The feasts of the LORD,
(YAHWEH) which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.” Leviticus 23:2
The Feasts of YAHWEH are perhaps the most misunderstood element of
Scripture. Many Christians have casually dismissed the feasts as products of
Hebrew culture that have been fulfilled in the Messiah. While this is true in a
certain sense, the feasts never less remain an integral part of the Scripture
and are part of His people. Not to understand the truth about these feasts is
ignorance we cannot afford to keep. It is exerting a cost upon the Ekklesia
that we can longer afford to carry.
I sincerely believe that the reason why the Ekklesia has never
experienced the fullness of the presence and power of YAHWEH is because these
feasts are the key. The reason why the Messiah, the Apostles and early
believers were so successful at the mandate of the Kingdom is because they ALL
understood the reason for the feasts, so they observed the feasts. Join me now
as we go through this series of lectures (studies) on the Feasts of
YAHWEH.
The Feasts (Moedim)
The Torah teaches eight feasts that we are called to observe. They are,
They are listed here in Leviticus 23:1-44
The number eight stands for “surplus” above the perfect seven. Thus, it
means eternity. These feasts are all eternal by nature.
The feasts of YAHWEH come in clusters are often amalgamated (combined)
into three main feasts because they are tied to the agricultural cycles of
Israel i.e. spring summer, fall and winter. They are commonly referred to as:
PASSOVER (PEASCH)- Peasch, unleavened bread and first fruits
PENTECOST (SHAVUOT)
TABERNACLES (SUKKOT) Yom Teruah, Yom HaKippurim and Sukkot
The first three feasts occurred in the spring during an eight-day
period.
The second feast Shavout comes by itself fifty days after the waving of
the First Fruits in the early Summer. Many know this feast by its Greek name
Pentecost meaning fifty
It is also sometimes called the Feast of Weeks. (Exodus 34:22)
The long dry summer culminated in a collection of the three final feasts
that occurred in the fall. These later feasts cover a period of 21 days, which
are collectively referred to as the fall feast or Tabernacles.
These three cluster or groups of feasts generally correspond to the
three divisions of the Temple area.
These three divisions also help us to see three roles played by the
Messiah
The number three is very significant in the Scripture. It stands for
completeness or perfect testimony.
I have six main points to say about these feasts.
1 The Torah calls these feasts, the feasts of YAHWEH. This is very
important! These are not Jewish feast or Israelite feasts but they are YAHWEH’s
feasts. Many have made the graven mistake of calling these feast Jewish or
Israeli feasts.
“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'The feasts of the
LORD, (YAHWEH) which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My
feasts.” Leviticus 23:2
2 The Torah commands ALL Israelites to observe these feasts. They are
appointed by YAHWEH!
“These are the feasts of the LORD (YAHWEH), holy convocations which you
shall proclaim at their appointed times.” Leviticus 23:4
The Messiah clearly observed these feasts. See Mathew 27:17, Luke
2:41-2, John 5:1 The Apostles and early believers observed these feasts. Saul
instructed in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 to celebrate the festivals “with sincerity
and truth.” Saul himself clearly observed these feasts. See 1 Corinthians 16:8
and Acts 20:16 Therefore, we too are required to celebrate these feasts.
3 The Torah commands that these feasts are to be observed FOREVER. YAHWEH places the
observance of the feast in Leviticus 23 along side the weekly Sabbath. In fact
these feasts are a Sabbath as the word Sabbath is plural in the Scripture.
“Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn
rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the
LORD in all your dwellings.” Leviticus 23:3
During the millennium these feasts will be kept as a memorial or a
reminder of what our Master Yahushua has done for us.
4 The Torah commands that these feasts are to be kept HOLY (qodesh). The feasts are
called Holy (set apart) convocations. The Prophet Isaiah spoke against
Israel because they had profaned YAHWEH’s feasts by not keeping them set apart.
“Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The
New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies; I cannot endure
iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My
soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them.” Isaiah
1:13-14
That is why Saul said that we are to keep the feasts with sincerity and
truth.
5 The Torah calls that these feasts CELEBRATIONS. The word
“moedim” actually means a celebration or a festival because they are associated
with the agricultural harvest of Israel. In other words these feasts are tied
to the land. They unfold YAHWEH’s plan for His creation. They all involve
sacrifices and offerings, which come from the land. They are meant to be holidays
for His people.
6 The Torah calls these feasts REHERSALS. The word convocation comes
from the Hebrew word “miqra” which also means rehearsals. Exodus 12:16 When we
celebrate them we rehearse or depict our entire walk with YAHWEH. The Passover
(Pesach) speaks about personal redemption, Pentecost (Shavout) infilling of the
Spirit and Tabernacles (Sukkot) restoration of the Kingdom.
What these feasts (Moedim) were designed or created to do.
1 They convey spiritual truths.
The Scripture teaches first the natural then the spiritual. 1
Corinthians 15:46-50.
These feast are rich with spiritual truths that are conveyed to us in
natural settings.
They convey principles and laws of sowing and harvest.
2 They create the identity of YAHWEH’s people.
These feasts become the culture and traditions of His people, they were
designed to make Israel a special people. In Number 23:9 Moses said this of
Israel “For from the top of the rocks I see him, And from the hills I behold
him; There! A people dwelling alone, Not reckoning itself among the nations.”
3 They are sacred signs marking out YAHWEH’s true people.
The words “appointed season” in Leviticus 23 also conveys the picture of
an assembly of people who are set apart. When we observe these feasts we become
signs to the world that we belong to YAHWEH because He has marked us out.
4 They are designed to be road marks.
The Scripture speaks of ancient road marks that the remnant will come to
see as there way back into Israel. See Ezekiel 37:16, Jeremiah 6:16; 31:20-21
These feasts were created to be road marks to point the remnant back to our
identity as true Israelites. Countless non-Jews are returning to keep the
feasts because they see the ancient road marks.
5 They are designed to heal and restore.
The Passover was designed to heal us (Israelites) spiritually and
physically, Pentecost was designed to empower us and Tabernacles was designed
to restore to us the authority of the Kingdom. This also applies to healing the
divide between the house of Yahudah and Ephraim.
6 They are designed to point us to the Messiah.
All of the feasts speak about Yahushua and His life. They foreshowed our
Messiah and what He would do for us. These feast were all fulfilled in His
life, death and resurrection but they were not abolished. Something I will
explain next.
