Bible Pathways 2/9/2001

February 9

Leviticus 22 -- 23

The Passover was the first Feast of the religious year. It was celebrated on the fourteenth day of the first month. . . . And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread unto the Lord (Leviticus 23:5-6). The Feast of Passover included the Feast of Unleavened Bread and lasted seven days, during which time the unleavened bread was the only bread eaten (Exodus 34:18-19). Unleavened bread represents the sinless nature of Christ, who said: Verily, verily, I say unto you . . . the Bread of God is He which comes down from Heaven, and gives Life unto the world (John 6:32-33). The Passover memorialized Israel's heartfelt gratitude to God for their deliverance from Egyptian slavery. Israel's abstinence from leaven for seven days was an acknowledgment that they were a Holy people unto the Lord their God, separated from every form of sin. A person who did not participate in this feast was to be cut off from among his people (Numbers 9:13; compare Exodus 12:18-20). The Feast of Passover also included the offering of the firstfruits of the barley harvest and celebrated the commencement of the spring grain harvest. The Feast of Firstfruits should not be confused with the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) that took place 50 days later.
The one sheaf of the firstfruits represents the Lord Jesus who arose from the grave on the exact day of the Feast of Firstfruits, on the first day of the week, the morrow after the Sabbath (Leviticus 23:10-11). Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the Firstfruits of them that slept (I Corinthians 15:20).
It took seven weeks to harvest all the crops, beginning with the barley crop that ripened in the spring. After that came the harvest of olives and the vineyards, followed by wheat, the final summer harvest. Just as there was a Feast of Firstfruits in the spring to indicate faith in the coming harvests, the Feast of Weeks expressed thankfulness for the completion of the summer harvest and was an acknowledgment that the produce of the earth came from God and belongs to Him. The Feast of Weeks was also known as the Feast of Harvest (Exodus 23:16). It was also called Pentecost because Pente in Greek means 50, and this Feast took place 50 days after the one sheaf of the Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:15-16).
The unleavened bread required for Passover represented the sinless perfection of Christ. In contrast were the two wave loaves that were made from wheat and represented the summer harvest. They were to be baked with leaven for the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) (23:17). Leaven was required in the two wave loaves because the two loaves were symbolic of both Jewish and Gentile believers within the Church. They also symbolized the fact that believers need to pray daily.
This illustrated the truth that the people of God are to purge out therefore the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: 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 (I Corinthians 5:7-8).
Christ Revealed:
Leviticus 23 -- in the seven great feasts of the Lord: Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Firstfruits, Feast of Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) -- all of which typified Jesus Christ.
Word Studies:
22:19 beeves means bullocks; 22:23 any thing superfluous means deformity; 22:27 dam means mother; 23:2 convocations means sacred assemblies; 23:7 you shall do no servile work means you shall not work at your occupations.

Prayer:

Government Official: Rep. Jay Inslee (WA) · BPM Staff: Karen Hawkins · Pray for Rick Hash and the Bible Pathway Radio Broadcasts on KMXO-AM, Merkel, TX · Pray for the Bible Pathway International Radio broadcast sponsored by Mrs. John De Luca · Country: Togo (5 million) in western Africa · Major languages: French and several African languages · Limited religious freedom · 41% belief in false gods and voodoo; 32% Roman Catholic; 19% Muslim; 8% Protestant · Prayer Suggestion: Declare the wondrous works of God with thanksgiving (Psalms 26:6-7).

Optional Reading:
Mark 12

Memory Verse for the Week:
Colossians 3:5