Christ Independent Methodist Church
Michael K. Hudson Sr. - January 28, 2015
Leviticus - Lesson 4
Introduction
Leviticus is one of the books of the Bible that can be frustrating to read because it is not
a book that you can read like history or poetry. It is a book that cannot be just read, it has
to be studied to dig deep into the sacrifices, feasts, and ordinances that the Lord sets down.
When you take time to do an in-depth study in Leviticus, you will realize the depth of
the spiritual lessons that teach about the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did to restore the
fellowship with the Lord.
Remember that Genesis is the book of beginnings where man is created in a sweet
fellowship with the Lord. However, because of sin, man dies both physically and spiritually.
Therefore, the book of Genesis teaches that man has a problem and it is sin.
Remember that Exodus is the book of redemption where God brings the nation of Israel
out of bondage and sets them free. It is a miraculous deliverance that only God could have
done. It is a picture of salvation that when Christ takes a person out of the bondage of sin
and sets him free.
◆ Genesis - the ruin of man - because of sin.
◆ Exodus - the redemption and deliverance of man - through the blood and the
power of God.
◆ Leviticus - fellowship restored through worship and communion on the grounds
of atonement (reparation and reconciliation).
Day of Atonement:
Leviticus 16:30–34 KJV “16:30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement
for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.
16:31 It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a
statute for ever.
16:32 And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to
minister in the priest’s office in his father’s stead, shall make the atonement, and shall
put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments:
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16:33 And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an
atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make
an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.
16:34 And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the
children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded
Moses.”
Leviticus is the book of fellowship. Leviticus is also the book of Atonement. It teaches
Israel how to live in order to have fellowship with the Lord. How can fellowship a person
fellowship with a holy God, because God is holy? Leviticus answers that problem on how
to restore fellowship.
Psalms 66:18 KJV “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:”
Sin destroys or hinders the fellowship with God because of His holiness. Therefore,
there has to be a way for that fellowship to be restored. Leviticus gives Israel the answer on
how to have fellowship with Him.
Leviticus gets its name from the Levites, which were the priests of the Lord.
Leviticus is a detailed explanation to Israel on how to act, walk, worship, and serve the
Lord.
Interesting that in Exodus, the Lord speaks out of Mount Sinai where the people were
not allowed to go on. In Leviticus, He speaks out of the Tabernacle in which He dwells in
the middle of the people.
Leviticus 1:1 KJV Ҧ And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of
the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,”
Purpose of Leviticus
Leviticus 11:45 KJV “For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of
Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”
The purpose of Leviticus is to teach Israel that God has a purpose for them as a nation.
They were to be a holy nation before the Lord and a testimony to the rest of the world to
point others to the Lord. Therefore, Leviticus is to show Israel how to be a holy nation.
The first part of Leviticus taught Israel that sin is serious and the only way for it to be
forgiven is by the shedding of blood. The sacrificial system showed the seriousness of sin.
Blood had to be shed in order to cover the sins of the people.
Hebrews 9:22 KJV “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and
without shedding of blood is no remission.”
To relate this to today, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, had to die on the cross of Calvary
in order to shed His blood so that a person might be saved and have his sins forgiven. Sin
separates a person from the fellowship with God. Adam and Eve lost that wonderful
fellowship when they sinned. When a person sins, fellowship is hindered. The blood covers
and pays for the sins so the fellowship can be restored.
Since a Christian is covered by the blood of Christ, he should be living a holy life.
1 Peter 2:9 KJV “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation,
a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out
of darkness into his marvellous light:”
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The second part of Leviticus teaches that God has a standard or rule for man to live by.
He gives the ordinances and precepts on how a person is to behave and live his life. The
character and conduct of a person is to be holy living.
1 Peter 1:15–16 KJV “1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in
all manner of conversation;
1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
The third part of Leviticus deals with the penalties if a person does not live a holy life.
There are penalties associated with not meeting up to God’s standard of living.
It would remind us today that as God was holy then, He is still holy now and expects His
children to live holy lives.
Outline of Leviticus
Leviticus can be broken down into two major sections: “How to have fellowship with
God” and “How to continue in fellowship with God.”
How to have fellowship with God - chapters 1 - 17
Sacrifices - chapters 1 - 7
Burnt Offering - chapter 1
Meal Offering - chapter 2
Peace Offering - chapter 3
Sin Offering - chapter 4
Trespass Offering - chapter 5
How to give the offerings - chapters 6 - 7
Priests - Chapters 8 - 10
High Priest
Other Priest
People - live clean lives - chapters 11-16
Food - chapter 11
Bodies - chapter 12
Clothes - chapter 13
Houses - chapter 14
Contacts - chapter 15
Day of Atonement - chapter 16
Altar - chapter 17
How to continue in fellowship with God (Separate from the world) - chapters 18 - 27
People live holy - chapters 18 - 20
Priests live holy - chapters 21 - 22
Feasts of the Lord - chapter 23
Feast of Passover
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Feast of Unleavened Bread
Feast of First fruits
Feast of Pentecost
Feast of Trumpets
Day of Atonement
Feast of Tabernacles
Land to be holy
Sabbath year
Jubilee year
Conditions for blessings on the land
Warning
Land belongs to the Lord
Sacrifices
Burnt Offering
Leviticus 1:2–9 KJV “1:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If
any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the
cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
1:3 ¶ If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without
blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation before the LORD.
1:4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be
accepted for him to make atonement for him.
1:5 And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron’s sons,
shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the
door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
1:6 And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.
1:7 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in
order upon the fire:
1:8 And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order
upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
1:9 But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all
on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the
LORD.”
This was a voluntary offering to the Lord in which a bullock, ram, goat, dove, pigeon
were offered and completely burnt before the Lord. The offering was given with the person
laying his hands on the offering before it is burnt. This is a twofold picture. First, it is a
picture of total dedication and consecration to the Lord because the whole offering in
consumed. The laying on of hands was the indication that the sacrifice was taking the place
of the person. The sacrifice was dying in place of the person.
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Secondly, it is picture of the Lord Jesus Christ being offered on the Cross of Calvary for
our sins. He is a Lamb without spot or blemish (no sin) who willingly (voluntarily) offered
Himself to be a sacrifice for man’s sins. Christ died on the cross so that He might take our
place there so we can be forgiven of our sins.
1 Peter 1:18–23 KJV “1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with
corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition
from your fathers;
1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot:
1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was
manifest in these last times for you,
1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him
glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto
unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of
God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
Meal Offering
Leviticus 2:1–3 KJV “2:1 ¶ And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD,
his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense
thereon:
2:2 And he shall bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his
handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof;
and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by
fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD:
2:3 And the remnant of the meat offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’: it is a thing
most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.”
The KJV translated the Hebrew word, minchah, as meat, but a better translation would
be food. It was a grain or meal offering to the Lord. Some see the meal offering as the
sovereignty and blessings of God on the nation of Israel in providing for Israel.