Many Christian Scholars argue that the feasts were fulfilled in the
life, death and resurrection of the Messiah Yahushua; therefore, we are no
longer required to observe them. Further more they argue that the feasts are
types pointing to the Messiah’s life and work, which have all been fulfilled.
Yahushua is the sacrificial lamb that satisfies all of the feasts requirements.
What does the Scripture teach?
The answer to this question is both Yes and a No. Yes in that Messiah
Yahushua is our sacrificial lamb and therefore we have no need of another
sacrifice (1 Corinthians 5:7, Hebrews 9:26-28; 10:1-26) Yahushua has fulfilled
all the sacrificial laws to their fullness. But NO YAHWEH’s feasts are not
abolished because of six irrefutable reasons:
First they foreshadow Israel’s Messiah
(Colossians 2:17, Hebrews 10:1). He is the very substance to
which they point. While such yearly sacrifices could never make men perfect (as
can His shed blood). We never the less cannot separate these shadows from their
substance, for they will then cease to be shadows.
Second the feasts are clearly foretold as being continued in the
millennial reign. Both Zechariah and Zephaniah and many of Israel’s
prophets, foretold the restoration of the feasts in the Millennial Kingdom.
Zechariah 14:16-21, Zephaniah 3:18 See also Lamentations 1:4-7, Ezekiel 45:17;
46:3
Third the feasts we saw earlier in Leviticus 23 are an eternal decree because they are
placed alongside the Sabbath as everlasting. Anything eternal in Scripture
cannot be abolished but certainly it can be fulfilled.
Fourth the word fulfilled does not mean that it is abolished. Take for example
Christmas, which Christians observe as the day of Christ’s birth. Just because
it is fulfilled does not mean it is abolished. Otherwise why should they
continue to observe it? Similarly all American celebrated the 4th of
July as their independence day, which was fulfilled in 1776 but it does not
mean that it is abolished therefore it can longer be observed?
Fifth the feasts are pivotal to Israel’s identity as a people and their
apartness as the people of YAHWEH. I have already mentioned this point. The
feasts are the culture and traditions that make Israel, Israel! These feasts
are an integral and essential factor for their continued existence as a nation
and as a people. Speaking Hebrew does not make you an Israelite but observing
Hebrew culture clearly does.
Sixth the Messiah clearly observed these feasts as I have shown
and the Apostle Kepha (Peter) tells us, “For to this you were called, because
Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His
steps.” 1 Peter 2:21 Saul also said,
“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” 1 Corinthian 11:1 If it were not a requirement that we observe
these feasts, the Messiah would have clearly have told us And He himself would
have been the first to set the example by not observing them.
To arrive at a Scriptural understanding of these feasts we need to start
with why we need to observe the Sabbath from a Hebrew perspective. This will be
my topic next week.
In our last lesson of the Moedim of YAHWEH we learnt that there are
eight eternal feasts that we are all required to observe. These feasts we saw
has six divine purposes that make them essential for us to keep them. Today I
will be teaching on the first of these feasts called the Shabbat (Sabbath) of
which is the most important of the feasts because it is celebrated 52 times
year, where as all the other feasts are celebrated once per year.
The significance of the Shabbat has been lost to the Church because the
Church teaches that the Shabbat is been moved to Sunday. While there is absolutely
no prohibition to anyone worshipping on Sunday or for that matter on any other
day of the week, the Scripture certainly does not endorse “Sunday keeping” as
the Shabbat. Church History and Church regulations may endorse the observance
of Sunday, as the Shabbat but there is certainly no endorsement from the
Scripture.
Before I begin I ask you to keep an open mind and heart as you receive
these truths because what ever we do in life must ultimately be based on
Scripture!
The Shabbat
The Shabbat is a concurring weekly feast being celebrated on the seventh
day of the week, which according to both the Jewish and Gregorian calendar is
Saturday. The Shabbat begins on the eve of Friday evening when the sunsets and
ends the following day, Saturday evening when the sunsets. In other words from
sunset to sunset, a period of 24 hours. This measurement is according to the
count of Genesis One when YAHWEH created the earth in six days.
The Shabbat is the first feast listed in Leviticus 23 because its
principles and truths are foundation of all the other feasts. The Shabbat thus
depicts eight powerful truths of the Scripture that sets it above the other
feasts:
1 First it depicts the FATHERS joy of the finished creation. When the Father
had finished creating everything including man He said on the last day of
creation, “then God (YAHWEH) saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was
very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31 On the last day of creation
YAHWEH rejoiced and said that everything was “1very good.” When we honor the
Shabbat we directly partake of the Fathers Sabbath joy.
2 It depicts the eternal rest that is in the FATHER. When YAHWEH had
finished creating He rested on the Shabbat. “And on the seventh day God ended
His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all
His work which He had done.” Genesis 2:2 This predates the rest of the
execution stake of our Messiah, which tells us that true rest is in the Father.
That is why Yahushua teachings always pointed us back to the Father. However,
the stake (cross) points sinners to redemption sacrifice of Yahushua where they
find rest from their sin. When we honor the Shabbat we enter into the Sabbath
rest of the Father.
3 It depicts the firstborn blessing of the FATHER. “The double
portion.” When YAHWEH finished creation
in six days, He blessed the Shabbat day above the rest of the days of the week.
“Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He
rested from all His work which God had created and made.” Genesis 2:3 The
principle of the first born blessing, the double portion comes from this verse.
All the other days were called good but after the last day of creation YAHWEH
declared it as a very good day. When we keep the Shabbat we enter into the
double portion that is unlocked by keeping the Shabbat.
4 It depicts
the apartness of the FATHER. In that same verse Genesis 2:3 the Shabbat was set apart as a day
removed from the rest of the days. Meaning it was installed as the higher day
of the week. It was elevated as special or divine because it was “sanctified.”
This is a picture of who YAHWEH is; He is set apart or Holy. When we esteem the
Shabbat we partake of His divineness and we become like Him set apart from the
rest of His creation or what we call the world. The Seventh day becomes our
eternal sign. Exodus 31:13
5 It depicts the perfection of the FATHER. The word Shabbat in Hebrew
does not mean rest but it means seven or the seventh days. The number seven
means perfection and completeness. It appears 600 times in the Scripture. The
meaning of perfection here is not being sinless or spotless as we commonly
understand it to be but it means becoming like our FATHER YAHWEH. YAHWEH kept
the Shabbat, we therefore become like Him when we too observe the Shabbat.
