The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a significant biblical festival that is closely associated with the Passover. It is observed by the Israelites as a commemoration of their deliverance from Egyptian bondage, as recorded in the Old Testament. The feast begins on the 15th day of the first month (Nisan) in the Hebrew calendar and lasts for seven days. This observance is commanded by God and holds deep spiritual and historical significance.

Biblical Foundation

The institution of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is found in the Book of Exodus. Following the final plague in Egypt, the death of the firstborn, God commanded the Israelites to commemorate their deliverance with the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Exodus 12:17 states, "So you are to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your divisions out of the land of Egypt. Therefore, you are to observe this day as a permanent statute for the generations to come."

Observance Details

During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Israelites were instructed to remove all leaven from their homes and to eat unleavened bread for seven days. Leaven, or yeast, is often symbolic of sin and corruption in the Bible. The removal of leaven signifies the call to holiness and purity. Exodus 12:19 commands, "For seven days there must be no yeast found in your houses. If anyone eats anything leavened, that person must be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a foreigner or native of the land."

The first and seventh days of the feast are designated as holy convocations, during which no regular work is to be done. Leviticus 23:6-8 further elaborates, "On the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly; you are not to do any ordinary work. For seven days you are to present an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the seventh day there shall be a sacred assembly; you must not do any ordinary work."

Spiritual Significance

The Feast of Unleavened Bread serves as a reminder of God's deliverance and faithfulness. It calls the faithful to reflect on the purity and holiness required by God. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 , draws a parallel between the feast and the Christian life: "Get rid of the old yeast, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."

Historical Observance

Throughout history, the Feast of Unleavened Bread has been observed by the Jewish people as a time of remembrance and celebration. It is a time to recall the miraculous events of the Exodus and to renew their commitment to God. The feast is also a time of family gathering and teaching, as parents pass down the account of deliverance to their children.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the Feast of Unleavened Bread is mentioned in the context of Jesus' final Passover meal with His disciples, often referred to as the Last Supper. This meal, which took place during the feast, is foundational to the Christian practice of Communion or the Lord's Supper. The unleavened bread used during this meal symbolizes the body of Christ, who is without sin, and serves as a reminder of His sacrifice for humanity's redemption.

The observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread continues to hold theological importance for both Jews and Christians, serving as a powerful symbol of deliverance, purity, and the redemptive work of God through Jesus Christ.