The burnt and meal offering were to go together. The significance of the meal offering
correlates with the burnt offering. Burnt offering represents Christ on the cross and the
meal offering represents one’s dependence upon the Lord for Him to provide. It can be a
picture of the perfect life of Christ that was offered.
Hebrews 2:17–18 KJV “2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like
unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things
pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them
that are tempted.”
Grain offering (minchah; “meat offering,” KJV) Offering from the harvest of the land;
the only type that required no bloodshed. It was composed of fine flour mixed with oil and
frankincense. Sometimes this offering was cooked into cakes prior to taking it to the priest.
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These cakes, however, had to be made without leaven. Every grain offering had to have salt
in it (Lev. 2:13), perhaps as a symbol of the covenant (Num.18:19; 2 Chron. 13:5). Only a
portion of this offering was burned on the altar, with the remainder going to the priests.
While no reason is given for the grain offering, it may have symbolized the recognition of
God’s blessing in the harvest by a society based to a large degree on agriculture. The
bringing of a representative portion of the grain harvest was another outward expression of
devotion. Grain offerings as well as “drink offerings” or libations of wine accompanied all
burnt offerings and peace offerings (Num.15:3-4).
“SACRIFICE AND OFFERING,” Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, n.p.
Peace Offering
Leviticus 3:1–5 KJV “3:1 ¶ And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he
offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish
before the LORD.
3:2 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of
the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood
upon the altar round about.
3:3 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire
unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the
inwards,
3:4 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the
caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.
3:5 And Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is
upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto
the LORD.”
The Peace offering is described in three parts or offerings: thank offering (Leviticus
7:12), votive or sacrifice of a vow (Numbers 6:2), and freewill offering (Leviticus 7:16).
Each of these offerings represent an offering giving to praise and be thankful for being part
of the family of God. Christ is the peace offering because He brought peace.
Peace offering is a picture or type of the communion with God being restored.
Sin Offering
Leviticus 4:1–10 KJV “4:1 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
4:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance
against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to
be done, and shall do against any of them:
4:3 If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let
him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the
LORD for a sin offering.
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4:4 And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock’s head, and kill
the bullock before the LORD.
4:5 And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock’s blood, and bring it to
the tabernacle of the congregation:
4:6 And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven
times before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary.
4:7 And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet
incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour
all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at
the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
4:8 And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat
that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
4:9 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and
the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away,
4:10 As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the
priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering.”
The Sin offering became necessary when a person, family, tribe, or nation sinned either
through ignorance, carelessness, or weakness. Sin of ignorance is not one who is guilty of
willfully in open rebellion and defiance sin against the Lord.
The presumptuous sinner, literally he who sinned "with a high hand," might or might not
have committed such a crime as to incur punishment from the civil law: it was enough that
he had with deliberate purpose rebelled against God (see Prov. 2:13-15 ), and ipso facto was
"cut off from among his people" and alienated from the divine covenant (see Lev. 7:20 ; Exo.
31:14 ; compare Matt. 12:31 ; 1 John 5:16 ). But the other kind of sin, that for which the
sin-offering was appointed, was of a more complicated nature. It appears to have included
the entire range of "sins, negligences and ignorances" for which we are accustomed to ask
forgiveness. sin-offerings were required not only when the conscience accused the offender
of having yielded to temptation, but sometimes for what were breaches of the Law
committed strictly in ignorance Lev. 4:13 , 23 , 28 ; 5:17 , and sometimes on account of
ceremonial pollution. They are thus to be regarded as protests against everything which is
opposed to the holiness and purity of the divine Law. They were, in short, to be offered by
the worshipper as a relief to the conscience whenever he felt the need of atonement.1
God forgave the sin of the individual, elder, or whole congregation who laid their hands
on the sacrifice before it was killed. The symbolism is that the sin is transferred to the
sacrifice which paid the price for the sins.
Christ is our Sin bearer who bore our sins on the Cross of Calvary.
2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;
that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
1
Barnes Notes on the Old Testament – Leviticus chapter 4, public domain
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Trespass Offering
Leviticus 5:1–6 KJV “5:1 ¶ And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a
witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his
iniquity.
5:2 Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast,
or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be
hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.
5:3 Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man
shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be
guilty.
5:4 Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever
it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth
of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.
5:5 And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall
confess that he hath sinned in that thing:
5:6 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath
sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the
priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.”
Leviticus 5:14–16 KJV “5:14 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
5:15 If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the
LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out
of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary,
for a trespass offering:
5:16 And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and
shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an
atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him.”
Trespass offering was to cover a specific sin where someone was harmed or damaged.
The offering was to cover the sin but built into the offering was restitution for the damaged
or harmed done. The restitution was the value of the harm plus 20%.
Please note that the Sin and Trespass offering can and does overlap. A person might
have to bring both before the Lord. He could have sinned out of weakness or ignorance and
because of his sins harmed another person.
Hebrews 10:10–18 KJV “10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the
offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same
sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on
the right hand of God;
10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said
before,
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10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the
Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.”
Priests - chapters 8 - 10
Leviticus 8:1–11 KJV “8:1 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
8:2 Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a
bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread;
8:3 And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of
the congregation.
8:4 And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the assembly was gathered
together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
8:5 And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the LORD
commanded to be done.
8:6 And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.
8:7 And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him
with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of
the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith.
8:8 And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and
the Thummim.
8:9 And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront,
did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD commanded Moses.
8:10 And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was
therein, and sanctified them.
8:11 And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and
all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them.”
In these chapters, there is the consecration of the High Priests and the other priests,
along with their requirements for service in the ministry of the Lord.
Chapter 8 deals with the consecration of the priest in setting them apart for the service of
the Lord.
The consecration deals with four main aspects: High Priest - cleansing, clothing,
crowned, and claimed. The other priest were consecrated in four parts: cleansing, clothing,
claimed, and charged.
Chapter 9 deals with the priest beginning their service to the Lord.
Chapter 10 is interesting because it deals with the judgment of God on Nadab and Abihu
for not following the commandments of the Lord in how they served in the Tabernacle. God
struck them down because of their sins against Him.
People
Leviticus 11:1–2 KJV “11:1 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron,
saying unto them,
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11:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat
among all the beasts that are on the earth.”
For the people to keep in fellowship with the Lord, they must live clean, holy lives. The
chapters 11 through sixteen deal with daily life.
Here are the breakdown of cleanliness.
◆ Clean foods - chapter 11
◆ Clean bodies - chapter 12 - 13:46
◆ Clean clothes - chapter 13:47 - 59
◆ Clean houses - chapters 14:35 - 57
◆ Clean contacts - chapter 15
◆ Clean nation - chapter 16
Feasts of the Lord
Feasts of the Lord
What are the feasts of the Lord?