Yahushua said ‘that we are to be perfect just as our FATHER in heaven is
perfect.’ Mathew 5:48 Being perfect means observing the commandments and it
begins by observing the Sabbath.
6 It depicts
the FATHERS eternal seal of creation. The seal of creation is the number seven. YAHWEH has
stamped His creation with the number seven depicting His mark of ownership.
There are many cycles in nature that run on the calendar of seven days and many
biological facts of nature are stamped with the number seven. When we honor the
Shabbat we acknowledge the sovereignty of YAHWEH over His creation. We affirm
His ownership over our bodies, soul and spirit and what we have in our
possessions when we keep the Shabbat. It is also the mark of an obedient and
humble person. Humility scripturally speaking is tested by the observance of
His commandments. Deuteronomy 8:2 Moses became the most humble person on earth
because he kept the commandments If you want to be humble then keep the Shabbat.
7 It depicts the millennial reign of the FATHER. We know from the
teaching on the name of YAHWEH that when the Yahushua returns after the
tribulation He will come as the FATHER and He will reign as YAHWEH. We know
from Scripture that the seven thousand year is also a picture of the seventh
day, as one day to YAHWEH is as one thousand years. 2 Peter 3:8 Church scholars
agree that that we have entered or are about to enter into the seventh day, the
millennial Shabbat when Yahushua returns. When we keep the Shabbat we keep
alive this promise that He will come to reign with us. I personally believe
that Messiah will return during the seventh feast, which is Tabernacles on the
Shabbat. It is a Jewish practice that a seat is left blank at the table during
the Shabbat incase the Messiah returns.
8 It depicts
the seven blood sufferings of the Messiah. The Messiah spilt His blood seven times for us. The
first time the sacred blood of Yahushua was shed was in the garden of
Gethsemane, where our Saviors sweated blood. This represents provision for our
mental and emotional healing. The second time was when Yahushua was beaten and
struck and his beard plucked by the temple guards. This represents provision
for peace and joy at all times including times of mistreatment and persecution.
The third time was when He was crowned with thorns. This represents a provision
for the fruits of our labor. The fourth time was when He was scourged on His
back. This represents a provision for our physical healing and well being. The fifth and sixth time when Yahushua shed
his blood was when His hands and feet were nailed to His execution stake. The
nailing of the hands represents a provision for our worship and the nailing of
the feet represent a provision for our service to YAHWEH. The final time when
the sacred blood of Yahushua was spilt was when the spear was plunged into His
side. This represents a provision for the sanctification of our inner being.
When we honor the Shabbat we come under the blood.
The Shabbat
is not legalism
Observing the
Shabbat should not be regarded as a work of law or as a burdensome command that
YAHWEH has dealt out on our lives. It is instead the FATHERS gift to His people
and it is the blessed gift that most Christians have missed. But to be fair
some have missed opening this delightful gift because the package was wrapped
up in legalism, tied with the ribbons of bondage and presented as Jewish
package.
The Shabbat
predates the Law of Moses by three thousand years. It began as we saw from the
time of Genesis and was observed by the Patriarch’s and prophets prior to Moses
day. The Shabbat is a covenant commandment upon all of Adams descendants. When
Moses came on the scene he merely received a codified version of the Shabbat
(made into a law) as part of the Ten Commandments but prior to this it has
always been part of the FATHERS requirements for ALL mankind and later His set
apart people.
Most Christians
believe in keeping the Ten Commandments but however they find it most difficult
to reconcile the 4th commandment.
"Remember
the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your
work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD (YAHWEH) your God (el). In
it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male
servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is
within your gates. For in six days the LORD (YAHWEH) made the heavens and the
earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore
the LORD (YAHWEH) blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:8-11
We know from
History that the Shabbat was moved from the seventh day of the week to the
first day of the week (Sunday) by a decree of Rome in the year 321 A.D during
the reign of emperor Constantine who himself was not a Christian but was
supposively converted on his death bed. This decree made it illegal to worship
or pray on Saturday and if you were caught breaking this law you were killed.
It is not the purpose of our study to investigate the reasons why this was done
but it is suffice to say that there is no commandment in both the Old and New
Covenant that Sunday be kept as the Shabbat. This is where the controversy
remains unsolved with the Church.
The keeping of
the Shabbat does have its “lawful boundaries” but they are there for the
purpose of making this day special and joyful rather than to restrict your
movements or your freedoms. It is the traditions and customs that come from the
Talmud, the Jewish interpretation of these laws that has created the bondage.
YAHWEH said that we are to keep the Shabbat as a “delight.” Listen to these
solemn words from the prophet Isaiah,
"If you
turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the LORD (YAHWEH)
honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own
pleasure, Nor speaking your own words, Then you shall delight yourself
in the LORD (YAHWEH); And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the
earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the
LORD (YAHWEH) has spoken." Isaiah 58:13-14
Twice in these
passages Isaiah gives us the message that we are to keep the Shabbat as a
delight. This attitude of keeping YAHWEH’s commandments as a delight is
beautifully reflected in these words of King David. In Psalm 119:24 David
said “Your testimonies also are my
delight And my counselors.” In Psalm 119:35 he says, “ Make me walk in the
path of Your commandments, For I delight in it.” Again in Psalm 119:77 “Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I
may live; For Your law is my delight.” In all of these passages the
keeping of the law was not a burden to king David but a great delight.
Therefore we need to understand what this word delight means or implies if we
are to achieve the purpose of keeping the Shabbat.
This word
delight has many meanings. It has all of the following elements in it, joy,
love, peace, hope, mercy, favor and prosperity. But above all of these things
one attribute stands out the most in Scripture concerning how we should keep
the Shabbat as a delight. To answer this we need to turn again to the prophet
Isaiah.
The supreme
attribute
The prophet
Isaiah painted this portrait of the Messiah. He said,
“His delight is
in the fear of the LORD (YAHWEH), And He shall not judge by the sight of
His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears…” Isaiah 11:3 In another
passage Isaiah said, “Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times,
And the strength of salvation; The fear of the LORD (YAHWEH) is His treasure.”
