Bible Pathway - Feb. 9, 2010
Highlights:
Death penalty for defiled priests who eat holy things; seven sacrifices (festivals) must be perfect since all are types of Christ; Sabbath was a sacred day of rest; Passover was a reminder of how and why they were delivered from slavery.
Verses for Today:
The fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's Passover. . . . the fifteenth day . . . is the Feast of Unleavened Bread unto the Lord (Lev. 23:5-6).The Feast of Unleavened Bread began the day following Passover, and it lasted seven days. During that time, only unleavened bread was eaten (Ex. 34:18). It represented the sinless nature of Christ. Then Jesus said . . . My Father giveth you the True Bread from heaven. For the Bread of God is He which (who) cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world (John 6:32-33). Israel's abstinence from leaven (Ex. 23:18; Lev. 2:11; 10:12; 34:25) for seven days reminded them to be a holy people separated from the corruption and uncleanness of the world. Christians are warned against the leaven of malice and wickedness . . . (in contrast) with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (I Cor. 5:6-8; Gal. 5:9; I Pet. 2:1).
It took seven weeks to harvest all the crops, beginning with the spring barley. The harvest of grapes came in June/July and the olives in August/September. Wheat was the final summer harvest. The Feast of Firstfruits in the spring indicated faith in the coming harvests, the Feast of Weeks, also known as Feast of Harvest, expressed thankfulness for completing all of the harvests (Ex. 23:16). The Feast of Harvest was also called Pentecost, from the Greek word "pentékonta" meaning 㦞." This feast took place 50 days after the one-sheaf offering of the Feast of Firstfruits (Lev. 23:15-16). It was the second time of the year that all Israelite males were to appear before the Lord (Ex. 23:14-17).
In contrast to the unleavened bread required for Passover (symbolic of Christ) were the two wave loaves that were to be baked with leaven for the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) (Lev. 23:17). Leaven, symbolic of our sin nature, was required in the two wave loaves because they represented both Jewish and Gentile believers who would later make up the Church.
Purge out . . . the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (I Cor. 5:7-8).
Thought for Today:
Do not My words do good to him that walketh uprightly? (Mic. 2:7).
Christ Revealed:
Leviticus 23 — in the seven great feasts of the Lord: Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Firstfruits, Feast of Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) — all of which typified Jesus Christ. Christ our Passover (I Cor. 5:7); Bread of Life (John 6:35); Christ . . . the Firstfruits of them that slept (died) (I Cor. 15:20).
Word Studies:
22:19 beeves =beef cattle; 22:23 superfluous =deformed; 22:27 dam =mother; 23:2 holy convocations =sacred assemblies; 23:7 ye shall do no servile work =you shall not work at your occupations.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Broadcasts sponsored by Lt. Col. Walter W. Swanson & Grace S. Pfister • Staff: Bernice Rathbone (retired) • Government Officials: Rep. Jay Inslee (WA) and Sen. James Webb, Jr. (VA) • Country: Uruguay (3 million) on the southeastern coast of South America • Major language: Spanish • Religious freedom • 60% Roman Catholic; 2% Protestant; 2% Jewish; .7% Eastern Orthodox • Prayer Suggestion: Thank the Lord that you have no need to fear. Trust Him one day at a time (Matt. 6:33-34).
Optional Reading: Mark 12
Memory Verse for the Week: Exodus 20:7-11