The seven major feasts are:
Feast
Historical Event
Old Testament New Testament
References
References
Passover
I s r a e l ’ s Leviticus 23:4, 1 C o r i n t h i a n s
deliverance from 7 - 8 , E x o d u s 5:7-8
bondage
12:1-14
Unleavened Bread Coming out of Exodus 12:15-20; 1 C o r i n t h i a n s
Egypt
Leviticus 23:4, 5:7-8
6-14
First Fruits
Crossing the Red Leviticus 23:7-14 John 12:24
Sea
1 Corinthians
15:20-23
Pentecost (Weeks) R e c e i v i n g t h e L e v i t i c u s Acts 2:1-4
Commandments 23:15-22
1 Corinthians
at Mount Sinai
12:13
Trumpets
New Year
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L e v i t i c u s Matthew 24
23:23-25; Exodus 1 Thessalonians
37:1-14
4:16
1 Corinthians
15:51-52
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Day of Atonement Priest entering L e v i t i c u s Hebrews 9:11-14
t h e H o l y o f 23:26-32
Holies for the Leviticus 16:1-34
sins of the people
Ta b e r n a c l e s Entering the L e v i t i c u s R e v e l a t i o n
(Booths)
Promised Land - 23:33-44
20:4-7
Rejoicing
Deuteronomy
16:13
The seven major feasts occur at a specific time
The feasts are broken into two major times: spring and fall. The feasts occurring in the
spring teach about the first coming of the Messiah. The feasts occurring in the fall teach
about the second coming of the Messiah.
The seven feasts are part of the three great festivals of the Jewish year.
Time of Year
Day of
Month
st
t h e Festival
Passover
th
1 Month
14
Unleavened
Bread
th
First Fruits
16
nd
Pentecost
rd
– 3 Month
th
6
day of 3
month
th
4
– 5
Month
th
th
7 Month
– 6
Passover
th
15
2
Feasts in Festival
th
st
1
rd
Pe n t e c o s t ( 3
Month)
No Festivals
No Feasts
Tabernacles
Trumpets
Day
Atonement
th
10
th
7 weeks of
Sabbaths from
end of First Fruits
rd
of
Tabernacles
nd
15 – 22
Passover
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Leviticus 23:1–5 KJV “23:1 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
23:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of
the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.
23:3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy
convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your
dwellings.
23:4 ¶ These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall
proclaim in their seasons.
23:5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD’S passover.”
Preparation for the feast
Choosing the Passover Lamb
Exodus 12:3 KJV “Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth
day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of
their fathers, a lamb for an house:”
Exodus 12:5 KJV “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye
shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:”
Before the nation of Israel could observe the first Passover, they had to choose the
Passover Lamb for each household. The Lord gave strict account of what and how the
Lamb was to be chosen.
Lamb had to be a male
This was a picture of the coming Messiah would be a male. The Messiah would be a
man in the lineage of David.
Lamb had to be one year old
This was a picture that the lamb was in the prime of his life and would be cut off early in
life. This is a picture that the Messiah would be in the prime of his life and cut off from the
land of the living.
Lamb without blemish
The lamb had to be perfect without any visible defects. The lamb was to be the best of
the flock, not what is left over. The lamb was to be the best sacrifice for the household.
This is a picture of Jesus Christ as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the whole world
because he was sinless or without sin.
Determination of the validity of the Passover lamb
Notice that the Passover lamb was chosen on the tenth day of the month but was not
sacrificed until the fourteenth day of the month. There was a waiting period from the time
the lamb was chosen and the time of the sacrifice. This waiting period was to insure that the
lamb was worthy to be used.
This is a picture of the life of Christ. His life was a waiting or determination period that
He was truly the Lamb of God, the Passover Lamb. It was to establish His qualifications to
die for the sins of the world.
Participation in the feast
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Every household was to take a Passover lamb and have it sacrificed on the fourteenth
day of the month for the entire household.
Lamb had to be killed
Exodus 12:6 KJV “And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same
month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.”
In order for the household to be spared, the Lord had to see the blood. So, the lamb
was to be killed during the evening time. This was between about our time 3PM and 5PM.
Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. Sin requires a sacrifice.
Blood had to be applied to the door posts (sides and top)
Exodus 12:7 KJV “And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side
posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.”
The household had to take the blood from the slain Passover lamb and apply it to the
two-side doorposts and the top doorpost. Then when the Lord came through, He would
pass over the house because He saw the blood.
Exodus 12:12–13 KJV “For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will
smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods
of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. And the blood shall be to you for a
token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and
the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”
Without the application of the blood, there is no deliverance. If the Lord did not see the
blood on the doorposts then the house would suffer the plague. This is a beautiful picture of
the blood of Jesus Christ that covers the Christian. The Christians are under the blood of
the Lamb of God.
Meat was eaten by the household
Exodus 12:8–9 KJV “And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and
unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden
at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance
thereof.”
The household had to eat the lamb that had been slain. They had to partake of the
sacrifice that was made to deliver them. They had to participate in the meal.
Title: Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Old Testament
If the household be too little—That is, if there be not persons enough in one family to eat
a whole lamb, then two families must join together. The rabbins allow that there should be
at least ten persons to one paschal lamb, and not more than twenty.
Meat to be accompanied with unleavened bread and bitter herbs
Exodus 12:8 KJV “And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and
unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
The unleavened bread was bread that was thick, heavy, and not agreeable to the taste.
The bread was to remind them of the heaviness of the bondage they suffered in Egypt.
The bitter herbs or salad was to remind them of the bitterness and difficulties they
suffered in Egypt. It was to remind them of what they had been delivered from.
Be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice (just for the first Passover)
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Exodus 12:11 KJV “And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on
your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord’s
passover.”
The household was to eat the Passover meal in readiness to leave the old life of bondage
behind.
Jesus Christ, our Passover Lamb
1 Corinthians 5:7–8 KJV “Purge out therefore 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.”
The feasts were a shadow of a better thing to come. The Passover Feast was a shadow of
the true Lamb of God that died for the sins of the whole world. Christ is the Passover
Lamb. John the Baptist proclaimed that Jesus was the Lamb of God.
John 1:29 KJV “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold
the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. ”
Feast of Unleavened Bread
Leviticus 23:6–8 KJV “23:6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast
of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
23:7 In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work
therein.
23:8 But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the
seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.”
Immediately following the Passover feast observation is the Feast of Unleavened Bread
that the Lord instituted the nation of Israel to observe each year to remember their exodus
from Egypt. The Feast of Unleavened Bread was to remind Israel of how the Lord
delivered them from the cruel bondage. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is to be a type or
symbol of how Christ delivers the sinner from the bondage of sin and death.
Romans 8:2 KJV “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free
from the law of sin and death.”
The feast was to remind the nation of Israel that they had been miraculously delivered
from the bondage, false religions, worldliness, and sin found in Egypt. It was to be
celebrated each year to remember their deliverance.
The Unleavened Bread feast was to be observed from the fifteenth till the twenty-first
day of the first month of the Jewish calendar. This feast began the day after the Passover
day. The feast lasted for seven days. The first and seventh day was a holy day in which
there would be no work done on those days. The other five days were regular days with the
exception of the eating of unleavened bread and offering sacrifices in the temple.