Isaiah 33:6
The distinctive
mark of the Messiah delight is His fear of YAHWEH!
There are many
options in our set apart life but one thing that is certainly not optional in
our walk with YAHWEH is His Fear. We are commanded to fear YAHWEH!
“And do not
fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who
is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Mathew 10:28
When we keep
the Shabbat we demonstrate this fear of YAHWEH in our lives. This fear is not
the religious fear or demonic fear that is commonly known in Church circles but
this fear is a PURE or clean fear as seen in this passage.
“The fear of
the LORD (YAHWEH) is clean, enduring forever…” Psalm 19:9
Proverbs 8:13
defines for us what this fear is, “The fear of the LORD (YAHWEH) is to hate
evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.”
A closer
examination of the Hebrew word “tahowr” which we get the word fear in this passage
means “moral purity.” A purity or cleanness that comes ONLY by observing the
commandments. Recently a pastor asked me how do we become Holy? You start by
keeping the first commandment of Eden the Shabbat!
The question
that now beholds us is how then do we keep the Shabbat? Or specifically what
should we do on the Shabbat? Next week I will explain this and give you an
Israelite guideline of keeping the Shabbat.
In last weeks lesson we looked at the first feast of the eight feasts of
YAHWEH.
I listed eight truths of why YAHWEH gave us the Shabbat and why we need
to observe the Sabbath. We also learnt that the Shabbat is an eternal
commandment of YAHWEH predating the Law of Moses by 3,000 years. A commandment
given to all descendants of Adam descendants but was later changed by a man. We
saw that YAHWEH requires us to keep the Sabbath not as a legal matter but as a
delight by cultivating the fear of YAHWEH in our lives.
In this lesson I will start by briefly looking at the issue why most
Christians believe that we are no longer required to keep the Sabbath and then
conclude our lesson by answering the question I posed at the end of last weeks
lesson; how we should keep the Sabbath?
Was the Shabbat nailed to
the cross?
There are four passages of Scripture that is commonly used here to
validate this argument. First the passage in Mathew 5:17 concerning Yahushua
statement that He came fulfill to the law therefore it was abolish and the
passage in Colossians 2:14 and 16 where Saul states that the law was nailed to
the execution stake (the cross) therefore no one can now judge us on the basis
of observing a festival, Sabbaths etc. Finally in Romans Saul teaches that we
are not under the law. Romans 6:14
Five factual arguments are poised against this argument that make it an
impossible understanding therefore an incorrect position.
First the weight of Scriptural references supporting the observance of
the Sabbath is overwhelming. There are more than 500 references in Scripture
supporting observing the Sabbath. There is not one dissenting reference
commanding that the Sabbath no longer be observed or that it was changed to
another day. A man in New Zealand posted a sign along the main road outside his
house and continues to this day saying that he would pay anyone 1 million
dollars if they could prove to him from the Scripture that the Sabbath was
changed to Sunday. So far no one has been able to prove otherwise.
Second it is
a direct Commandment of Scripture. It appears as the fourth commandment in the Ten Commandments.
"Remember
the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your
work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD (YAHWEH) your God (el). In
it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male
servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is
within your gates. For in six days the LORD (YAHWEH) made the heavens and the
earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore
the LORD (YAHWEH) blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:8-11
Commandments in
which most Christians believe we must honor except one because it was fulfilled
in the Messiah. Is this true? This brings me to my third point.
Third
Yahushua did not teach that the law was done away but to the contrary reinforced the keeping of the commandments. He said, "Whoever therefore breaks
one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called
least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be
called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:19
The word
fulfilled in Mathew 5:17 does not mean, “destroy” or “done away” as Christian
clergy have taught. The word “fulfill” in the Hebrew and Aramaic text means,
“to correctly interpret.” Hence why Yahushua in His Sermon on the Mount then
proceeded to give the correct interpretation of the law. Notice how He did it.
He contrasted the old meaning of Moses law with its true meaning. "You have
heard that it was said to those of old….” Matthew 5:21 and "But I say to you….” Matthew 5:22 etc He repeats this format
throughout His sermon clearly revealing the correct interpretation of the law
and disproving this falsity that He came to do away with the law.
The implication
of the law being done away is an illogical falsity. How can Yahushua teach that he did not come to “destroy the law”
then conclude that He will “do it away” by fulfilling it so that we no longer
have to keep it? Mathew 5:17 If it meant this then it would clearly destroy the
purpose and meaning of the passage. Yet we persist with this erroneous
interpretation because the old nature in us does not want to submit to the Law
of YAHWEH.
Fourth Saul
taught the observance of the Commandments and he taught others to observe the
Commandments. Saul said
that the law, (meaning ALL of the law) is “just and good.” Romans 7:12
Therefore He commanded the ecclesia, that they keep the feasts. “Therefore let
us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and
wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 1
Corinthians 5:8 Saul therefore cannot be implying that the 4th
commandment is not valid because he will then contradict his own teaching.
Saul’s letters
have been misinterpreted from its true meaning. The misinterpretation of Saul
letters stems from the fact that the word “law” as it is used here in the King
James has a single meaning. It refers to all of the commandments of the Old
Covenant including the Ten Commandments. Where as the Hebrew and Aramaic texts
clearly divide the term law into its two proper distinct groups. The oral law
compromising of the traditions and customs of Israel that came from the
centuries of Rabbinical interpretations and the written law that YAHWEH gave
Moses and the prophets which is embodied in the Torah.
These two
passages of Scripture in Colossian 2:14 and 16 does not refer to the written
law of YAHWEH but to the oral law of Israel. This is what Saul wrote was impaled
(nailed) on the execution stake (cross) which is translated as “ordinances” in
the King James version. This is also the law that Saul teaches we are not under
“obligation” to keep in Romans 6:14. When the law is interpreted in this
context Saul letters start to harmonize with the rest of Scripture. We often
forget that Saul was a Pharisee who was brought up in the oral law of Israel,
which he later counted as rubbish because he discovered the written law (Torah)
of who is Yahushua.
Last YAHWEH Himself
observed the Sabbath as did Yahushua, the patriarchs and the prophets. The disciples and the Church up to the year 320 B.C
also observed the Sabbath. Why would YAHWEH observe the Sabbath then teach us
to not observe the Shabbat? YAHWEH himself would then be guilty of breaking His
own law. If one commandment according to this reasoning should fail then all of
His commandments cannot stand. This is the reasoning of the James 2:10. “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and
yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”
Was Yahushua
resurrected on Sunday?
