Passover Like All Feasts are Shadows of “Good Things to Come”

Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, embodied and explained to us in Father’s Torah, was aptly described by the writer of the Book of Hebrews as “Shadows of Good Things to Come:”

Hebrews 10:1—Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the actual form of those realities, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year (CSB).

Colossians 2:16—Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of what was to come, the substance is the Messiah (CSB).

When is Passover to Take Place?

Passover occurs only during the Month (Hebrew=Chodesh=New Moon) of the Aviv. Aviv is to be the beginning/head (Hebrew) of Months (Chodesh) for us. It is to be the first (Hebrew=Rishon) month of the year.

Rabbinic Judaism is at Odds with this Instruction

It should be noted that the Rabbis (e.g., B. Jacob) contend that the intent of this passage was not to make the Month of the Aviv in the spring the New Year. Instead, it was to be the autumn. To Judaism, the Month of the Aviv was to serve only as a memorial to “Jewish Freedom” from Egypt.

But not all Rabbis saw this as B. Jacob saw it. In the Babylonian Talmud, Vol. 2—Eruvin, Sheqalim, Roshashanah—supports Aviv as the head of the year.

Selecting a Proper Lamb

We were instructed to select a lamb (Hebrew=she) of the flock (could be goat or sheep) per household/family (Hebrew=Mishpachah). The lamb was to fit the size of family that could consume it within one night. Thus, a small family would partner with another family and share the lamb.

Selecting an acceptable lamb was the focal point of Pesach (Passover). There were two requirements in the selection process:

• Unblemished (Hebrew=tamim=complete; sound).
• Tamim is only applied to the state of sacrificial animals
• Faultless; without defect (Leviticus 22:18-21)
• Defected animals will not be acceptable
• Of the first year—within the first-year of the animal’s birth.

Some believe that this age marked a level of innocence that made it ideal for sacrifice. (But there is prophetic meaning.)

What Were We to Do with the Select Lamb?

Which Lamb will you select today for your Paschal Lamb? This is key to a successful keeping of Passover.

We were to keep the Lamb till the 14th day of the Month of the Aviv. The entire congregation were to kill their select animals at dusk; twilight.

When is dusk or twilight? According to Talmud (Jewish Oral Tradition), it was between when the heat of the sun begins to decrease (~3 P.M.) and sunset.

From a historic perspective, Josephus wrote in his Wars 6.9.3:

In the time of Cestius, the sacrifices were made from the 9th to the 11th hour (i.e., 3 P.M. to 5 P.M.). Some 256,500 lambs were sacrificed for 2,700,200 persons.

We were instructed to apply the blood of our sacrifice to the doorposts and lintels of our homes and roast the lamb with fire (out of haste) that night. We were to eat the flesh—the paschal lamb–with unleavened bread (Hebrew=matzoth which is the plural of Matzah—also called the bread of affliction—Deut. 16:3) and bitter herbs (Hebrew=merorim which is plural of maror) to symbolize the bitterness of our Egyptian bondage.

We were not to eat the lamb raw. Pagan nations would eat their sacrifices raw, contrary to that which we were instructed here. Our lamb was to remain whole during the roasting process. Nothing of our lamb was to remain till morning. We were to burn any residue not consumed by morning. Why? Because this was to be NO ordinary meal to be consumed leisurely and then discarded disrespectfully.

Passover is a Shadow of our Redemption—Good Things to Come

Our unblemished lamb is none other than Yeshua HaMaschiyach.

John 1:29—Yochanan Ben Zechariah remarked of Yeshua: Behold the Lamb of Yah that takes away the sin of the world…

 

I Cor. 5:7—Get rid of the old hametz so that you can be a new batch of dough, because in reality you are unleavened. For our Pesach lamb, the Messiah, has been sacrificed.

What Qualified Yeshua to be Our Paschal Lamb—Our Passover?

He was unblemished—Yah only accepts the very best. Unblemished is being without sin—perfect in all His ways.

Heb. 9:28—So also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to deliver those who are eagerly waiting for Him (CJB).

Sin Is a really big deal to Father and He requires holiness and perfection in order to have a viable relationship with Him. Messiah Yeshua fit that bill perfectly and paid the price for our sin. Thus we have the opportunity to escape eternal death.

2 Cor. 5:21—For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew NO sin; that we might be made the righteousness of Yah in Him (KJV).

 

Heb. 7:26—For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens (KJV)

 

I Pet. 2:22—Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth (KJV) cf. Isa. 53:7

 

Heb. 4:15—For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin (CSB).

Our Master was of the first year.