Exodus 12:15 KJV “Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye
shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the
first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.”
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The Israelites had to be prepared to observe the feast by removing any leaven from their
homes because the feast forbid them from eating bread made with leaven and even having
leaven in their homes. The Israelites for the seven days of the feast were to eat no bread
made with leaven. They were to separate themselves from the corruption that is in the
world and to show how that God delivered them out of bondage.
LEAVEN Small portion of fermented dough used to ferment other dough and often
symbolizing a corruptive influence. The common bread of OT times was made with leaven.
Such bread was acceptable as wave offerings for the priests and as loaves to accompany the
peace offerings (Lev. 7:11-13; 23:17). However, bread made with leaven or honey, both
associated with the process of fermentation and thus a source of corruption, was never to be
used as offerings to be burned on the alter (Lev. 2:11-12). Unleavened bread was also
prepared in times of haste (1 Sam. 28:24) and was required for the Feast of Unleavened
Bread that was celebrated in conjunction with the Passover festival (Lev. 23:4-8). This
unleavened bread, or bread of affliction, reminded the Israelites of their hasty departure
from Egypt and warned them against corruptive influences (Exod. 12:14-20).
Barbara J. Bruce – Holman Bible Dictionary
Christ, the Bread of Life
As Christ is the Bread of life, the unleavened bread was called the bread of affliction that
the Israelites had to eat to show their deliverance from the bondage of Egypt. Christ is that
Bread of life whose body was broken and buried so that the Christian might be set free from
the bondage of sin.
John 6:48 I am that bread of life.
The spiritual significance from the Feast of Unleavened Bread
From a spiritual standpoint, the Unleavened Bread feast points to several things that the
Christian must do in order to remember that Christ has forgiven and delivered him from his
sins.
Christian must purge sin from his life
The feast required that the Israelites would purge every bit, every small piece of leaven
from their house and not eat any leavened bread. In the New Testament, leaven represents
corruption and sin. Leaven in the house would represent sin in the life of the Christian.
House represents the body of the believer.
Hebrews 3:6 KJV “But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if
we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.”
1 Corinthians 3:16–17; KJV “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that
the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God
destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
1 Peter 2:5 KJV “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy
priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”
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Purging represents removing from one’s life
When a Christian purges the leaven or sin from his life, he is removing anything that
hinders his walk with the Lord. Paul tells the Christian to purge out the old leaven.
1 Corinthians 5:7–8 KJV “Purge out therefore 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.
What leaven does the Bible warn against?
1.
Leaven of Herod
Mark 8:14–15 KJV “Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they
in the ship with them more than one loaf. And he charged them, saying, Take heed,
beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.”
Herod was the ruler over Jerusalem and Israel at this time. He was the political power.
He was a symbol of worldliness, materialism, and power. The leaven of Herod was
probably seeking after political power and clout, which has no place within the church. The
church should not bring in politics but stay true to the sharing the Gospel with the lost.
Some have sought to make the church a political power but the goal of the church is not
politics rather the sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the lost.
2.
Leaven of Pharisees
Luke 12:1 KJV “In the mean time, when there were gathered together an
innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began
to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is
hypocrisy.”
Matthew 16:5–12 KJV “And when his disciples were come to the other side, they
had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the
leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves,
saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto
them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no
bread? Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand,
and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and
how many baskets ye took up? How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to
you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the
Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of
bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”
Christ explained that the leaven or sinfulness of the Pharisees was false doctrine that
they were teaching that lead men astray from the Lord Jesus Christ. The false doctrine of
the Pharisees was legalism, which is hypocrisy in its basic form. Legalism is the form of
religion that turns the relationship with Jesus Christ into nothing more than mere formalism
and keeping of rules and regulations. Legalism is the attempt to earn one’s way into heaven
by keeping a set of strict rules or guidelines. It is not a relationship but rather a required
standard of living.
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Legalism replaces the love of Christ with a rigid set of rules that one must keep.
Legalism is ‘self salvation’ not being saved by grace. Legalism does not preach the grace of
God in sending His Son but preaches a strict adherence to a set of rules that one cannot
possibly keep which is hypocrisy.
3.
Leaven of the Sadducees
Luke 20:27 KJV “Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there
is any resurrection; and they asked him,”
Acts 23:8 KJV “For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel,
nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.”
The Sadducees were the Jewish religious leaders who were materialistic, focused on this
world, did not believe in life after death, resurrection, angels, demons, or any thing else
spiritual. They deny any future judgment or reward. They believed that God was not
concerned with the everyday life of man.
This false doctrine must be purged out and avoided because it denies the love of God in
sending His Son to die on Calvary’s cross for a person’s sins.
4.
Leaven of malice and wickedness
1 Corinthians 5:7–8 KJV “Purge out therefore 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.
What is the leaven that Paul is talking about here? What were the problems associated
with the Corinthian church? They dealt with bitterness, division, jealousy, tolerance of
sexual sins, etc. This leaven is any sin that is in one’s life. All sin needs purging.
Malice means wickedness or naughtiness. Wickedness means depravity; it comes from
the Greek word, pornea that we get the English word, pornographic.
Christian is called to purge sin from his life. He is called to remove every little bit of sin
because one small part can infiltrate the entire life of the person. One little sin can destroy a
life.
Feast of First-fruits
Leviticus 23:9–14 KJV “23:9 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into
the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a
sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
23:11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the
morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.
23:12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish
of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.
23:13 And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled
with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink
offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.
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23:14 And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the
selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for
ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.”
Immediately following the Feast of Unleavened Bread that the Lord instituted the nation
of Israel to observe each year after they entered into the Promised Land a feast that would
commemorate the Barley harvest.
This feast could not be celebrated until after the nation of Israel had entered into the
Promised Land. Look into verse 10 and see the qualifications. The nation of Israel had to
entered into the Promised Land and reaped a harvest. At the very first Barley harvest that
began in April of our year, the nation was to celebrate the Feast of First Fruits.
The feast was to remind the nation of Israel that the harvest was from the Lord. It is the
Lord that provides the harvest. He is the one that sends the rain to replenish the earth.
This was seen very dramatically when the nation of Israel turned to the idol worship of
Baal. God sent Elijah to show the nation of Israel that He was the one that provided the
rain so the nation could enjoy the harvest.
Secondly, the feast was to remind the nation of Israel that the very first fruits or portion
of the harvest belong to the Lord. The Lord requires the best and the first. He is not
satisfied with leftovers that so many want to give to the Lord. He does not want what is left
over but He wants first place in our hearts and lives.
Significance of the first fruits
FIRSTFRUITS Choice examples of a crop harvested first and dedicated to God. In
accordance with Mosaic law, individual Israelites brought to the house of the Lord “the
choice (that is, “the best”) first fruits of your soil” (Exod. 23:19 NASB; 34:26), including
grain, wine, and oil, which were used—except for the grain (Lev. 2:14-16)—for the support
of the priests (Num. 18:12; Deut. 18:4). According to Deut. 26:1-11, the offering was
brought in a basket to the sanctuary for presentation. The book of Proverbs promises
prosperity to those who honor the Lord with the firstfruits (Prov. 3:9-10).