Perhaps the
greatest contention against keeping the Shabbat comes from the belief that
Yahushua was resurrected on the first day of the week being Sunday according to
these passages of Scripture. Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:2, Luke 24:1 Thus, why
Church scholars argue that the Church keep Sunday in commemoration of the
resurrection.
A closer
examination of the Scripture does not at all teach or imply that Yahushua rose
on the first day of the week but rather He rose on the eve of the Shabbat. I
quote an extract from the Focus on Jerusalem Library, which clarifies the
problem.
“The problem appears easily
resolved by a clarification of what Mark meant by "Sabbath". Along
with the weekly Sabbath day, the Jews had other "Sabbaths" throughout
the year, marking high holy days. In Matthew 28:1, the Greek should be
translated, "at the end of the Sabbaths" - a plural word - noting
that there had been more than one Sabbath the previous week. The first day of
the Feast of Unleavened Bread was also considered a "Sabbath"
(Leviticus. 23:6,7). This Feast is celebrated on Nisan 15, the day after the
Passover (Leviticus. 23:5-6). Jesus was crucified on the Passover and Mark
15:42-43 notes that Joseph of Arimathea desired to take Christ's body down from
the cross before the high Sabbath began. [Luke 22:1 and Matt 26:17 create
confusion. Denotatively, the two Feasts are separate days. Connotatively, the
entire period from Passover through the 7 days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread
is considered "Passover".]”
Yahushua was executed on
Wednesday the 14th of Nissan. He was placed in the tomb just prior
to sundown on Wednesday and spent his first full night and day in the tomb
beginning on the 15th of Nisan, the Feast of Unleavened Bread. His body lay in the grave for
three nights and three days after His execution, as He had prophesied in Mathew
12:40. Sometime after sundown Saturday evening (the start of Sunday), Yahushua
rose from the dead. On Sunday morning, when the women went to the tomb with
burial spices, they found the tomb empty. Sunday, as the "morrow after the
Sabbath" after Passover was the Feast of First fruits (Lev 23:10-11; 1 Cor
15:20-23). In rising from the dead, Yahushua became the first-fruits of all
those who die and yet will be resurrected to live forever.
While many are not convinced by this evidence, the
alternative view does not in any way invalidate the keeping of the Shabbat nor
does it validate Sunday as the Sabbath. The truth of the matter is that the
Church would rather have us believe that they are a separate entity from
Israel. Sunday keeping endorses the belief that the Church is a separate entity
from Israel with it own Sabbath and festivals called Lent, Easter and
Christmas. None of which are endorsed in the Scripture. Therefore, since the
Sabbath is still valid how should we observe it since being mindful of the fact
that the Jews have added on so many regulations making it a burden to keep?
The true Observance of the Sabbath
I believe that the matter of keeping the Shabbat is
simple and straightforward if we are to take our guide solely from the written
Torah. There are basically 7 Sabbath ordinances/regulations that we need to
follow if we are to correctly keep the Shabbat, An ordinance being a rule for
conduct. Here are the seven ordinances:
1. Prohibitation on earning income and labouring on
the Sabbath day.
Exodus
20:8-11, 31:14-15 “not labour”
2. Prohibitation on causing others to work on the
Sabbath day.
Exodus
20:10, 23:12 Jeremiah 17:22,24 “carry a burden out”
3. Prohibitation on food preparation and cooking on
the Sabbath day.
Exodus
16:23, 35:3 “lighting fires”
4.
Prohibitation on travelling on the Sabbath day.
Exodus
16:29 “Let every man remain in his place”
5
Prohibitation on entertaining others on the Sabbath day.
Exodus
16:29
6.
Prohibitation on self-gratification on the Sabbath day.
Leviticus
16:31, Isaiah 58:13 “from doing your
own pleasure”
7.
Prohibitation on war on the Sabbath day.
Ecclesiastes 3:8, 2 Kings 11:9, Chronicles
23:8 “a time of war”
There are however, exceptions to these rules but not
the law of the Shabbat. These exceptions are permissible if and only if, they
conflict with a higher law of the Kingdom. These higher laws being;
1. The higher law of Love.
For example doing good works on the Sabbath i.e. that
is healing Mathew 12:10-12
helping your neighbour Mark 3:4
2. The higher law of Mercy.
For example Yahushua went to the house of the tax
collector Mathew and he said go and learn what it means, “I desire mercy and
not sacrifice.” Mathew 9:13
3. The higher law of Life.
For example Yahushua while going through the grain
fields on the Sabbath did that which was unlawful but He replied by explaining
how David and his men had eaten the forbidden bread of the temple because they
were hungry. Mathew 12:2-4
4. The higher law of the Priesthood
(Sheparding).
For example in the same Scripture above verse 5
Yahushua explained how priests work on the Sabbath yet they are blameless.
5. The higher law of Duty (to your Neighbour)
For example Yahushua explained that if a donkey got
caught in a ditch on the Sabbath or it was thirsty we have a duty to rescue it.
Luke 13:15 also if our neighbour got hurt we have a duty to help them as in the
example of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:33 This higher law of duty includes
all those services of which is life giving. For example rescue, emergency,
medical, communications and travel.
A note on Customs and Traditions
We know that the Jewish people including the Israelite
movement have there own customs and traditions on keeping the Shabbat. While
there is no Scriptural Prohibitation on observing certain customs and
traditions, it is never the less an option
that is open to preference and style but always with
the understanding that what ever we allow, it must be within the confines of
the Scripture.
Customs and tradition can be beautiful things but also
can be things that bring hash bondage, so we have to be led by the Spirit of
YAHWEH over these matters.
The notes that I have attached to this study are from
Batya Ruth Wotten study of the Feasts. They are rich in prophetic pictures and
declarations that I believe are truly inspired by YAHWEH. If you are led to
keep the Sabbath in this manner then that is your decision rather than a rule
or regulation.
Next week we study the feast of the Passover.
The Father Begins by
Reading:
“You shall remember the
Sabbath day, to keep it holy… For six days you shall labour, but on the seventh
day you shall cease from labour, that you… may rest and … be refreshed” (Exodus
20:8; 23:12).
