The Passover is one of the most significant feasts in the biblical tradition, instituted by God as a perpetual ordinance for the Israelites. It commemorates the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, marking the beginning of their journey to the Promised Land. The command to celebrate the Passover is detailed primarily in the Book of Exodus, with further instructions and reiterations found in Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Biblical Foundation

The initial command to observe the Passover is found in Exodus 12. God instructs Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt regarding the establishment of the Passover as a lasting ordinance. The Lord commands, "This month is to be the beginning of months for you; it is the first month of your year" (Exodus 12:2). The Passover is to be observed on the fourteenth day of this month, known as Nisan.

The Israelites are instructed to select a lamb without blemish, a male a year old, on the tenth day of the month. They are to care for it until the fourteenth day, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to slaughter it at twilight (Exodus 12:5-6). The blood of the lamb is to be applied to the doorposts and lintels of their houses as a sign, so that the Lord will pass over those homes when He strikes down the firstborn of Egypt (Exodus 12:7, 12-13).

The meal itself is to be eaten in haste, with the participants dressed for travel, symbolizing their readiness for the imminent exodus. The Lord commands, "This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You are to eat it in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover" (Exodus 12:11).

Perpetual Observance

The Passover is not merely a one-time event but is established as a perpetual observance for future generations. The Lord commands, "And when you enter the land that the LORD will give you as He promised, you are to keep this service" (Exodus 12:25). The feast serves as a memorial, and parents are instructed to explain its significance to their children, saying, "It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when He struck down the Egyptians and spared our homes" (Exodus 12:27).

Further Instructions and Observance

The Book of Leviticus reiterates the command to observe the Passover, emphasizing its timing and the associated Feast of Unleavened Bread, which begins on the fifteenth day of Nisan and lasts for seven days (Leviticus 23:5-6). During this time, no leavened bread is to be eaten, symbolizing the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt and the purity required of God's people.

In Numbers 9, additional instructions are given for those who are ceremonially unclean or on a journey during the Passover. They are permitted to observe the Passover in the second month, on the fourteenth day, ensuring that all have the opportunity to participate in this critical observance (Numbers 9:10-11).

Deuteronomy 16 provides further details on the centralization of worship, instructing that the Passover is to be celebrated at the place the Lord chooses as a dwelling for His Name, emphasizing the unity and communal aspect of the celebration (Deuteronomy 16:5-6).

Significance in the New Testament

The Passover holds profound significance in the New Testament, where it is seen as a foreshadowing of Christ's sacrificial death. The Apostle Paul refers to Christ as "our Passover lamb" who has been sacrificed (1 Corinthians 5:7), drawing a parallel between the deliverance from Egypt and the salvation offered through Jesus Christ. The Last Supper, which Jesus shares with His disciples, is a Passover meal, during which He institutes the Lord's Supper, further linking the Passover with the new covenant in His blood (Luke 22:14-20).

The command to celebrate the Passover thus serves as a foundational element of biblical faith, rich in historical and theological significance, pointing to God's redemptive plan for His people.