The Feast of Unleavened Bread
Why does God command us
not to eat leaven this week?
(If you missed the blog from last Friday on why all Jesus’ followers should be observing Passover, follow this link and read it too. It gives lots to think about, answers many questions, and
raises others for you to search out with the Holy Spirit.)
https://chosencrowned.one/dont-miss-observing-passover-2024/
God said to all His followers, “On the next day, the fifteenth day of the month, you must begin celebrating the Festival of Unleavened Bread. This festival to the LORD continues for seven days, and during that time the bread you eat must be made without yeast.” Leviticus 23:6 (Also Exodus 12:15-20) (the day count is for Hebrew calendar)
Don’t eat leaven this week! You won’t go to hell if you do, but once you know why God tells us not to eat it this week, it will blow your mind and have such a special meaning that you will want to obey to honor Jesus. If you love Jesus, don’t you want to honor Him?
The Feast of Unleavened Bread is the second Spring Feast God created for us to observe and celebrate annually forever.
Why Leaven?
According to scripture, leaven represents sin. By removing leaven during this Passover week, you are symbolically removing sin from your life in honoring God’s commands. It’s not to say leaven itself is sinful, it’s just a representation of sin during this week. By intentionally removing leaven from your life this week, you are participating in an exercise to help you see that sin needs to be removed. The focus being having no sin present during Passover week, therefore, leaven should not be present in your diet for the week. Paul uses the example and teaches us in Galatians 5:9, that a little leaven can leaven the whole lump. Meaning: a little sin can move in and corrupt the whole. Don’t allow even a tiny bit of sin to enter because it will spread quickly.
This Feast is not only for remembering what the Israelites went through leaving Egypt, it also points to Jesus. We are also remembering what Jesus did by dying on the cross for us. Removing leaven that represents sin, honors Jesus is who is sinless. He is our Bread of Life; He is without leaven (without sin), striped, pierced, and bruised for us.
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 1Peter 2:24
Jesus even tries teaching about leaven as sin, but non-believers couldn’t understand.
“Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
“How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Matthew 16:6,11-12
Jesus was calling the sin of the unbelievers leaven. They misunderstood and thought He was talking about actual bread. It became clear to the disciples that He was warning them about false teachers twisting God’s truth.
When we give our lives to Jesus our Messiah and follow Him wholeheartedly, our old self has died and we are reborn with a new heart for Him. That’s where Baptism in water plays a significant role in salvation. When you go into the water and are submerged, it’s symbolic of the old you being washed away, then you rise up out of the water as a new creation in Jesus. The old is gone and the new is come.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2Corinthians 5:17
I love the way the Apostle Paul compares this analogy in relation to leaven.
“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.” 1Corinthians 5:7-8
Paul reminds us that Jesus who was spotless/sinless/unleavened, took on our sins willingly so that He could nail them to the cross forever with His life. Our old sin/leaven was nailed to the cross.
This week reminds us of any new sin that has crept in, to recognize and repent; then cling to Him. Don’t let the leaven back in after this week is over. Vow to Jesus to stay in a state of “unleavenedness” by not allowing sin in your life. Cling to Jesus now that you know this truth.
Always pray about everything. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach you more about this subject. He is your teacher who speaks with great authority; not me, not man. I can share truth that He shares with me but it’s up to you to search it out with Him. (1Thessalonians 5:21)
When did this Unleavened Bread feast begin?
The unleavened bread originated when the Hebrews had to flee Egypt quickly and their bread didn’t have time to rise (Exodus 12:34). When they baked it the next day it was unleavened. At that time, they were so happy about being free they didn’t care that it wasn’t leavened bread.
It is not a coincidence that the Israelites left when they did and that their dough didn’t get a chance to rise. It was all part of God’s master plan for it to represent Jesus the week of His crucifixion. He is our unleavened Bread of Life, without sin.
The Unleavened Feast is to remember. God wants us never to forget what the Israelites went through to get their freedom at that time. In addition, it was a foreshadow of what was to come with our Savior. Jesus is the Bread of Life and is our Redeemer. This Feast reminds us of our freedom and redemption to worship our God and Savior and remember what it took to get here.
God wants us to stay in an “unleavened bread” state of mind, without sin, following Him wholeheartedly.
This Feast,
it’s for all God’s followers,
not one people group,
but for all those who love Jesus.
What should you do?
For the week of Passover, prayerfully consider refraining from eating anything with leaven; check the labels, you will be surprised what has leaven/yeast. Do an internet search to help you find unleavened bread options. Most grocery stores have a section for Kosher items, you will find flat bread crackers there; check the labels, some have yeast that can be eaten outside of this week. You can also search recipes for making unleavened bread. You will be surprised how easy it is to make. It would have to be if the Israelites made it in the desert.
By observing this Feast, it draws you closer to Jesus as you remember the sacrifices for your salvation. This is a fast that God mandated for His people forever and you can enjoy honoring Him with; it’s only seven days. You can do it! And God will bless your efforts and obedience.
May God bless you and keep you.
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