“Yeshua spoke to His
Disciples and said, ‘Whoever continues to follow me will never walk in
darkness, but will have the light which gives life.’” (John 8:12)
Seeking that “light” for
“all Israel,” this night we light two symbolic candlesticks: One of “the stick
of Ephraim,” and one for “the stick of Judah;” one to remind us to observe, the
other to remember, the Sabbath day; one candle stands for Heaven and one for
the Tanach (Old Covenant), one for the Brit Chadasha (New Covenant); one for
faith and one for holy deeds; one for work and one for rest.
Father, we now put aside all
our cares, and turn our hearts to You, as we enter into Your Shabbat, the rest
You have ordained for our good. Truly, this is the day that you have made, and
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Hadlekat Neirot (Lighting
the Candles)
Mother or Daughter lights
the candles and prays: Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu Melech ha’olam, asher natan
lanu et Yeshua haMashiach, ha’or la’olam. Who tikvatanu oobeeshmo nikranu
le’heyot or lagoyim. Amen.
Blessed are You, Lord our
God, King of the Universe, Who has given us Yeshua our Messiah, we are called
to be a light unto the nations. Amen
Mother’s Prayer:
O God of Your people Israel,
You are holy, and You have consecrated the Shabbat, and called the people of Israel to be Your own.
You have called upon us to honor Your Shabbat, and for love of Your people, Israel.
Almighty Father, we ask that
You grant us, and all our loved ones, a chance to truly enter into Your rest on
this Sabbath day. We ask that even as the candles give light to our home and
family, so may Your Ruach haKodesh give light to our home and lives. Father, we
ask that You make Your Presence known in our home, and that You bless our
children with a knowledge of You. By Your grace may they always walk in the
ways of Yeshua, our Living Torah and our Light. May you ever be their God and
ours, O Lord, our Creator and Redeemer. Amen.
Family Member Reads a
Scripture of Choice:
Hamotzi (Blessing of the
Bread) Father Reads:
“Yeshua said, ‘I am the
bread that gives life, whoever comes to Me will never go hungry and whoever
puts their trust in Me never be thirsty’” (John 6:35).
Baruch atah Adonai, Elohenu
Melech ha’olam, hamotzi lechem min ha aretz, asher natan lanu lechem chaim
b’Yeshua. Amen.
Blessed are You, Lord our
God, King of the Universe, Who Blessed us with bread, and gives us Yeshua, Who
is the Bread of Life. Amen.
Kiddush (Sanctifying
Prayer) Father Reads:
It was on Hoshanah Rabbah,
the last day of Sukkot, that Yeshua stood and
cried out, saying, “If anyone is continues to put his trust in Me, as the
Tanach says, “Out of his innermost being shall continuously flow rivers of
living water” (John 7:37-38)
Baruch atah Adonai Elohenu
Melech ha’olam, boreh p’ri hagaphen. Amen
Blessed are You, O Lord our
God, King of the Universe, the Creator of the fruit of the vine.
Blessing of the Children:
Over the Sons the Father
Prays:
Y’simchah Elohim
k’Ephrayeem, v’keh M’nasheh.
May God make you a symbol of
blessing as He did Ephraim and Manasseh.
Over the Daughters the
Father (or mother) Prays:
Y’simech Elohim k’Sarah,
Rivka, Rakhel v’leah.
May God make you a symbol of
blessing as He did Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah.
Eishel Chayil (Woman of
Valor):
Husband reads Proverbs
31:10-31 to his wife. (Or Scriptural Blessing of Choice.)
Ashrey Ha’eesh (Blessed
is the man):
Wife Reads Psalm 1 to her
husband (Or Scriptural Blessing of Choice)
All Sing the Sh’ma:
Sh’ma Yisrael, Adonai
Elohenu, Adonai Echad. Baruch shem, k’vod malchuto, I’olam vah-ed. Amen.
Hear O Israel, the Lord our
God, the Lord is One. Blessed e His Name, His Kingdom is forever, and forever
more. Amen.
Father Gives Priestly
Blessing:
Yevarech’cha Adonai
v’yishmerecha
Yah-er Adonai panav elecha
v’yechunecha
Yisaah Adonai panav elechah
v’yasem lechah shalom.
May the Lord bless you and
keep you. May the Lord cause His face to shine upon and be gracious unto you.
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
Shabbat Shalom (Sabbath
Peace)
Last week I concluded the teaching on the feast of the Shabbat. In that
lesson I explained that the execution stake of Yahushua has not done the
Shabbat away. The Shabbat it is as valid today as it was from the day it was
first inaugurated in Genesis. We learnt that their are seven basic prohibitions
(ordinances) that we are to follow when observing the Shabbat and their were
five general exceptions to these rules.
In this lesson we will look at the feast of the Passover/Peasch. This
feast is widely celebrated by both Jewish and Christian circles from different
perspectives and understandings. Never the less it is the only feast at the
moment where both circles are in agreement over its general truths. Before I
discuss the Passover, it is important, however, that we understand the timing
of the feasts of YAHWEH, if we are to know when to celebrate them.
The seven-month cycle of YAHWEH’s Moedim was regulated according to the
appearance of the new moon. It is a cycle that began in the month of Abib
(Spring or March/April) and ended in the month of Tishri (Fall or
September/October). This first feast of the Passover was reckoned according to
the appearance of the new moon. The new moon is called Rosh Chodesh.
Rosh Chodesh
Rosh Chodesh is in fact a Scriptural feast and it is celebrated every
new moon with the blowing of sliver trumpets, sacrifices and feasting together
according to the Scriptural command in Numbers 10:10. Also see Psalm 81:3. It
is not listed as part of the seven feasts of YAHWEH in Leviticus 23 but is
never the less an important feast. Trading closed for the day and Kings
celebrated this feast with banquets. See Amos 8:5, 1 Samuel 20:5,6,24,29;
23:30-31, 2 Chronicles 2:24 The Priests had a new moon offering and then
prophets were often active on this day. See 1 Chronicles 23:31, 2 Kings 4:23, Isaiah
1:13, Haggai 1:1, Ezekiel 26:1, 29:17,31:1, 32:1.
