – 29, Galatians 6: 16 and Romans 9: 6 & 7), we are even now G-d’s people. In addition, we see from Hebrews 4: 9 that the Sabbath remains binding for the people of G-d, in this way: ‘There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of G-d.’

Israel’s departure from Egypt has great symbolic meaning. We learned that the Passover pictures the death of Y’shua Messiah, His shed blood for the forgiveness of our sins upon real repentance. The second festival pictures our coming out of our personal Egypt or sin, during the seven days of Unleavened Bread. Egypt is a symbol for sin. We see from Romans 6: 16 that sinners are slaves of sin, as follows: ‘Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?’ However, G-d wants us to escape the slavery of sin by obeying Him, as witnessed in Romans 6: 17, 18 & 22, in this way: ‘But thanks be to G-d that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, (18) and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. (22) But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to G-d, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.’The ancient Israelites were slaves in pagan Egypt. They were not allowed to honor and obey G-d. Therefore, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which commemorates their coming out of slavery in Egypt, also pictures their coming out of sin. Sin enslaves! Those who are not G-d’s Spirit-begotten children do not realize they are slaves to sin. Sin tends to increase in the one who continues to practice it. It afflicts us with physical injury, sickness and disease. It produces frustration, anxiety and hopelessness; and ultimately leads to death. The Feast of Unleavened Bread pictures the fact that G-d wants new believers to come completely out of the slavery of sin into obedience to Him! Like the way Israel walked out of Egypt, we must be willing of our own to come out of sin. But it is G-d’s goodness and mercy that leads us to repentance from sin, as we read from Romans 2: 4, as follows: ‘Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of G-d leads you to repentance?’ Eternal life is clearly a gift of G-d, as also confirmed in Romans 6: 23, in this way: ‘For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of G-d is eternal life in Messiah Y’shua our Master.’ Even so, G-d wants us to be willing and striving to obey Him.

Upon our repentance and immersion all our past sins are forgiven by the sacrifice of Messiah our Passover, as witnessed in Romans 3: 21 – 25, as follows: ‘But now apart from the Law the righteousness of G-d has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, (22) even the righteousness of G-d through faith in Y’shua Messiah for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; (23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of G-d, (24) being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Messiah Y’shua; (25) whom G-d displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of G-d He passed over the sins previously committed.’ When believers keep the Passover, yet fail to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread, they symbolically accept Messiah’s sacrifice and then continued in the slavery of sin. The Feast of Unleavened Bread pictures the believer’s part in G-d’s plan of salvation – the keeping of G-d’s commandments, which is another way of setting sin aside. Anyone found eating leavened bread or had leaven, a symbol of sin, in his home during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, was put out of the nation (or congregation), as recorded in Exodus 12: 15, in this way: ‘Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, but on the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses; for whoever eats anything leavened from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.’ Similarly, G-d will not allow unrepentant sinners in the Kingdom of G-d, as witnessed in 1 Corinthians 6: 9 & 10, as follows: ‘Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of G-d? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, (10) nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of G-d.’

Similar to the way in which Pharaoh pursued the Israelites after they left the land of Egypt, Satan does not want sinners to escape his bondage, which is slavery to sin. Immersed believers are often pursued by Satan. He will set stumbling blocks in their way in an attempt to make them fall and discourage them from obeying G-d. Satan will do everything in his power to keep G-d’s Spirit begotten children from receiving eternal life. Satan devil will deceive them into thinking that G-d’s way is too difficult, in order to get them to give up striving to overcome and to return to a life of sin. As it was humanly impossible for Israel to escape from Pharaoh’s army, G-d through His divine nature indwelling us makes our obedience, overcoming and growth possible. We will discuss this in detail in our next lecture, pictured by the third annual festival in G-d’s Master Plan.