According to Lev. 23:9-14, the first sheaf of the new crop of barley was presented as a
wave offering before the Lord. This took place on the day after the Passover Sabbath and
was a public acknowledgment that all came from God and belonged to Him (Num. 28:26;
cp. Exod. 23:16; 34:22). Not only were the Israelites to be mindful that the land of Canaan
was the Lord’s possession and that they had only the rights of tenants (Lev. 25:23), but they
were also to be aware that the fertility of Canaan’s soil was not due to one of the Baals but
rather to the Lord’s gift of grace.
Israel was described as God’s “firstfruits” (Jer. 2:3). Christ in His resurrection is
described as the “firstfruits” of them that slept (1 Cor. 15:20,23). The Holy Spirit is spoken
of as a “firstfruits” (Rom. 8:23), and believers are also spoken of as “a kind of
firstfruits” (James 1:18). The saved remnant within Israel is described as “firstfruits” (Rom.
11:16), as are the 144,000 of the tribulation period (Rev. 14:4). The first converts of an area
were designated “firstfruits” (Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:15). In each case the emphasis was on
special dedication and blessing. See Festivals.
Larry Walker – Excerpt from Holman Bible Dictionary
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First fruits were to be presented to the Lord
Exodus 13:2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among
the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.
Exodus 22:29 Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy
liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.
The firstfruits were sanctified or made holy and were to be presented to the Lord.
First fruits were to be presented with praise and thanksgiving
Deuteronomy 26:1–11
Messianic Significance to the Feast of First fruits
As with the other feasts, the Feast of First fruits was significant because it pointed to the
Messiah and a certain event in His life. The Feast of First fruits pointed to the resurrection
of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:20–23 KJV “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the
firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the
resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made
alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are
Christ’s at his coming.”
How is Jesus Christ the true First Fruit of the Barley Harvest
Christ is the firstborn of Mary
Matthew 1:23–25 KJV “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a
son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and
took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son:
and he called his name JESUS.”
1.
Christ is the firstborn of God the Father
Hebrews 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he
saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
1.
Christ is the firstborn of the brethren
Romans 8:29 ¶ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed
to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
1.
Christ is the First fruit of the resurrected ones
1 Corinthians 15:20–23 KJV “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the
firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the
resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made
alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are
Christ’s at his coming.”
Pentecost
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Leviticus 23:15–21 KJV “23:15 ¶ And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after
the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths
shall be complete:
23:16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days;
and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.
23:17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they
shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the
LORD.
23:18 And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year,
and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the
LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by
fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD.
23:19 Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of
the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings.
23:20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave
offering before the LORD, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the LORD for the
priest.
23:21 And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation
unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your
dwellings throughout your generations.”
Following the Feast of First Fruits, the nation was to celebrate the Feast of Weeks
(Pentecost). This feast came 50 days after the Passover or Feast of Unleavened. This feast
was to celebrate the blessings of the wheat harvest. This was to be a feast of celebration and
praise to the Lord who has provided the harvest for the people.
This is often referred to as the Feast of Pentecost or Pentecost. Pentecost is the Greek
word that means 50. Since it was 50 days after the Passover Feast, then many called it
Pentecost.
Historical significance to the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)
This feast was to be celebrated seven Sabbaths from the Passover – fifty days – after
seven Sabbaths (weeks), the next day was to be a Feast day, Feast of Weeks. This coincides
with the wheat harvest. The Feast of Unleavened Bread coincided with the Barley harvest.
Exodus 34:22 KJV “And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of
wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end.”
Deuteronomy 16:14 KJV “And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and
thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger,
and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.”
This was to be a day of gladness and joy. It was to be a day of celebration that God had
supplied the nation with a harvest of wheat. The people of God are to be rejoicing that God
had provided their daily sustenance.
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This was to be a day when the people brought a freewill offering to the Lord. God
provides and His people need to bring back a freewill offering unto Him.
Deuteronomy 16:10 KJV “And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD
thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto
the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:”
Historical Significance of this day
The 50th day after the Passover or Feast of Unleavened Bread was a special day in the
history of the nation of Israel. When God delivered Israel out of bondage, God sent them
into the wilderness toward Mount Sinai. Fifty days after the first Passover, God gave Israel
the commandments of God, the Law.
Exodus 19:1 KJV “In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth
out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.”
This was the first day of the third month. Israel left Egypt on the 15th day of the first
month so on the 16th day, it was the first day of the 50 days. From this day till the first day
of the third month was 46 days (14 days from the 1st month and 30 days of the second
month). Moses went up on the mountain on the second day of the third month. God told
Moses to tell the people to sanctify themselves to receive the Law. This was accomplished
on the 3rd – 5th day. The Law was given on the 50th day, the same day as the Feast of
Weeks (Pentecost) is celebrated.
Exodus 19:10–11 KJV “And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and
sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, And be ready
against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the
people upon mount Sinai.”
Therefore, the day that the Lord set aside for Israel to celebrate the Feast of Weeks
(Pentecost) was the same day that the Lord gave the Law to the nation.
Spiritual significance of the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)
Acts 2:1–14 KJV “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with
one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing
mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared
unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all
filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave
them utterance.
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under
heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were
confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they
were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which
speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were
born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in
Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in
the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes
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and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And
they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye
men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken
to my words:”
The Holy Spirit given to the believer is the fulfillment of the Pentecost feast. The feast
was significant because it marked the day that the Lord gave the nation of Israel the Law.
The fulfillment of Pentecost was when God sent His Spirit to the believers to indwell their
hearts.
Old Testament Pentecost Day
New Testament Pentecost Day
Giving of the Law
Giving of the Holy Spirit
Written on the stone tablets
Written on the hearts
Mount Sinai – experienced God – Mount Zion – experienced God –
fear
joy
Exodus 19:16 ¶ And it
Acts 2:4 KJV “And they
came to pass on the third day
were all filled with the Holy
in the morning, that there
Ghost, and began to speak
were thunders and lightnings,
with other tongues, as the
and a thick cloud upon the
Spirit gave them utterance.”
mount, and the voice of the
trumpet exceeding loud; so
that all the people that was in
the camp trembled.
3000 killed
Exodus 32:28 KJV “And
the children of Levi did
according to the word of
Moses: and there fell of the
people that day about three
thousand men.”
3000 saved
Acts 2:41 KJV “Then
they that gladly received his
word were baptized: and the
same day there were added
unto them about three
thousand souls.”
Prophetic significance to the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)
Pentecost was the mark of a new dispensation
First Wave Offering – Feast of First Fruits
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This speaks about the first resurrection which is Jesus Christ. He rose from the grave to
be the first fruits of the resurrection.