Luke 3:23—Yeshua was about 30-years old when He began His public ministry…(CJB)

We find spiritual and prophetic parallels regarding the first-year aspect of qualifying to be the Passover Lamb in Num. 4:1-3, 21-23, 29-30. Age 30 was when Levitical Priests began serving in the Temple.

Those who are obedient and properly apply the blood of Messiah to their lives escape eternal death. Yeshua knocks on the door of each man’s heart.

Consider Rev. 3:14-22 where we find that Laodicea’s wealth made her lax and she lost her commitment and zeal for Messiah. Messiah wants to be a the sole focus of our entire life. Thus, the very lamb that takes away the sins of the world stands just outside the doors of our lives and asks to come in and sup with us (verse 20).

How Were We to Carry Out Passover

We were to consume the paschal lamb in haste and in a watchful manner. We were to have our loins girded. (I believe this would apply only to this first passover in Egypt.) Furthermore we were to be ready at a moment’s notice to hit the road as our salvation drew nigh!

The focus for this and succeeding Pesachs/Passovers would be:

• The lamb
• The blood
• The unleavened bread

We were reminded that Pesach was Father’s Passover: thus a Passover unto YHVH. The Paschal sacrifice is to honor YHVH.

Passover is derived from the verb “Pasach” which means to: passover; protect; deliver.

Reminders and Applications

We were reminded that Abba’s plague(s) against the Egyptians was “against all the gods of Egypt.” The objects of Egyptian worship tended to center upon the firstborn of man and beast. Thus all firstborn of Egypt were struck down. Every Egyptian deity was represented by some beast and Yah spared not one.

Father proclaims His sovereignty in judging the gods of Egypt by stating: “I am YHVH!”

Abba instructs that the blood of the sacrificed lamb/kid upon the doorposts and lintels of our homes would serve as a token for us. Abba always seals His covenants with blood. This passover event was a covenant although Yah did not expressly spell this out. Thus, here Abba’s covenant with us—to protect us from the Angel of Destruction—would be sealed and insured by the blood when properly applied that night.

What was this covenant? Abba stipulated that He would spare us and our families from the Angel of Destruction when He saw the blood properly applied to our homes’ doorways.

We were to eat unleavened bread for 7-complete days, including eating it with the Pesach meal. This was in force from the 14th at evening to the 21st at evening. (For us today: 4/1/18 through 4/8/18).

Leaven and What it Means

Leaven symbolizes sin. Unleavened Bread is a shadow of the redemption plan and the elimination of sin from our lives.

Leaven is symbolic of corruption, passion and sin. As it applies to the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Matzah), he/she who for whatever reason consumes leaven bread during this week will be cut-off from Israel (i.e., cast out from the congregation of Israel).

How does this apply today in the Body of Messiah?

The Feast of Unleavened Bread Requirements

We were instructed to convene a holy convocation (Hebrew=miqra=public meeting; a rehearsal; a public reading) on the 1st and 7th day. No manner of work is to be done on these holy days with the exception of food preparation. No leaven is to be found in any of our dwellings. This instruction applies to any place an Israelite will dwell or call home at the time of Pesach.

NOTE 1: True freedom comes only when we eliminate leaven (sin) from our lives. It is a process of sanctification; correction; repentance; obedience and dying to self.

NOTE 2: This passage serves to prove (in a sense) that what many of us refer to as the Last Supper/Holy Communion/The Lord’s Supper was NOT the Passover meal. Master was the Passover Lamb who was crucified on the execution stake on the afternoon Passover.

NOTE 3: Leaven is analogous to sin. Sin has no place in the Body of Messiah. As Abba instructed that leaven not be found in our homes, He also instructed that leaven not be found in the entire community. Thus sin cannot be tolerated in the Body of Messiah. It must be quickly dealt with because “…a little leaven leaventh the whole lump” (Gal. 5:9).

Identity—Identity—Identity

We must constantly ask the question of ourselves: who are we and to whom do we belong?

If we identify ourselves as Israelites and we’ve chosen to obey Father’s Torah and to be disciples of Yeshua, then Passover and Unleavened Bread keeping applies to us (Rom. 11:17-24). This is NOT a Jewish thing! This is a Hebrew thing!

Application of the Paschal Lamb to the Doorposts and Lintels of Our Homes with Hyssop

We were instructed to apply the blood of our selected, unblemished, of the 1st-year lamb/kid to the doorposts and lintels of our dwellings using “hyssop.”

Hyssop when used in a bunch acts as a sponge when taking on liquid—such as blood.

John 19:28—”After this Yeshua knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the scripture said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar full of sour wine (vinegar) was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. Therefore when Yeshua had received the sour wine He said, ‘It is finished!’ And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit” (NASB).

