The Feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread and First Fruits

At the Last Supper, Jesus was ushering in the New Testament with the communion service which typifies “Passover” for the N.T. believer. Jesus died at the time of the “evening sacrifice”, or the “slaughtering of the lambs”. Jesus fulfilled two feasts represented by the communion. The wine represents the blood of the Passover lamb covering the sin and the “unleavened” Bread represents the purity and truth of the Word which is Jesus. Jesus died on Friday and rested from His “work” on Saturday or the Sabbath. If He had died on Wednesday or Thursday as some wonder, it would not line up with the scripture which clearly states that He died on the “day of preparation” for the Sabbath, which was the day preceding the Sabbath when people were to do all their food preparations etc.. The Hebrew system of time was different. To them a day began at 6 p.m. and ended at 6 p.m. This is spoken of in Genesis as well. Any part of a day was referred to as that day, so in effect, Jesus died on “part” of Friday, was dead on Saturday, and rose on the early part of Sunday. In the Hebrew way of calculating days, that totaled three days.

Sunday, is “the Lord’s day”, literally, the day which belongs to the Lord. The phrase occurs only once in the New Testament, in Rev. 1:10, but there are several references to it. This day was set aside by the apostles for worship, for meeting to break bread, for laying up offerings and etc.. On this day, the Lord arose, and during it, appeared to his followers. MK 16:9, Jn 20:19, Acts 20:7, and 1 cor. 16:2.

The Feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread


(Levee 23:1-8 KJV)
(v.1) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(v.2) Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.
(v.3) Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.
(v.4) These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
(v.5) In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's Passover.
(v.6) And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
(v.7) In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
(v. 8) But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.


Feast of Passover which is actually called the LORD’S Passover. Lev 23:5


Passover was on the fourteenth day of the first month at even “ 3 pm to 6 pm ” Lev 23:5


holy    6944. a sacred place or thing; rarely abstr. sanctity:--consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, (X most) holy (X day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary.


convocation     4744. something called out, i.e. a public meeting (the act, the persons, or the place); also a rehearsal: --assembly, calling, convocation, reading.


The Feasts and the sabbath where dedicated time for a public meeting “to the lord”.
The Feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD was on the fifteenth day. Lev 23:6
Passover came before Unleavened bread and the Passover lamb was killed in the evening “3 pm”, the killing of the lamb started the Passover which ran into Unleavened bread. EX ch 12


Passover day was the preparation for the first day of unleavened bread.
unleavened bread lasted for seven days and the first day and seventh day was an holy convocation “a sacred public meeting time”: ye shall do no servile work there in. Lev 23:7, 8





The Sabbath is the seventh day in a week, “Saturday” Lev 23:3
The Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between the Jews and God. EX 31:16,17

The Believers come together on Sunday the first day of the week in remembrance of the resurrection instead of Saturday the Sabbath.

The Last Supper was celebrated the day before Passover. it was a type of Passover, pattern for the New Testament believer.


(1 Cor 11:23 KJV) For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:


(1 Cor 5:6-8 KJV)
(v.6) Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
(v.7) Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:
(v.8) Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.


A.)   Christ our Passover
        Jesus is the believer’s Passover lamb.
        We partake of Jesus through communion.


B.)    Unleavened bread of sincerity and truth
          God’s word is unleavened bread, Jesus is unleavened bread. John 1:1


The Feast of the unleavened bread

   A.)   Related to consecration and separation
           1)   A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. Galations 5:9
           2)   This was a time when they examined their hearts.


B.)   Leaven in the New Testament
          1)   Herod / worldliness. Mark 8:15; 6:14-28
          2)   Sadducees / False doctrine. Matthew 16:6,12
          3)   Pharisees / Hypocrisy. Mark 8:15


The Jews looked at the feast of unleavened bread and Passover as one feast.
Luke 22:1 now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.




The Last Supper

Thursday the day before Passover

(Mat 26:17 KJV) Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover?
(v.20) Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.


(Mark 14:12 KJV) And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the Passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the Passover?
(v.17) And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.
(v.18) And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.


(Luke 22:7 KJV) Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the Passover must be killed.
(v.14) And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
(v.15) And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer:


(John 13:1 KJV) Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
(v.2) And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;

The Israelites “(Jews)” celebrated seven feasts. They represented seven appointments that God had and /or has with his people. The statement First Day in MT, MK, and LK above represents that the appointment of Unleavened bread and Passover has come / began, that is the true feast. Remember the order of the two feasts and the killing of the lamb, for above in MT, MK, and LK they are not in proper order and time, that is not a mistake it is meant to bring your attention to Jesus as the fulfilling of the feasts. The Gospel of John does list the sequence of events in proper order.

Christ before Pilate

Friday remember, Passover doesn’t start untill evening, 3 pm to 6 pm

(Mat 27:1 KJV) When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
(v.2) And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to pontius pilate the governor.


(Mark 15:1 KJV) And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.


(Luke 22:66 KJV) And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,


(John 13:1 KJV) Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
(v.2) And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;



(v.27) Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
(v.28) Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the Passover.
(v.29) Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?