Second Wave Offering – Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)
The second wave offering of the two loaves represented the next resurrection, which
involves the church. This will occur at the end of the church age when the church will be
raptured and the saints who have died will be resurrected
Feast of Trumpets
Leviticus 23:23–25 KJV “23:23 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
23:24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day
of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy
convocation.
23:25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire
unto the LORD.”
Following the Feast of First Fruits, the nation was to celebrate the Feast of Weeks
(Pentecost). This feast came 50 days after the Passover or Feast of Unleavened. This feast
was to celebrate the blessings of the wheat harvest. This was to be a feast of celebration and
praise to the Lord who has provided the harvest for the people. The feast following
Pentecost is the Feast of Trumpets.
The Feast of Trumpets is referred to today as Rosh Hashanah (head of the year). It is
the beginning of the Hebrew New Year. It was the first feast of the New Year.
Historical significance to the Feast of Trumpets
The final festival consists of three different feasts: Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and
Tabernacles. The feast of Trumpets is associated with the fruit harvest. All the men of
Israel were to gather at Jerusalem to praise the Lord three times a year: Passover, Feast of
Weeks, and Feast of Tabernacles.
The feast was located in the seventh month of the year, which is approximately
September/October of our calendar year. It was at this feast that they praised the Lord for
the fruit harvest that God had provided for the nation.
The entire seventh month was a time of consecration. It was like the Feast of weeks
(Sabbaths). The seventh month was a time of repentance, returning, and atonement for the
sins of the nation. If the nation did not repent, then the hand of judgment would be upon
them.
Numbers 10:10 KJV “Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and
in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt
offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a
memorial before your God: I am the Lord your God.”
Numbers 29:1–6 KJV “And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye
shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the
trumpets unto you. And ye shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the
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LORD; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish:
And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a
bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram, And one tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the
seven lambs: And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you:
Beside the burnt offering of the month, and his meat offering, and the daily burnt
offering, and his meat offering, and their drink offerings, according unto their manner,
for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.”
Priest were to blow the trumpet or shophar
Title: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament Vol. 1: Pentateuch
Edition: Second
Publisher: Public Domain
On this day the shophar was to be blown, a blast of trumpets to be appointed for a
memorial before Jehovah (Num 10:10 ), i.e., to call the congregation into remembrance
before Jehovah, that He might turn towards it His favour and grace (see at Ex 28:12 , 29 ;
30:16 ); and from this the feast-day is called the day of the trumpet-blast (Num 19:1 ).
Shophar , a trumpet, was a large horn which produced a dull, far-reaching tone.
Reason of the Feast
1.
Time of celebrating the beginning of the Jewish New Year
2.
Time of rejoicing for the harvest
3.
Time of shouting for joy
1.
Time of gathering of the people
Deuteronomy 16:16 KJV “Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the
LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and
in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before
the LORD empty:”
Exodus 23:14–17 KJV “Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.
Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven
days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou
camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:) And the feast of
harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of
ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out
of the field. Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.”
Prophetic significance of the Feast of Trumpets
Blowing of the trumpet as a warning of the coming judgment
Day of Judgment. According to the Talmud, each individual is judged on Rosh Hashana,
as is the world as a whole. It is therefore a time characterized by personal and communal
teshuva — repentance or return: looking back and evaluating one's thoughts, words and
deeds during the previous year and resolving to improve them during the coming one, while
praying for God's forgiveness and mercy.
The Rosh Hashana liturgy depicts God sitting upon his throne, inscribing each of his
creatures in the Book of Life (or the opposite); each person's livelihood is determined for
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the coming year, as well. There is a threefold prescription to help in obtaining a favorable
decree: teshuva (repentance), tefilla (prayer), and tzedaka (charity).
Rosh Hashana inaugurates a ten-day period called the Days of Awe culminating in Yom
Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. These are days of heightened introspection, efforts at selfimprovement, and pleas for forgiveness from those we have wronged. These days are
especially relevant to those for whom the Day of Judgment did not produce a clearcut
verdict (in effect, everyone, since no one is granted a peek at those divine scrolls).
http://www.answers.com/topic/rosh-hashanah
The blowing of the trumpets was to warn the nation of the coming judgment of the Lord
so they would be prepared. Whenever God was about to judge people for their sins, He
warns them one last time so they can repent and return back to Him.
Picture of the return of the Messiah
The blowing of the trumpet signals a change in the way God is working in the world.
The time will come when God will pour out His wrath on the nations and people who
rejected Him and refused to repent of their sins. The time of judgment will come. This will
be the Day of the Lord as mentioned in the Scriptures. It is a time that God will rapture the
church away and pour out His judgment on the world for their sin.
The Day of the Lord will be a day of God’s wrath on man’s sin and rebellion. However,
those who return and repent before the blowing of the trumpet will be saved.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 KJV “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no
hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in
Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that
we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them
which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise
first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore
comfort one another with these words.”
1 Corinthians 15:51–52 KJV “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep,
but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:
for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed.”
The Feast of Trumpets shows the first part of the second coming of Jesus Christ, the
Messiah. It is the beginning of the time when God removes His church from the earth and
pours out His wrath on the nations for their sins and rebellion. It is referring to the rapture
of the church and the re-gathering of Israel to the Promise Land.
Day of Atonement
Leviticus 23:26–32 KJV “23:26 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
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23:27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement:
it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an
offering made by fire unto the LORD.
23:28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make
an atonement for you before the LORD your God.
23:29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall
be cut off from among his people.
23:30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul
will I destroy from among his people.
23:31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your
generations in all your dwellings.
23:32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the
ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.”
Feast of Trumpets points to the Second Coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. This feast
deals with the blowing of the trumpet to call Israel back to the Promised Land and the
return of the Messiah. The next feast is the Day of Atonement that is observed on the 10th
day of the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. This would occur in our September/
October period. It is also associated with the fruit harvest.
Historical significance to the Day of Atonement
A full explanation of the Day of Atonement is found in Leviticus chapter 16.
understand the full observance of this day, one must carefully study this chapter.
To
High Priest
Easton Bible Dictionary - High priest: Aaron was the first who was solemnly set apart to
this office (Ex. 29:7; 30:23; Lev. 8:12). He wore a peculiar dress, which on his death passed
to his successor in office (Ex. 29:29, 30). Besides those garments which he wore in common
with all priests, there were four that were peculiar to himself as high priest:
(1.) The “robe” of the ephod, all of blue, of “woven work,” worn immediately under the
ephod. It was without seam or sleeves. The hem or skirt was ornamented with pomegranates
and golden bells, seventy-two of each in alternate order. The sounding of the bells intimated
to the people in the outer court the time when the high priest entered into the holy place to
burn incense before the Lord (Ex. 28).
(2.) The “ephod” consisted of two parts, one of which covered the back and the other the
breast, which were united by the “curious girdle.” It was made of fine twined linen, and
ornamented with gold and purple. Each of the shoulder-straps was adorned with a precious
stone, on which the names of the twelve tribes were engraved. This was the high priest’s
distinctive vestment (1 Sam. 2:28; 14:3; 21:9; 23:6, 9; 30:7).
