The Old Testament Feasts

Today we examine the 7 major Jewish Feasts established in the Old Testament and how they model Christ.

The Old Testament Feasts

1. Passover (Peshach)
   1. When:  Nisan 14
   2. What:  Meal to signify the passover of God’s spirit to slay the firstborn of Egypt (Exodus 12)
   3. Model
      1. Nisan 10 Lamb is presented to priests = Nisan 10 Jesus presented to Jerusalem (John 12:1-13)
      2. Lamb was pure = Jesus was pure (1 Peter 1:18-20)
      3. No bones broken (John 19:33-34)
      4. Blood shed for sins (Matt 26:28)
2. Feast of Unleavened Bread (Hag haMatzah)
   1. When:  Nisan 15
   2. What:  Extension of eating of the unleavened bread (Lev 23:5-7)
   3. Model
      1. Tradional Matzah is striped and pierced  (1 Peter 2:24, John 19:37)
      2. There are three pieces, the middle of which is broken wrapped in a cloth and hidden (Matt 27:38)
3. Feast of First Fruits
   1. When:  The morning after the Sabbath after Passover (always Sunday)
   2. What:  A harvest celebration of new life.  Always (Lev 23:10-11)
   3. Model
      1. Genesis 8:4 – 17th day of seventh month compared to Exodus 12:2
      2. Jesus rose from the tomb on this day (Died on 14^th raised 3 days later.  14+3 = 17) (Matt 28:1)
4. Feast of Weeks (Shavout or Pentecost)
   1. When:  50 days after Passover
   2. What:  Commemoration of the giving of the Law at Sinai (birth of a nation)
   3. Model:
      1. 2 loaves of leavened bread (Gentiles included) (Acts 10:28)
      2. 2 lambs are offered (Jew+Gentile) (Romans 10:12)
      3. The church really gets a start at Pentecost in Acts 2
      4. Always occurs on Sunday (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor 16:1)
5. Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah)
   1. When:  Tishri 1
   2. What:  Jewish new year celebrated with the blowing of the Shofar (Lev 23:23-25)
   3. Model:
      1. The year end can be a model for the world end
      2. Trumpet sounds (Matt 24:31, 1 Cor 15:52)
6. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
   1. When:  Tishri 10
   2. What:  National Day of Repentance with sin offerings and numerous other rituals (Lev 16)
   3. Model:
      1. Only day that the High Priest can enter the Holy of Holies (Heb 9:1-16)
      2. Two goats brought, one dies and the other lives (judgment) (Matt 24:40-41)
7. Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth)
   1. When:  Tishri 15
   2. What:  Commemoration of wilderness wanderings by building small tabernacles (boothes) and dwelling in them for 7 days then they use 1 day for worship. (Lev 23:39-44)
   3. Model:
      1. Afterwards they leave temp home for a permanent one (2 Cor 5:1-8)
      2. The last feast = the last day (1 Thes 4:16-18)
      3. 7 = complete.  7 is very significant in Succoth
         1. 7 days
         2. 70 Bulls offered (7×10)
         3. 14 Rams offered (7×2)
         4. 98 Lambs offered (7×14)
   4. Opportunity:
      1. Jesus used their water ceremony during Succoth to make a model (John 7:37-38)
      2. Jesus used their illumination ceremony during Succoth to make a model (John 8:12)
8. Conclude – Psalms 40:7 – Lo the volume of the Book is written of Him