Hyssop is symbolic of spiritual purification from sin. As a substance used in Torah, hyssop has detersive, cleansing and medicinal properties. Leviticus 14:6,7 and Num. 19:18 both define the use of hyssop for purification purposes.

Psalm 51:7—”Purge me with hyssop and I will be clean. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow” (KJV).

The Destroyer Will Be Stopped

When Abba sees that we were obedient in applying the blood of the Paschal Lamb to the doorposts and lintels of our homes, He will NOT allow the “destroyer” to enter our homes and destroy us.

This “destroyer” makes a series of appearances throughout the Tanach: 2 Sam. 24:16; 2 Kin. 19:35; I Chron. 21:15,16; Act. 12:23.

Have We Properly Applied the Blood of the Lamb to our Lives?

Have we properly applied the blood of our selected Lamb to the doorposts and lintels of our lives so that we may be spared the eternal ravages of Father’s “destroyer?”

Food for Thought: Someday, in the World Tomorrow, the “destroyer” is going to be put out of work! Praise Yah!

Any Doubts that We as Torah Observant Believers in Yeshua Messiah Should Keep Passover and Unleavened Bread?

If there is any question whether Torah Observant Believers in Yeshua Messiah are to keep Passover and Unleavened Bread, this verse should sufficiently answer those concerns:

“And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever.”

Again—Identity-Identity-Identity

Our First Passover in Egypt was Also a Look to the Future

We were to especially prepare ourselves to keep Passover and Unleavened Bread in the Promised Land. Deut. 4:5, 12 and 16:5-8 provide us with an unfolding of this Feast which transitioned over time to that of a individualized/family-centric observance to that of a congregational observance. Josh. 5:10-12 records that we celebrated our first Pesach/Unleavened Bread in the Land of Promise.

Passover/Unleavened Bread Given In Part for Feast Celebration

Psa. 105:44,45 records that one of the reasons Abba gave us the Land is so that we may observe His statutes and keep His Torah in perfect harmony with Yehovah our Elohim. Our 40-years wandering in the wilderness served as training and preparation for when we would enter the Land of Promise. Upon entering the Land, we would be united and ready to serve Abba to the fullest extent of His Torah possible.

In one sense we are like our wandering forefathers: as we wander in the wilderness of our 21st centuries lives, we are training and preparing to enter Father’s eternal Kingdom where we will keep His moedim/His Feasts with Him in attendance.

Passing on the Significance of Passover to our Children

Although each of us was instructed to keep Passover, we were also instructed and made responsible for passing on these instructions to our children. This training of our children as it relates to Passover and Unleavened Bread is not a transferable responsibility.

The Destruction of the Firstborn of Egypt

All the firstborn of Egypt, including livestock, were slain. Prophetic justice plays out here, for we see that a previous Pharoah ordered the execution of Hebrew firstborn children during the time of Moses’ birth (Exo. 1:8-22).

We were hurried out of Egypt by night—thus the admonishment by Moses that we take the Pesach in a watchful/vigilant/expecting temperament. Our former Egyptian overlords were concerned that after this last plague, the next shoe to drop would be the total annihilation of all Egypt (vs. 33).

Our hurried departure necessitated the making of “unleavened bread” (vs. 33,34) which served as part of our Pesach meal and our food during our journey to Mount Sinai.

We ravaged the immense wealth of Egypt. This ravaging was facilitated by our having curried favor with our Egyptian taskmasters (vs. 36). This serves to teach us that although we may be persecuted by the world, Father has a way of granting us favor with the peoples of the world.

We Were a Mixed Multitude Leaving out of Egypt

We numbered some 600,000 men (heads of households) which scholars have indicated totaled upwards of 2-million souls when one factors in women and children exiting Egypt on this Night to be Most Remembered (cf. Num. 1:46).

We were a mixed multitude that some scholars say included non-Israelite slaves and prisoners of war.

These souls would prove troublesome for Moses and our overall assembly in the days, weeks and years to come (cf. Num. 11:4,5).

Even today within the Body of Messiah, we are composed of a “mixed multitude,” some of which are not true Israelites.

Master likened them as “tares”…whom we are required to live with until such a time that Master separates them from those of us who are true Israelites.

We brought with us a great many domesticated animals for sacrifice and food (vs. 38).

We began our Exodus on what has become known to us as the 1st day of Unleavened Bread.