(3.) The “breastplate of judgment” (Ex. 28:6-12, 25-28; 39:2-7) of “cunning work.” It
was a piece of cloth doubled, of one span square. It bore twelve precious stones, set in four
rows of three in a row, which constituted the Urim and Thummim (q.v.). These stones had
the names of the twelve tribes engraved on them. When the high priest, clothed with the
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ephod and the breastplate, inquired of the Lord, answers were given in some mysterious
way by the Urim and Thummim (1 Sam. 14:3, 18, 19; 23:2, 4, 9, 11, 12; 28:6; 2 Sam. 5:23).
(4.) The “mitre,” or upper turban, a twisted band of eight yards of fine linen coiled into a
cap, with a gold plate in front, engraved with “Holiness to the Lord,” fastened to it by a
ribbon of blue.
To the high priest alone it was permitted to enter the holy of holies, which he did only
once a year, on the great Day of Atonement, for “the way into the holiest of all was not yet
made manifest” (Heb. 9; 10). Wearing his gorgeous priestly vestments, he entered the
temple before all the people, and then, laying them aside and assuming only his linen
garments in secret, he entered the holy of holies alone, and made expiation, sprinkling the
blood of the sin offering on the mercy seat, and offering up incense. Then resuming his
splendid robes, he reappeared before the people (Lev. 16). Thus the wearing of these robes
came to be identified with the Day of Atonement.
The High Priest would present himself to the Tabernacle a week before the Day of
Atonement. It was during this time that he would make sure that what he ate or did would
not make him ceremonial unclean. He would devote this time to prepare his heart for the
task ahead. It was a devotional period.
The High Priest would wash himself so he was clean when he went into the Holy of
Holies. After washing, he would put on the proper attire, which consisted of the garments
spoken in Exodus 28.
The fine linen was white in color. White represents righteousness. It will be the white
garment that God will give to those who place their trust in Jesus Christ as their Saviour.
Leviticus 16:6 KJV “And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is
for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.”
Aaron the High Priest offered a sacrifice for his sins and the sins of his family. The
offering would consist of a burnt and sin offering.l
Leviticus 16:5 KJV “And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel
two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.”
Since Aaron and the priests were sinners, before they could intercede for the nation of
Israel, they had to offer a sacrifice for their own sins. The sacrifice was both a sin and burnt
offering unto the Lord. The blood of the bull had to be sprinkled on the mercy seat seven
times. The only way that Aaron could enter into the Holy of Holies was under the blood.
There has to be a blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. That is why Christ is the Lamb
of God; His blood cleanses a person from their sins.
Before the High Priest would slay the animal, he would place his hand upon the head of
the animal and confess his sins and the sins of his sons. After this, he would kill the animal.
The first time he enter into the Holy of Holies, he would carry in his right hand a censor
filled with live coals off the altar and in his left hand, a container of incense. When he
entered into the Holy of Holies, he would place the censor on the floor and pour the incense
into the censor. This would fill the room with a flagrant smoke. This preserves the life of
the High Priest while he is in the Holy of Holies because he is in the presence of the Lord.
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This shows the respect and reverence for the holiness of God. Exodus 33:20 tell that no
man can see God and live. There should be a godly fear to come into the presence of the
Lord.
The High Priest would back out of the Holy of Holies so he would not turn his back on
the Lord. He would return to the Holy of Holies with the blood of the sacrifice in a bowl.
He would dip his fingers in the blood and sprinkle it seven times upon the mercy seat. This
would cover his sins and the sins of the other priests.
Leviticus 16:15–19
The High Priest will kill the goat of the sin offering. He returns to the Holy of Holies
and sprinkles the blood of the goat seven times upon the mercy seat for the sins of the
people. When he leaves the Holy of Holies, he mixes the blood of the sacrificial animals and
sprinkles the blood seven times upon the horns of the altar of incense (some scholars believe
that it was the altar of burnt offering). This was done to make atonement so the people
would have forgiveness for their sins.
The High Priest alone did all of this; he had no help from any of the other priests as on
other days. This is a symbol that Christ, who is our High Priest, paid the atonement for our
sins by himself.
Leviticus 16:20–22
The offering for the people was two goats. The High Priest would cast lots to see which
goat would be slain and which goat would be put out of the camp. The High Priest would
place his hands upon the head of the scapegoat (Azazel) and confess the sins of the people.
He would then turn the goat over to a man who would lead the goat into the wilderness
outside the camp. He would let the goat go to symbolize the carrying away of the sins of the
people.
1.
Leviticus 16:23–28
The High Priest will take off the special robe for the Day of Atonement, wash himself,
and put on his regular priestly garment. Then he will come to the altar and offer a burnt
offering for himself, the other priests, and the people. After the burnt offering, the remains
were taken outside the camp and burned completely. Those who touched the burnt offering
were considered unclean and had to wash themselves. The High Priest gives a blessing to
the people and this completed the atonement for the people.
Messianic significance to the Day of Atonement
Hebrews 9:11–14 KJV “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come,
by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this
building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in
once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of
bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the
purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the
eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead
works to serve the living God?”
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Romans 3:25 KJV “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in
his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through
the forbearance of God;”
1 John 2:2; KJV “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but
also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 4:10 KJV “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and
sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Christ as our atonement
The word ‘propitiation’ means atonement. He is our mercy seat. It was His blood that
was placed upon the mercy seat so that we might have the forgiveness of our sins and be
cleansed.
He is the Lamb of God that was slain for the sins of the whole world. It was His blood
that was sprinkled upon the mercy seat. His sacrifice tore the veil of the Temple from top to
bottom so a person might have access to the throne of God.
When Christ died for the sins of the world, His death paid the way for a person to come
into the presence of God. When a person by faith accepts Jesus Christ as his or her
Saviour, he can come into the presence of God with his prayers. When he dies, he will come
into the presence of God. Paul says that to be absent from the body is to be present with the
Lord.
Matt 27:51 KJV “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top
to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”
Christ as the ultimate sacrifice
The High Priest had to enter into the Holy of Holies once a year for the atonement for
the sins of the people. He had to do this every year. However, Christ is the perfect sacrifice
because His sacrifice fulfilled the Law completely and there is no more sacrifice needed. He
is the true Lamb of God that John the Baptist spoke testified of.
Feast of Tabernacles
Leviticus 23:33–44 KJV “23:33 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
23:34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh
month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.
23:35 On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work
therein.
23:36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the
eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by
fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.
23:37 These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy
convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a
meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:
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23:38 Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your
vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD.
23:39 Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the
fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall
be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.
23:40 And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of
palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice
before the LORD your God seven days.
23:41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a
statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.
23:42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in
booths:
23:43 That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in
booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
23:44 And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.”
The Feast of Tabernacles is the final feast of the seven. It marks the completion of God’s
work in the plan of redemption. It is associated with the millennial reign of Christ upon the
throne of David.