Burial and Resurrection of Christ

Jesus Died on Friday at 3pm,

Saturday is the Sabbath, the first day of the week is Sunday.

(Mat 27:60 KJV) And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
(v.61) And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
(v.62) Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,


(Mat 28:1 KJV) In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.


(Mark 15:42 KJV) And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath,
(v.43) Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went In boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
(v.44) And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
(v.45) And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
(v.46) And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
(v.47) And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.


(Mark 16:1 KJV) And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
(v.2) And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.


(Luke 23:53 KJV) And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
(v.54) And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on.
(v.55) And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
(v.56) And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.


(Luke 24:1 KJV) Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.


(John 19:30 KJV) When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
(v.31) The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day, (for that Sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
(v.41) Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
(v.42) There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.


(John 20:1 KJV) The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

That Sabbath day was called an High day because it was the Sabbath as well as the first day of Unleavend bread, wich were both a day of sacred, dedicated meeting to the Lord for the Jews.

The sign of the prophet Jonas
(Mat 12:38 - 41 KJV) (Mat 16:1 - 4 KJV) (Luke 11:27 - 30 KJV)


(Mat 12:38 - 41 KJV)
(v.38) Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
(v.39) But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
(v.40) For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
(v.41) The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.


(Mat 16:1 - 4 KJV)
(v.1) The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would show them a sign from heaven.
(v.2) He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
(v.3) And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
(v.4) A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.


(Luke 11:27 - 30 KJV)
(v.27) And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.
(v.28) But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
(v.29) And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
(v.30) For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.


Sign    4592. an indication, espec. cer. or supernat.:--miracle, sign, token, wonder.


Days   2250.day, i.e. (lit.) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole H24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes);


Heart   2588. prol. from a prim. kar (Lat. cor, "heart"); the heart, i.e. (fig.) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by anal.) the middle:--(+ broken-) heart (-ed).


Earth    1093. a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (includ. the occupants in each application) :--country, earth (-ly), ground, land, world.





(Acts 10:40 KJV)

Him “Jesus” God raised up the third day, and showed him openly;

The sign of Jonas is more than three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, it also has to do with receiving or rejecting the word of the Lord, for Jonas went to the Gentiles and they received the word of the Lord. Jonah Preched, “warning of judgment to come”, where Jesus went to the Jews who rejected the word of the Lord, for they were a wicked and adulterous generation. If you have a wicked heart of unbelief, you will miss the sign.

The book of Jonah focuses on the nature of Israel's God., to show the people their opinions and life-styles were not consistent with God's love for all people. God's redemptive program included everyone. Jesus, The Messiah, was to be for inhabitants of all nations. Only when Israel understood this truth could thay become His instrument “priest”.

The Bible states, (Mat 12:40 KJV) For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. In this instance, “three nights” is only mentioned once in the word, while “three days” is mentioned several times . “Three nights” is not as significant as “three days”. The emphasis in the Bible is placed on “three days” as a firm fact because ( 2 Cor 13:1b ) states, “ in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” *The word night in the Hebrew used here, does not mean literal nighttime, but rather the absence of light in the belly of the fish. **This parallels with Jesus’ time of agony in prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus spent three days in the tomb, and two nights in the tomb and one night in the garden of Gethsemane “wine press”. Remember (Mat 12:40 KJV), For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ***Here, “ heart of the earth” is a kind of play on words, referring to the thoughts and feelings of each man in his respective period of suffering on the earth.. In effect, both Jonah and Jesus were three days and three corresponding periods away from the light in their tribulation.

*   3915.   layil, lah'-yil; or (Isa. 21 : 11) leyl, lale; also layelah, lah'-yel-aw; from the same as H3883; prop. a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; fig. adversity:--([mid-]) night (season).


**   Mental pressure as shown in
(Mat 26:38 KJV) Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.


***   Heart   2588. prol. from a prim. kar (Lat. cor, "heart"); the heart, i.e. (fig.) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by anal.) the middle:--(+ broken-) heart (-ed).


Earth    1093. contr. from a prim. word; soil; by extens. a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (includ. the occupants in each application) :--country, earth (-ly), ground, land, world.





(Mat 20:18 - 19 KJV) Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.


(Acts 10:40 KJV) Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly;


(Gen 1:19 KJV) And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.





The Hebrew day began and ended at 6 p.m. “24 HR day”

 

	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Night  HRS 6pm  -  6am		Agony in Garden   Before the High Priest	All  Night	All  Night
Day  HRS 6am  -  6pm	The Last Supper	Christ before Pilate   3pm   Death of Christ	All  Day	Resurrection

 

The Last Supper (Mat 26:20,21a KJV) about 3pm Thursday
Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.


Agony in Garden ( Mat 26:37,38 KJV) after 6pm Friday Night
And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.


Before the High Priest (Mat 26:57 KJV) Friday Night
And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.


Christ before Pilate (Mat 27:2 KJV) 6am Friday
And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to pontius pilate the governor.


3pm Death of Christ (Mat 27:45,50 KJV) sixth hour was 12pm, ninth hour was 3pm Friday
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.


Resurrection (Mat 28:1 KJV) Sunday In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.