A Night to be Much Remembered

This fateful night in Egypt which led directly to our departure out of Egypt was to be, what Torah describes as: A NIGHT OF WATCHING (JPS/ESV); A NIGHT OF VIGIL (CSB/NIV); A NIGHT TO BE MUCH OBSERVED (NASB/ASV/KJV). Watching/Observed—Hebrew=“shimmurim”=of celebration; vigilance

Pesach is to be a time of watching—better rendered: A TIME OF REFLECTION AND ANTICIPATION because of Abba’s timely redemption and grace!

Specific Rules for Keeping Passover

Non-Israelites are not to partake in Passover (vs. 43). (Identity again!) Our bought and paid-for servants, as long as they are circumcised, however, may partake in Passover (vs. 44). This is because these souls become members of our family who will by consequence become extended members of the congregation/commonwealth of Israel.

We were to be circumcised. Circumcision (a hot button topic) is a requirement to take Pesach according to Torah. It is non-negotiable; an identity issue once again. Nevertheless, there’s more than just identity and direct obedience required here.

There are two required circumcisions in order to partake in Passover:

• One of the heart (Deut. 10:16; 30:6).
• Physical circumcision which serves as a sign between that we (males) are of Israel.

Furthermore, temporary residents and hired servants are prohibited from partaking (vs. 45).

We were instructed to keep Pesach as a family and unified community (vss. 46, 47).

Any non-Israeli who desires to be a part of the true community of Yah is to be circumcised and to fully adopt the ways of Yah before partaking (vs. 48).

One Torah for All

Torah applies equally to both biological Israelis (not just Jews) and foreigners and new-comers to the Faith (vs. 49). Thus, the Rabbinic concept of Noahide Laws applying to Gentiles who wish to adopt a Jewish lifestyle are herein is quashed. There is one Torah for all! Period.

Israelite Firstborn

We were instructed to consecrate (Hebrew=qadash=sanctify; dedicate; hallow; be holy; to be separated) our firstborn unto YHVH.

All firstborn of Israel—human and animal—belong to Yah—Num. 3:13; 8:16; 18:15; cf., Luk. 2:23).

How many of us have taken this instruction seriously in our lives and in our home? This is emblematic of our status in the Kingdom of Yah:

Heb. 12:22—”…to the great assembly and ekklesia of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven…”

 

Rom. 8:29–Yeshua is the firstborn among many brethren. We have been predestined to become conformed to the image of Yeshua.

Firstborn is an important concept that has wide-reaching implications throughout various areas of our Faith Community and throughout Torah.

Passover is a Sign

Father instructs that Passover/Pesach/Unleavened Bread is to serve as a sign to us (vs. 9) likened unto a sign on our hands and between our eyes. Judaism interprets this verse to mean that Jews are to adorn Tephillin/Phylacteries and recite associated Meditations from the Authorized Prayer Book.

Matthew records Yeshua making mention of this tradition in Matthew 23:5 whereby the Pharisees made much to do about their phylacteries as visual indications of their self-righteousness.

Tephillin/Phylacteries are small boxes containing tiny scrolls worn by devout Jews on their arms and foreheads during times of meditation. The scrolls contain 4-sections of Torah that are then placed in these small boxes. The Rabbis have issued rules on the wearing of these devices to include not wearing adorning them on Sabbaths/Festivals; not at night; to be worn from the age of 13 (barmitzvah).

This is a Rabbinic construct that may not be accurate or what Father originally intended as an interpretation for the Passover being as a sign on one’s arm and between one’s eyes. Another interpretation to be considered is that

This verse instructs us to embrace the full revelation and commandment to keep Passover to the fullest extent possible such that it is fully and clearly manifested in everything we physically do in our day-to-day lives (our hands) as well as manifested in our every thought, desire and intention (between our eyes). Our entire being is to be subjected to the service of Yah and the Kingdom.

Closing Thoughts and Reflections on our First Passover

We were commanded by Yah to keep Passover/Unleavened Bread forever.

Yeshua Messiah is the goal of Torah:

Rom. 10:4—For the goal at which the Torah aims is the Messiah who offers righteousness to everyone who trusts.

Yeshua is our example—He kept Passover and so did His disciples.

Yeshua offers us righteousness if we keep His commandments. Father demands righteousness in order for us to have a viable relationship with Him.

Therefore, first and foremost, Passover is about Yeshua Messiah. Easter and Christmas are NOT about Yeshua. They are about another Christ.

Secondarily Passover must be kept by every Israelite. Who are we? Are we Israelites? If so, we must keep Passover and Unleavened Bread.

Thirdly, there is one Torah for all—native-born-Jew—male—female—non-Jew—black, white, Asian, Hispanic—Torah applies to one and all.

Have a blessed Passover and Unleavened Bread