The reason why this feast is important is because it marks the start of
the seasons. Psalm 104:19 affirm this, “He made the moon to mark the seasons;
the sun knows when to set.” In other words the moon (yare’ah) divides the
seasons and the sun (shemesh) divides the day. See also Genesis 1:14-16.The
moon is our celestial guide to mark when to celebrate the feasts. It is during
the appearance of the last crescent (at the start) of the moon and not the full
moon that marks the first day of the new month.
The moons full cycle of illumination lasts a little over 29 days. Thus,
we have our Scriptural months of either 29 or 30 days. The Gregorian calendar
we have does not base its cycles on the moon. Also the Rabbinical Calendar that
Jewish Israel use is based on the predictions of Rabbi Hillel of the 4th
Century and have been proven to be out as much as two days. Many in Israel do
not use this calendar for that reason.
The meaning of the new moon in Hebrew understanding is re birth. In fact
the word “Chodesh” literally means renewed, signifying a new opportunity to
start over again. This is what Yahushua meant by the new birth in John 3:3,
being born again. Saul taught this principle of renewal in Colossians 3:9-10. A
derivative of the word is found in Jeremiah 31:31 where we get term the B’rit
Chadasha, or the renewed covenant.
In the millennium the new moon celebrations will be mandatory for all
nations.
“And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from
one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me," says
the LORD (YAHWEH).” Isaiah 66:23
During Ezekiel’s day there was a perverted attempt to honor the new
moons (Ezekiel 45:17; 46:1-6) But Hosea said that YAHWEH would put a stop to
them. Hosea 2:7-11
This prophecy was fulfilled during the period of Syrian-Greek
persecution (the time of Maccabees) when the celebration of the New Moon was
forbidden by Syrian law along with the Shabbat and circumcision. The Syrians knew
that if the Hebrews did not observe Rosh Chodesh they would not know when the
other feast would be.
Today YAHWEH is bringing back into Israel Rosh Chodesh because with out
it we will not know when to celebrate His feasts. I had mentioned at the beginning
that the Passover begins 14 days after the new moon is sighted in the month of
Abib (Spring or March/April).
This feast is also called the day of preparation. It is one of two
feasts that was not celebrated on a Sabbath but during the week, the other
being the feast of first fruits. Therefore, this feast is not a traditional
Sabbath in the sense that work was done and fires were lit on this day.
Observance of the Peasch (Passover) in ancient times was done according
to the pattern given to Moses.
1. Families were to sacrifice a blameless lamb for their household.
“…Each man is to take a lamb for his family. One for each household.” Exodus
12:3
2. The blood of the lamb was to be placed on the door posts and lintel
of the house.
“They shall take some of its blood and place it on the two door posts
and on the lintel
of the houses in which they will eat.” Exodus 12:7
3. When eating of the Passover
lamb, families were to eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. “They
shall eat the flesh on that night-roasted over the fire- and matzos, with
bitter herbs shall they eat it.” Exodus 12:8
Our Father instructed Israel to sacrifice their Passover lamb on
Abib/Nissan 14. They were to do this at Twilight, which begins at the ninth
hour of the day, at 3.00 PM. This was the exact hour when Yahushua was
sacrificed for us. Mark 15:33-37
YAHWEH commanded that Peasch be kept as memorial to all generations of
Israelites. Exodus 12:42 For this reason the nation of Israel still keeps the
Passover in the above manner. Forms of this practice have been adopted and
adapted by the messianic movement as part of their celebration of this feast.
However, many have not understood the true significance of the Peasch
and the fact that there is more than two Passovers needs to be clarified. The
Passover of Moses is a different Passover from the Passover that Yahushua
celebrated with His disciples and the one He promised He would later celebrate
with them in His Millennial Kingdom. They all represent the one feast, the
Peasch but they all have different applications.
What is to follow is an insight into the significance of these three
different Passovers
and where we stand in regard to observing them.
The significance of Moses Passover:
1. It represents the passing of a people from a tribe to nation. The
twelve sons Israel entered Egypt as a tribe of 75 persons (Exodus 1:5) and they
left Egypt as a nation 3 million strong (including women and children.) (Exodus
12:3)
2. It represents the passing of a people from a status of childhood to
adulthood. When Israel left Egypt they were now matured to receive YAHWEH’s
eternal laws and ordinances. Through these laws and ordinances the presence of
YAHWEH, which was then restricted to certain persons, could now abide with them
as a people.
3. Its represents the passing of an age from bondage to freedom. In
Egypt they became slaves under taskmasters and when they left Egypt they left,
as free men under their own will.
4. It represents the passing of heavens judgment in the favor of the
plaintiff Israel. Egypt was weighed in balance and was found wanting because of
the way they had treated YAHWEH’s people. YAHWEH sent Israel into Egypt to save
them and to be a blessing to the their nation but instead they beat them and
cursed them.
5. It represents the passing of an eternal acquittal for the plaintiff
Israel. Israel too was weighed in the balance and a pardon was offered to them
because of the covenant YAHWEH made with Abraham. Thus the wrongs that were
done against them were recompensed and fully compensated. They plundered the
Egyptians. Exodus 12:36
6. It represents the passing of the mantle of leadership from the
patriarchs to the Priests. Israel was now to be lead by a Kingdom of priests.
Moses and Aaron are Levites from whom the line of the Priesthood was
established. Exodus 4:14.
You might have noticed but these reasons all specifically have to do
with Israel as a NATION and a PEOPLE. Therefore where does this place us in
observing this Passover? The truth is we are not called to observe the Mosaic
Passover until we have physically become part of the nation of Israel or the
people of Israel. Moses Passover is in essence a national Passover for the
nation of Israel.
Thus, YAHWEH knows that there are many others outside of Israel (who are
non Jews but never the less Israelites) who would not be able to identify with
this side of the Passover until they are re gathered into Israel. Therefore, He
promised through the Prophet Jeremiah that He would make a new covenant with
Israel that would embrace ALL Israel in a new Passover that would be called the
Renewed Covenant. Jeremiah 31:31-33
The Renewed Covenant Passover is the opposite side of the coin so to
speak in regard to the Passover. Saul called this side of the Passover as “the
substance” and the other side as “the shadow.” Colossians 2:17 It is impossible
to separate a shadow from it substance. They are one and the same thing. If you
remove the substance the shadow disappears.
