In the biblical context, a feast-day refers to a divinely appointed time of celebration and worship, often marked by specific rituals, sacrifices, and communal gatherings. These feast-days are integral to the religious life of the Israelites as outlined in the Old Testament and hold significant theological and spiritual meaning.

Old Testament Feasts

The Old Testament prescribes several feast-days, primarily found in the books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These feasts serve as both commemorations of God's past acts and as anticipations of future fulfillment.

1. Passover (Pesach): Instituted in Exodus 12, Passover commemorates the Israelites' deliverance from Egyptian bondage. It is observed on the 14th day of the first month (Nisan) and involves the sacrifice of a lamb, symbolizing the protection of the Israelites from the plague of the firstborn. "This day is to be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a feast to the LORD. You are to celebrate it as a permanent statute for the generations to come" (Exodus 12:14).

2. Feast of Unleavened Bread: Immediately following Passover, this seven-day feast (Nisan 15-21) involves eating unleavened bread, symbolizing the haste of the Israelites' departure from Egypt. "For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day you are to remove the leaven from your houses" (Exodus 12:15).

3. Feast of Firstfruits: Celebrated on the day after the Sabbath following Passover, this feast marks the beginning of the barley harvest. It involves offering the first sheaf of the harvest to the LORD. "Bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest" (Leviticus 23:10).

4. Feast of Weeks (Shavuot or Pentecost): Occurring fifty days after the Feast of Firstfruits, this feast celebrates the wheat harvest and the giving of the Law at Sinai. "Count off fifty days until the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD" (Leviticus 23:16).

5. Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah): Marking the beginning of the civil year, this feast is observed on the first day of the seventh month (Tishri) with trumpet blasts. "In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly announced by trumpet blasts" (Leviticus 23:24).

6. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur): On the 10th day of Tishri, this solemn day involves fasting and repentance, with the high priest making atonement for the sins of the people. "This is to be a permanent statute for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month, you must humble yourselves and not do any work" (Leviticus 16:29).

7. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot): Celebrated from the 15th to the 22nd of Tishri, this feast commemorates the Israelites' wilderness wanderings and God's provision. "On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered the produce of the land, you are to celebrate a feast to the LORD for seven days" (Leviticus 23:39).

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, Jesus and His disciples observed these feast-days, which often provided the backdrop for significant events in His ministry. For instance, the Last Supper was a Passover meal (Matthew 26:17-29), and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit occurred during Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).

Theologically, these feasts are seen as types and shadows pointing to Christ and His redemptive work. For example, Christ is identified as the Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7), and the Feast of Firstfruits is seen as a foreshadowing of His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20).

Significance and Observance

For Christians, the Old Testament feast-days hold rich symbolic meaning, reflecting God's covenantal faithfulness and foreshadowing the ultimate redemption through Jesus Christ. While the ceremonial observance of these feasts is not mandated for Christians, they provide a profound opportunity for reflection on God's redemptive history and the fulfillment of His promises in Christ.2282. chag -- a festival gathering, feast, pilgrim feast
... solemn feast day, sacrifice, solemnity. Or chag {khawg}; from chagag; a festival,
or a victim therefor -- (solemn) feast (day), sacrifice, solemnity. ...
/hebrew/2282.htm - 6k

The Last Supper
... recently enumerated these afresh, remarking that "the Synoptists make the Sanhedrin
say beforehand that they will not arrest Jesus 'on the feast day,' and then ...
/.../rhees/the life of jesus of nazareth/vii the last supper.htm

Colossians ii. 16-19
... Homily VII. Colossians ii. 16-19. Colossians ii.16-19 "Let no man therefore judge
you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day, or a new moon, or a ...
/.../homily vii colossians ii 16-19.htm

John Chapter xi. 55-57; xii
... 2. "And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand." The Jews wished to have that
feast-day crimsoned with the blood of the Lord. On it ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate l john chapter xi.htm

Object of Christ in the Last Supper.
... No scruples were entertained about the crucifixion on that day, but only about leaving
the bodies on the cross on the Sabbath, which was a fixed feast-day. ...
/.../section 265 object of christ.htm

On the Words of the Gospel of John vii. 6, Etc. , Where Jesus Said ...
... These days were kept as feast days among the Jews; and it was called one feast day,
not because it was over in one day, but because it was kept up by a ...
/.../sermon lxxxiii on the words.htm

John Chapter vii. 13-Jan
... "I go not up to this feast, because my time is not yet full come." On this
feast-day you seek ... "Then the Jews sought Him on the feast-day:" before He went up. ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xxviii john chapter vii.htm

Of the Question Whether There is any Contradiction Between Matthew ...
... in expressing it. John, on the other hand, has mentioned in three several
places the nearness of this same feast-day. In the two ...
/.../the harmony of the gospels/chapter lxxviii of the question whether.htm

Of the Times Most Suitable for Baptism.
... But, moreover, when Jeremiah says, "And I will gather them together from the
extremities of the land in the feast-day," he signifies the day of the Passover ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/on baptism/chapter xix of the times most.htm

John Chapter vii. 25-36
... discourses,"for it was both read in the Gospel and also discussed by us according
to our ability,"how that the Lord Jesus went up to the feast-day, as it ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xxxi john chapter vii.htm

Whether it is a Mortal Sin to Ask for the Debt at a Holy Time?
... I answer that, To ask for the debt on a feast day is not a circumstance drawing
a sin into another species; wherefore it cannot aggravate infinitely. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is a mortal 2.htm

Feast-day (5 Occurrences)
Feast-day. Feast, Feast-day. Feast-days . Multi-Version Concordance
Feast-day (5 Occurrences). Matthew 26:5 But they ...
/f/feast-day.htm - 7k

Uproar (33 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Uproar (33 Occurrences). Matthew 26:5 But they said, Not
on the feastday, lest there be an uproar among the people. (KJV WBS). ...
/u/uproar.htm - 16k

Moon (70 Occurrences)
... Colossians 2:16 Let no one therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with
respect to a feastday or a new moon or a Sabbath day, (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE ...
/m/moon.htm - 36k

Lest (282 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV). Mark 14:2 But they said, Not on the feastday,
lest there be an uproar of the people. (KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV). ...
/l/lest.htm - 37k

Feast-days (1 Occurrence)
Feast-days. Feast-day, Feast-days. Feasted . Multi-Version Concordance
Feast-days (1 Occurrence). ... (DBY). Feast-day, Feast-days. Feasted . Reference
/f/feast-days.htm - 6k

Festal (12 Occurrences)
... altar. (YLT RSV NIV). Isaiah 3:22 The feast-day dresses, and the robes,
and the wide skirts, and the handbags, (See NAS RSV). Hosea ...
/f/festal.htm - 10k

Religious (13 Occurrences)
... Amen. (WEY). Colossians 2:16 Let no one therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking,
or with respect to a feastday or a new moon or a Sabbath day, (See NIV). ...
/r/religious.htm - 10k

Dresses (4 Occurrences)
... ornaments of gold on your dresses. (BBE). Isaiah 3:22 The feast-day dresses,
and the robes, and the wide skirts, and the handbags, (BBE). ...
/d/dresses.htm - 7k

Miracles (65 Occurrences)
... (KJV WEY WBS). John 2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast
day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. ...
/m/miracles.htm - 25k

Celebration (8 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Colossians 2:16 Let no one therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking,
or with respect to a feastday or a new moon or a Sabbath day, (See NIV). ...
/c/celebration.htm - 9k

What is the Feast of Tabernacles / Booths / Sukkot? | GotQuestions.org

What are the different Jewish festivals in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Feast of Trumpets? | GotQuestions.org

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