Messiah predicted in Luke 17: 28 – 30 that the modern society of the end-time generation would be much like the wicked city of Sodom, in this way: “It was the same as happened in the days of Lot; they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; (29) but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. (30) It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.”Y’shua warned believers living in the end times in verses 31 & 32, saying: “On that day, let not the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house go down to take them away; and likewise let not the one who is in the field turn back. (32) Remember Lot’s wife.” Messiah was referring to the destruction of sinful Sodom and Gomorrah, the escape of Lot and his two daughters from Sodom and Lot’s wife being turned into a pillar of salt. Tradition has it that these events occurred during the Feast of Unleavened Bread (several centuries before it was commanded by G-d). It is interesting that unleavened bread is mentioned in connection with Lot’s departure from that sinful society in Genesis 19: 3, in this way: ‘Yet he urged them strongly, so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he prepared a feast for them, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.’ 

We see that Lot’s wife and their two daughters were warned not to look back in Genesis 19: 17, as follows: ‘And it came about when they had brought them outside, that one said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the valley; escape to the mountains, lest you be swept away.”’ But Lot’s wife looked back, as recorded in verse 26, in this way: ‘But his wife, from behind him, looked back; and she became a pillar of salt.’ When Lot’s wife disobeyed, looking back longingly to sinful Sodom, she became a pillar of salt as a perpetual witness of one who was not willing to permanently forsake sin and submit to G-d. We read from Hebrews 6: 4 – 6, what G-d says about believers who begin to follow His way, but later returns to the slavery of sin, in this way: ‘For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy (Set-apart) Spirit, (5) and have tasted the good word of G-d and the powers of the age to come, (6) and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of G-d, and put Him to open shame.’ Even though we are required to live in this evil world, we must not be overcome by it, as Y’shua prayed in John 17: 14 & 15, as follows: “I have given them Thy word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (15) I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.”

Just like Lot, G-d’s people must come out and utterly forsake the sins of this world to escape the plagues He will pour out upon the rebellious, as witnessed in Revelation 18: 4, in this way: ‘And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive of her plagues.”’ Those who heed the warning before it is too late, will be protected by G-d, as promised in Revelation 3: 10, as follows: “Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth.” G-d wants those He called and begotten to overcome sin and to grow in His character by striving to put sin out of their lives through obedience to Him. That is how we are doing our part in His Master Plan.The departure of ancient Israel from Egypt is a physical type of the spirit-begotten believer’s departure from sin. But why is this commemorated by seven days without leavened foods. As we know leaven is not harmful since G-d allows us to eat it for 51 weeks of the year. G-d prohibits the presence and use of leaven during the Feast of Unleavened Bread because, like Egypt it is a symbol of sin, as we have seen from 1 Corinthians 5: 8. For those who have been called to Y’shua by the Father, putting all leaven and leavened products out of their dwellings and off their properties for the seven days of Unleavened Bread, pictures their putting sin out of their lives. Since seven is the number G-d uses to denote completeness and perfection, the seven days of Unleavened Bread remind us that He wants us to put sin out of our lives completely. G-d wants believers to continually strive to put the leaven of sin out of their lives, as witnessed in Hebrews 12: 1 – 4, ‘Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (2) fixing our eyes on Y’shua, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of G-d. (3) For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. (4) You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin.’

The Feast of Unleavened Bread starts on the 15th of Abib, the beginning of the day after Passover. It continues for seven days, ending on the 21st of Abib. Both the 15th and the 21st are annual Sabbaths, days of rest from regular work, though the preparation of food is permitted, as recorded in Exodus 12: 16, as follows: ‘And on the first day you shall have a holy assembly, and another holy assembly on the seventh day; no work at all shall be done on them, except what must be eaten by every person, that alone may be prepared by you.’ Normal work may be done during the days between these two Set-apart Days, except for on the weekly Sabbath during this time. A ‘holy convocation’ is a commanded religious assembly, commanded by G-d Himself. Those who live too far to attend weekly Sabbaths; should make every effort to meet with G-ds called out congregation on annual Set-apart Days. In addition to the annual Passover, G-d also told the Israelites in Exodus 12: 42 to have a special celebration on the evening of the First Day of Unleavened Bread, in this way: ‘It is a night to be observed for HASHEM for having brought them out from the Land of Egypt; this night is for HASHEM, to be observed by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations.’Gathering in small groups for an evening meal, G-d’s people give thanks to Him for having called them out of slavery of sin into His congregation of called out believers. They rejoice in the fact that G-d has revealed to them His Torah, His Set-apart Days and their meaning. Then on the daylight portion of the 15th of Abib (or Nisan) they assemble for the service or Holy convocation to be held as HASHEM commanded. Even though most of the leaven in the homes of believers should be removed before the Passover, the day part on the 14th of Abib is a convenient time to finish removing the last bit of leaven from their homes. We should also be mindful that G-d does not only require us to remove all leavened products from our homes, but He also requires that every believer eat unleavened bread every day during this Festival.

The seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread pictures the putting away of sin and keeping G-d’s Torah after past sins are forgiven. We read from Romans 4: 25 and 5: 10, ‘He (Y’shua) who was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. (5: 10) For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to G-d through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.’  Meaning the life that Y’shua now live in us! Yes, Y’shua’s death does not save us –-it merely reconciles us to G-d. Immersion pictures our death and resurrection, like Messiah’s death and resurrection, as witnessed in Romans 6: 3 & 4, as follows: ‘Or do you not know that all of us who have been immersed into Messiah Y’shua have been immersed into His death? (4) Therefore we have been buried with Him through immersion into death, in order that as Messiah was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.’  In the context of immersion we are saved through Messiah’s resurrection, as we read from 1 Peter 3: 21 & 22, in this way: ‘And corresponding to that, immersion now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to G-d for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Y’shua Messiah, (22) who is at the right hand of G-d, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.’If Messiah had not been raised from the dead, we would still be in our sins, as Rav Shaul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15: 17, saying: ‘And if Messiah has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.’ Messiah was the first resurrected Son of G-d, the first harvest of G-d’s Master Plan, as recorded in Colossians 1; 18, in this way: ‘He is also head of the body, the congregation; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.’ Messiah Y’shua was the first to be born-again from the dead, during the festival that pictures the absence of sin. Therefore, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, in addition to picturing putting sin out of our lives through the symbolism of the resurrected first-born living Messiah, it is the living Messiah who gives us the Spiritual nature required to overcome sin! We see further from 1 John 1: 9 and 2: 1 & 2, how we can be forgiven the sins we commit after immersion, in this way: ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (2: 1) My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Y’shua Messiah the righteous; (2) and He himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.’ In addition, we read from Romans 8: 34, ‘Who is the one who condemns? Messiah Y’shua is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of G-d, who also intercedes for us.’  Y’shua our ever-living High Priest, Advocate and Intercessor, acts as a mediator between imperfect human beings and our perfect Father in heaven. He can sympathize with our weaknesses because as a ‘human being’ He was tempted just as we are, yet He overcame and promised to help us overcome too, as He told His disciples in John 16: 33, saying: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Therefore, through Y’shua our High Priest, we can come boldly to G-d’s throne and find grace, mercy, forgiveness and help in continuing putting sin out of our lives. This is also why we pray directly to the Father, using Messiah’s name in making our requests, as Messiah told His disciples in John 15: 16, saying: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you.” The true believers hope of glory, the hope of being in the Kingdom of G-d, is in Messiah, our Savior, living in us through the Set-apart Spirit. Messiah is not only the Author or Beginner of our Salvation, but He is also the Finisher. He is the one who completes our salvation, as we have read already from Hebrews 12: 2.

Y’shua told His disciples in John 16: 7 that He had to die and go to His Father’s throne, to send them the Set-apart Spirit. It is not through our own strength that we are striving to keep G-d’s Law. It is the living Messiah in us, in spirit, keeping the Father’s commandments. Even though we cannot obey G-d on our own power and strength, Messiah in us can! He gives us the power to become righteous children of G-d – to become spiritually unleavened. G-d’s law is spiritual (as per Romans 7: 14). Consequently, in agreement with 1 Corinthians 2: 11, we must have G-d’s Set-apart Spirit to understand and keep it. Think about It!