Leviticus 23 - 24 The Feasts of the LORD

The Feasts of the LORD Read Leviticus 23 V1-3 The Sabbath V4-8 Passover (Pesach) and the Feast of Unleavened Bread V9-14 The Feast of First Fruits V15-22 The Feast of Pentecost (Weeks) V23-25 The Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) V26-32 The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) V33-44 The Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth)

The Feasts of the LORD Introduction to seven annual feasts, rich in symbolism and prophetic significance Colossians 2: 17 – “These [Jewish Festivals] are a shadow of things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” Feasts directed by God to show the Hebrews how to walk with HIM day after day Signify Past Events: Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost Signify Events to Come: Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles

Jewish Calendar

Jewish-Gregorian Calendars 1 Nisan March-April 2 Iyar April-May 3 Sivan May-June 4 Tammuz June-July 5 Av July-August 6 Elul August-September 7 Tishri September-October 8 Cheshvan October-November 9 Kislev November-December 10 Tevet December-January 11 Shevat January-February 12 Adar February-March

The Sabbath (Shabbat) References: Ex 20: 8-10; 31: 15-17; Lev 23: 1-3; Mark 2: 27; Lk 4:16; 3: 10-17 Read Leviticus 23: 1-3 Work six days and 7th day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation Matthew Henry: Withdraw from all business from the world. It is a sabbath of rest, typifying spiritual rest from sin, and rest in God. What work can be done? Where is the Sabbath to be observed?

Passover (Pesach) References: Lev 4-5; Ex 12:11; I Cor 5: 7 Read Lev 23: 4-5 When: V4-5: 14th day of the first month, Nisan, each year Jesus crucified on the Passover (John 19:14)

The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Ha Matzah Lechem) References: Lev 23: 6-8; I Cor 5: 6-8; 2 Cor 7: 1; Gal 5: 7-9 Read Lev 23: 6-8 When: On 15th day of first Month, Nisan Duration: 7 days Do What: Eat bread made without yeast Hold sacred assemblies on 1st and 7th days Do no work Present a food offering to the LORD for 7 days Jesus buried and resurrection would have been during Feast of Unleavened Bread

The Feast of First Fruits (Bikkurim) Read: Lev 23: 9-14 Enter promise land; bring a sheaf of first grain of harvest to the priest Priest wave it on the Sabbath – Wave Offering Also sacrifice a lamb as burnt offering; grain offering of two-tenths of a ephah (approx 36.4 litres or a bushel); present a drink offering of a hin of wine Jesus would have risen from the dead on Firstfruits, the day after Passover’s Sabboth

The Feast of the Pentecost/Weeks (Shavout) Read: Lev 23: 15-21 Sixth day of Sivan (late May or early June)

The Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) Speculation: God gather His people at the rapture on the day of the Feast of Trumpets

The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)

The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkoth) References: Feast of Booths, Tabernacles; sukkah 15th day of Tishrei (late Sep to late Oct) Make booths from palm trees, hadar trees, leafy trees or willows Live in booths for 7 days; future generations know that God made Israelites live in booths when freed from Egypt

Jewish Feasts Feast Reference Reason for Feast Christian Significance Passover Lev 23:5 Num 28: 16 Ex 12: 21-27 14th day of 1st Month Commemorate deliverance from Egyptian slavery Pascal lamb is sacrificed (Ex 12: 21-27) Jesus’ Crucifixion -- as our Pascal Lamb died on the Passover day (Matt 27: 50) delivering us from bondage to sin (1 Cor 5: 7-8) Unleavened Bread Lev 23; 6-8 Num 28: 17 Acts 2: 27 15th day of 1st Month Purging of all leaven; Commemorate the speed the Hebrews were freed from bondage and departed Egypt (Ex 12: 39) As soon as Jesus gave up His Spirit on the Cross, instantly the veil was torn (Matt 27: 50-51) Born again, forgiven, immediately freed from sin and death; under Grace, not the Law

Jewish Feasts Feast Reference Reason for Feast Christian Significance First Fruits Lev 23: 9-14 1 Cor 15:23 Celebrated once in history of Nation of Israel Is thanksgiving first harvests in the Promised Land Jesus’ Resurrection 1 Cor 1: 18 Christ is the firstborn from the dead 1 Cor 15: 20 Jesus rose from the dead for the first and final time as the First Fruit for Christian believers Pentecost Lev 23: 15-17 Num 28: 26 50th day after First Fruits Commemorate the first crop of “that season” Gift of Holy Spirit; Birth of Church Acts 2:41 First crop of new season under Grace Eph 2: 11-22 From Jew and Gentile, “the loaves,” would be acceptable to God

Jewish Feasts Feast Reference Reason for Feast Christian Significance Trumpets Lev 23: 23-24 Num 10: 3 Num 29: 1-6 Ex 19: 16, 19 Joshua 6 On 1st day of 7th month (Tishri) Trumpets blow to gather God’s people from the fields by trumpet for a holy convocation 1 Cor 15: 51-53 1 Thes 4: 15-18 Trumpet announcing Jesus’ Second Coming for holy convocation via the rapture

Jewish Feasts Feast Reference Reason for Feast Christian Significance Day of Atonement Lev 16 Lev 23: 26-27 Num 29: 7 10th day of 7th month (Tishri) Repentance: people gathered for holy convocation Not a celebration but a day to afflict souls in humble recognition of one’s sin and need for atonement The ultimate, perfect atonement Jesus offered for us but also affliction and salvation Israel will see during the Great Tribulation

Jewish Feast Feast Reference Reason for Feast Christian Significance Tabernacles (Succoth) Lev 23: 33-44 Rejoice God’s deliverance and provision for Israel during time of wilderness wandering 15th day of 7th month (Tishri) 7 days long 1st Holy convocation No work Make burnt offerings for 7 days The millenial rest for Israel and all of God’s people

Jewish Feast Feast Reference Reason for Feast Christian Significance The Year of Jubilee Lev 25

Jewish Feast Feast Reference Reason for Feast Christian Significance Hanukkah Lev 25 25th day of Chisleu (December) Not one of the appointed feasts Commemorates cleansing, rededication of 2nd Temple in 165BC 520 BC: Foundation of 2nd Temple was laid 168 BC: Antiochus stopped Temple sacrifices 165 BC: Temple recaptured and cleansed 1917 AD: Jerusalem freed from Turkish rule Possible date of miraculous defeat of Gog and Magog (Russia) invasion

Leviticus 24

Laws of Sanctified Elements Read Lev 24 Worship: Lev 24: 1-9 What type of oil was to be used in the Tabernacle lights? (V1-4) From where did the olives come? Who alone was responsible for the lampstand? Who is the light of the world? What regulations were given regarding the bread of the Tabernacle? (V5-9) 12 cakes in two rows of 6 on table and frankincense Who is the bread of Life? Bread eaten after 7 days by the priests in a holy place 1 Samuel 21: Ahimelech violate the Law when he gave showbread to David and his men Matthew 12: 1-14: Jesus used Ahimelech’s example as reason for the disciples to gather grain on the sabbath

Leviticus 24 Name of God: Lev 24: 10-23 Crime the son of an Israelite woman committed? Penalty for the crime of blasphemy? Where? What is the penalty for murder? V17 Is an animal of equal worth to a human being? (V17-22) V23: Makings of a modern day reality television show? Eye for an eye; tooth for a tooth “Lex talionus” Name of our God is sacred and must be protected

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