Isaiah 9:6–7 KJV “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the
government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the
increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David,
and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice
from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
Historical significance to the Feast of Tabernacles
The feast was to occur in the seventh month, beginning on the 15th day and last for
seven days. At the end of the seven days, there was to be one more Sabbath day.
In order to understand the purpose of the Feast of Tabernacles, you must first look at the
two feasts preceding it. The Feast of Trumpets dealt with Israel’s repentance and the Day of
Atonement dealt with Israel’s redemption. Once repentance and redemption has occurred,
there is the period of joy. The Feast of Tabernacles was a season or time of joy for the
nation. There is great joy in knowing that your sins have been forgiven and removed; this
leads to joy in following the Lord.
During this feast, the people were to dwell in makeshift, temporary dwellings or booths.
These booths were made out of palm branches and thick limbs. The purpose of dwelling in
these booths were to remind Israel that God had preserved the nation of Israel through the
wilderness after He delivered them from the bondage of Egypt. This was to remind Israel
that God can take care of them even when there are no crops, farms, etc.
Booths were to show the nation that they must rely upon the Lord for food, water, and
shelter. It is the Lord that provides these needs.
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It was to remind Israel that God had delivered them from bondage and lead them to the
Promised Land. God had kept His covenant with His people.
Spiritual significance of the Feast of Tabernacles
Temporary state of this body
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 KJV “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the
Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are
bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are
God’s.”
2 Corinthians 5:1–8
Whether a person wants to admit it or not, he is going to die. He will do all he can to
keep himself alive. However, despite all of his efforts, his body is going to die. One cannot
stop it. One cannot prevent it. It is inevitable.
The booths or tabernacles teach that this physical life is temporary and will end. One
must be prepared for the eternal life, which will last forever.
Hebrews 11:13–16
The Feast of Tabernacles was to remind the Christian that he is merely a pilgrim or
traveler through this life and his true citizenship is in the Kingdom of God. The Christian’s
home is not here. The Christian’s citizenship is not here. The Christian’s future, citizenship,
and home is where Christ is.
The Feast of Tabernacles was a feast or season of joy. It was preceded by a time of
repentance and redemption. The feast is a symbol or type of what happens when a person
gets his heart and life right with the Lord, he lives a life of joy and peace. There is joy in
serving Jesus.
Deuteronomy 16:13–15 KJV “Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days,
after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine: And thou shalt rejoice in thy
feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant,
and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy
gates. Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the Lord thy God in the place
which the Lord shall choose: because the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thine
increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.”
Prophetic significance of the Feast of Tabernacles
Time of gathering of souls
Matthew 13:36–43 KJV “Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the
house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares
of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son
of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the
tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the
harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are
gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man
shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that
offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there
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shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in
the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
The Feast of Tabernacles is for the gathering in of the harvest. Leviticus 23:39 KJV
“Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the
land, ye shall keep a feast unto the Lord seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and
on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.” This gathering of fruit has a prophetic significance to
the gathering of souls at the end of the age. There is a coming a series of resurrections when
individuals will be raised from the dead to stand before God and give an account. This
series of resurrections is seen in the gathering of the fruit of the harvest in the latter months,
or seventh month.
Daniel 12:1–3 KJV “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which
standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as
never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people
shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them
that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to
shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of
the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”
Time of rest
Revelation 20:1–6 KJV “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key
of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that
old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast
him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should
deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he
must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment
was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of
Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his
image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they
lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again
until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is
he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but
they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
The Feast of Tabernacles deals with seven day of rest for the nation of Israel. It is this
rest that comes after the redemption plan of the Messiah has been completed.
From the first feast to the last feast, it speaks about Jesus Christ and what He
accomplished for the Christian. He is the Passover Lamb. He is the atonement. He is the
coming King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He has paid for our redemption with His own
blood. He is coming again to set up His earthly reign on the throne of David.
The final feast speaks about the 1000 year reign of Christ. However, there is one more
Sabbath day spoken in Leviticus 23, verse 39.
Lev 23:39 KJV “Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have
gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the Lord seven days: on the
first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.”
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The eighth Sabbath represents the final completion of all God’s plan of redemption when
He creates a new heaven and a new earth.
Holy Land - chapters 25 - 27
Seventh year - land of rest
Leviticus 25:1–7 KJV “25:1 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses in mount Sinai,
saying,
25:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the
land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD.
25:3 Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard,
and gather in the fruit thereof;
25:4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for
the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.
25:5 That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither
gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land.
25:6 And the sabbath of the land shall be meat for you; for thee, and for thy servant,
and for thy maid, and for thy hired servant, and for thy stranger that sojourneth with
thee,
25:7 And for thy cattle, and for the beast that are in thy land, shall all the increase
thereof be meat.”
The Lord commanded that the land rest on the seventh year. The land was to be farmed
for six years and rested on the seventh year. A Sabbath was to honor the Lord that He
created the heavens and earth in six days and rested the seventh day.
Hebrews 4:9 KJV “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.”
Year of Jubilee
Leviticus 25:10–13 KJV “25:10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim
liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto
you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man
unto his family.
25:11 A jubile shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that
which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed.
25:12 For it is the jubile; it shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat the increase thereof
out of the field.
25:13 In the year of this jubile ye shall return every man unto his possession.”
Every fifty years, it was the year of Jubilee (Liberty) when things that were sold,
whether land, possessions, or into servitude was released and set free of the debt.
This is a picture of the coming complete redemption found in Christ that freedom from
sin and the curse of sin. God’s redemption is complete.
Conclusion
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33
Promise of blessings
Leviticus 26:3–13 KJV “26:3 If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments,
and do them;
26:4 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase,
and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
26:5 And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach
unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land
safely.
26:6 And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make
you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through
your land.
26:7 And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.
26:8 And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten
thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.
26:9 For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and
establish my covenant with you.
26:10 And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new.
26:11 And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.
26:12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
26:13 I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt,
that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and
made you go upright.”
Obedience to God’s word brings blessings.
Promise of judgment
Leviticus 26:14–17 KJV “26:14 ¶ But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do
all these commandments;
26:15 And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that
ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant:
26:16 I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption,
and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye
shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
26:17 And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies:
they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.”
Leviticus 26:33 KJV “And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a
sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.”
Disobedience to God’s word brings consequences and judgments.
Purpose of Leviticus - to teach Israel the seriousness of sin. It was to teach Israel that
God is a holy God and He expects His people to live holy lives. The sacrificial system was
to teach a person who to worship and to be thankful. It was to be a type of the coming
ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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The precepts and ordinances were to teach the people how to act, conduct themselves,
and deal with others in a godly manner.
The feasts were to remind the people of the blessings of the Lord and His wonderful plan
of redemption.
Key verses:
Leviticus 11:45 KJV “For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of
Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”
Leviticus 16:34 KJV “And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an
atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the
LORD commanded Moses.”
Leviticus 23:27 KJV “Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a
day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your
souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.”
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