FESTIVALS OF UNLEAVENED BREAD AND FIRST FRUITS
Reading : Exo.12:15-20
: Deut. 16:2-8, Lev.23:6-14
Memory verse: 2 Cor.7:1
Introduction: Passover is the first and most important festival in Israel. The festivals of unleavened bread and first fruits are also observed in the same month as the Passover. All three festivals are some times referred to as the Passover. or the feast of the unleavened bread. Passover lamb is killed in the evening of 14th of the 1at month. Festival of the unleavened bread is observed for a week from the 15th to 21st. Since Jews count the day from evening to evening, the feast of the unleavened bread actually starts when Passover is observed in the evening of 14th. Festival of the first fruits is also falling in the same week. It is observed on the day after the Sabbath ( first day if the week) which immediately follows Passover.
Feast of the unleavened bread: People have to eat unleavened bread on all the seven days of this festival. The burnt offering should be sacrificed for the Lord every day. Holy assemblies should be held on the first day and the seventh day. No regular work should be done any day.
Spiritual Lessons:
1. 'Leaven' represents malice and wickedness. 'Seven' points to perfection. We are saved when we put our faith in the atoning death of Christ. After that, we must live a perfect and holy life. Just as He who called us is holy, we must be holy in all that we do as obedient children.
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 pet 1:14-16)
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness, no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)
Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1Corinthians5:7-8)
2. Leaven represents false doctrines. We must hold fast to the pure doctrines that have been entrusted to us once for all.
7 They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”
8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Mathew 16:5-12)
3. Hypocrisy is also pictured as leaven. Jesus Christ condemned hypocrisy vehemently. Believers must keep all such leaven out of their lives.
Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be[a] on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. (Luke 12:1)
4. Believers must also present themselves as a burnt offering to God continually. Moreover, they must assemble together with other believers and worship God.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)
Festival of the first fruits
9 The Lord said to Moses, 10 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. 11 He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. 12 On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the Lord a lamb a year old without defect, 13 together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah[a] of the finest flour mixed with olive oil—a food offering presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin[b] of wine. 14 You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain, until the very day you bring this offering to your God. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. (Leviticus. 23:9-14)
Festival of the first fruits: The head of the family brings a sheaf if the first fruits from his field to the priest on the day after Sabbath following Passover. The Priest raises the sheaf in his hand and waves it. On the same day the offers a burnt offering of a blemishless lamb, a meal offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil and a drink offering of the quarter of a hin of wine.
We can reasonably suppose that when Jesus Christ rose up from the dead on the first day of the week, the priests were waving the sheaf of first fruits in the Temple. The festival of the first fruits was a foreshadow of the resurrection if Jesus. Jesus Chris rose up from the dead as the first fruit.
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.(1 Corinthians 15:20-23)
The specialty of Christian faith is that our Lord is risen and living. A child of God who is saved identified himself not only with Christ's death but also with His resurrection. As Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we should walk in newness of life.
The waving of the sheaf of firstfruits reminds us about the harvest that is to follow. The resurrection of Jesus Christ assures us of our resurrection. Christ is the first fruit; afterward, they that are Christ's at His coming. At the second coming of Christ, the saints who are dead in Christ will be raised and those who are alive will be transformed and caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. This is the first resurrection. great the first tribulation which is to follow and the millennial rule, those who died without Christ will also rise up. This is the last resurrection. Life of man does not end with this world. The sufferings of this life should not be taken seriously as we look forward to the glory that is in store for us. Therefore let us live happily considering our sure and blessed hope.
Waving the sheaf by the priest in all direction points to the preaching of the message of deliverance in the name of Jesus throughout the world. Let us dedicate ourselves to bear witness for salvation through Jesus Christ by living a holy life.
