LESSON 13 Festivals of Unleavened Bread and First Fruits

 LESSON 13

Festivals of Unleavened Bread and First Fruits




Objective: The child of God saved through Jesus Christ, the Passover Lamb, must avoid sin and live in holiness and hope in the power of the resurrection.

Bible Portion: Exo. 12: 15-20; Deut. 16:2-8; Lev. 23:6-14 : 2 Cor. 7:1
Memory Verse: 2 Cor. 7:1

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Introduction

Passover is the first and most important festival of Israel. The festivals of unleavened bread and first fruits are also observed in the same month, along with the Passover. All three festivals are sometimes called the Passover or the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Passover lamb is killed on the evening of the 14th of the 1st month. The festival of the unleavened bread is observed for a week from the 15th to the 21st. Since the Jews count the day from evening to evening, the feast of the unleavened bread actually starts when the Passover lamb is slain in the evening of the 14th day. The festival of the first fruits also falls in the same week. It is observed on the day after the Sabbath (the first day of the week), following Passover.

Feast of the Unleavened Bread

The people observe the 'feast of unleavened bread' by eating only on all seven days. The burnt offerings should be sacrificed to the Lord every day. Holy assemblies should be held on the

first and the seventh day. No regular work should be done on any of the

days.

Spiritual Lessons

1. 'Leaven' represents malice and wickedness in the scriptures. The number 'Seven' points to perfection. We are saved when we put our faith in the atoning death of Christ. This festival teaches us to observe holiness and to lead a life without malice and wickedness. Just as He who called us is holy, we must be holy in all that we do as obedient children (1 Peter 1:14-16; Heb. 12:14; 1 Cor. 5:7-8). Leaven represents false doctrines (Matt. 16:5-12). We must hold fast to the pure doctrines entrusted to us once and for all (Jude 3; 2 Tim. 1:13; 2:15; Titus 1:14; 2:1).

2.

3. Hypocrisy is also pictured as leaven (Luke 12:1). Jesus Christ condemned hypocrisy vehemently. Believers must keep all such leaven out of their lives.

4.

Believers must also continually present themselves as a burnt offering to God (Rom. 12:1-2). Moreover, they must assemble with other believers and worship God (Heb. 10:24-25).


Festival of the first fruits (Lev. 23:9-14)




The head of the family brings the first sheaf of harvest from his field to the priest on the day after the Sabbath following Passover. The Priest raises the sheaf and waves it to all four sides. On the same day, he offers a burnt offering of a male lamb without blemish, 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.

When Jesus Christ rose 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 foreshadowing of the resurrection of Christ. Jesus Christ rose up from the dead as the first fruit (1 Cor. 15:20-23). The specialty of the Christian faith is that our Lord is risen and living. A child of God who is saved identifies 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 the newness of life (Rom. 6:4).

The waving of the first sheaf of the harvest 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 (1 Cor. 15:52-58; 1 Thes. 4:14-17; Rom. 8:11). At the second coming of Christ, the saints who are dead in Christ will be raised up 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 (Rev. 20:5). After the great tribulation that is to follow and the millennial rule, those who died without Christ will also rise up (Rev. 20:5, 6, 11-15; Acts 24:15). This is the last resurrection. Man's life does not end with this world. The sufferings of this life should not be taken seriously as we look forward to the glory in store for us. Therefore, let us live happily, considering our sure and blessed hope.

The priest's waving of the sheaf in all directions points to the preaching of the message of deliverance in the name of Jesus throughout the world. Let us dedicate ourselves to bearing witness to salvation through Jesus Christ by living a holy life.

Questions

1. What is the relation between the festivals of Passover and Unleavened Bread?

2. What spiritual lessons do we learn from the feast of the unleavened bread?

3. What does leaven represent in the Scriptures?

4. Whom does the sheaf of the first fruits signify?

5. Describe the spiritual meanings of the festival of first fruits.

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