Yahushua being our Passover lamb is the substance of the shadow of the
Mosaic Passover lamb that was slain on this day. We know from Scripture and
history alike that Yahushua fulfilled this feast to its exactness, dying on the
day the Passover lamb would be slain by the Priests. On the other hand Barabbas
the murder representing us was acquitted and was released as symbolic of the
trespass goat that was released during the Mosaic Passover. See Leviticus 16:24
By this one sacrifice (Hebrews 10:12) YAHWEH has reconciled both Jew and
Israelite and Greek to Himself (Romans 10:12) by removing the barrier of sin
and death that separated both houses of Israel from each other Ephesians
2:14-18 and “the foreigner who joins himself to YAHWEH” (Isaiah 56:6-8)
Yahushua last supper meal was in actuality a Passover sedar. The
Messiah said, “Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to
eat this Passover with you before I suffer;” Luke 22:15 The format of this Passover
is recorded for us in Mathew 26:16-18, 26-28 Most of us are quite familiar with
how this Passover is celebrated, therefore, I will not outline its procedures
here for us but I will proceed to explain its significance.
The significance of the Renewed Covenant Passover:
1. It represents the passing of
an age from the prophets and the law to the age of YAHWEH’s divine favor.
Mathew 11:13, Luke 16:16 The Apostle John said, “For the law was given through
Moses, but grace (unmerited favor) and truth came through Jesus Christ
(Yahushua).” This does not mean that the law and the Prophets were done away
but it meant that the way that YAHWEH would now deal with His people would
change.
2. It represents the passing
over of a judgment that had been vetoed to that generation because of the sins
of their forefathers. Yahushua arrived in Israel at a time when judgment was
rip over the nation. The prophet Isaiah said that the Messiah would “offer them
beauty (forgiveness and peace) for ashes (destruction).” Yahushua called their
forefathers those who had murdered the prophets. Mathew 23:31-33 However,
Israel as a nation was not rejected by YAHWEH as His chosen people, Saul
confirms this in Romans 11:29
3. It represents the passing away of YAHWEH’s righteous anger against
the house of Judah and Ephraim (Israel). Jeremiah and many other prophets had
prophesized that YAHWEH would reconcile both houses of Israel back to Himself
by re gathering them from the nations where He had scattered them because of
His anger.
4. It represents the passing away of the Old Assembly of Israel that was
constantly defeated by the gates of hell. Yahushua said that upon Himself He
would rebuild a renewed Ecclesia (assembly not a Church) that will withstand
the gates of hell. Mathew 16:18 This is the Remnant or elect that is to be re
gathered back into Israel.
5. It represents the passing over of judgment for sin and transgression
that is due to every sinner and transgressor of the Torah. By this one
sacrifice the book of Hebrews tells us that, “He has appeared to put away sin”
forever. Hebrews 9:26,10:12
6. It represents the passing of the order of the priesthood from the
line of the Levites to Melchizedek. Yahushua is a Priest under the order of
Melchizedek. Hebrews 5:6 This is the priesthood of the renewed covenant who
called to serve YAHWEH in this age and hour. Melchizedek means king of
righteousness.
You might have noticed but all these reasons have to do with “a renewed
ecclesia (assembly) of who is Israel whether they are Jew, Israelite or the
foreigner that will become the remnant that YAHWEH has been preparing from the
foundation of the Earth who will be serving Him in the Millennium.
For this reason Yahushua mentioned that He will not again partake of this
Passover until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of YAHWEH. Luke 22:16, Mark 14:25
showing us a final Passover that would take place after the tribulation at the
Marriage supper of the lamb and blessed are those who are invited to it.
Revelations 19:9
This Passover is yet to come therefore we do not yet know how to
celebrate it, until we are in the Kingdom.
However, aspects of its truths are found in the feast of Tabernacles,
which we will discuss later.
The significance of this Passover:
1. It represents the passing away of this age and the inauguration of
the millennial age of the reign of our Messiah YAHWEH. Revelations 20:4,6
2. It represents the passing
away of Satan’s rule of this world into the rule of YAHWEH’s remnant. Revelation
2:26-28, 5:9-10
3. It represents the passing
away of our captivity to death and our release into eternal life. Hosea 13:14,
1 Corinthians 15:55, Revelations 21:7
4. It represents the passing
away of the dominion of the flesh into the dominion of our glorified bodies. 1
Corinthians 15:53-57
5. It represents the passing
away of the rule of earthly kings to the rule of King David. 2 Samuel 7:13-13,
1 Chronicles 22:10
6. It represents the passing away of the captivity of nature into
restored state. Romans 8:20-21
For these reasons this Passover will be a Passover of great joy and
festivity unlike the Mosaic Passover and Renewed Covenant Passover.
Next week we will look at the feast of Chag HaMatzah/Feast of Unleavened
Bread (Matzah) and Yom HaBirkkurim/Day of First Fruits (Birkkurim)
In last weeks study we looked at the feast of the Passover. We
discovered that there are in fact three Passover taught in the Scripture. As
Israelites or gentiles in Yahushua we are not called to observe the Passover of
Moses but only the Passover of the New Covenant.
In this lesson we will look at the feast of unleavened bread and the
feast of First fruits. It is important at this stage to remind you again that
these are YAHWEH’s feasts and not Jewish feasts and that we are commanded to
observe these feasts as memorials and rehearsals of what is to come.
The Feast of unleavened bread is
called Chag HaMatzah in Hebrew.
The Feast of Chag HaMatzah
The Feast of Unleavened Bread started the day after the Passover on the
15th, (the Passover being on the 14th of Abib/Nisan.) Because the
Passover lamb was roasted in a very slow manner, it was eaten during the first
day of unleavened bread since it Hebrew understanding the day begins at 6.00
PM.
The Scriptural command for observing this feast is found in Leviticus
23:6-8.
“And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened
Bread to the LORD (YAHWEH); seven days you must eat unleavened bread. 'On the
first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no customary work on
it. 'But you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD (YAHWEH) for
seven days. The seventh day shall be a holy convocation; you shall do no
customary work on it.'" Leviticus 23:6-8
This feast was instituted by YAHWEH so that Israel would remember eating
the bread of haste, which they had prepared quickly as they left Egypt. There
was no time to let the bread rise, so instead they were forced to eat it
unleavened. In Israel the festival of Unleavened Bead is honored by removing
all leavened items from one’s house. This has become a tradition in Jewish
households and is called Bedikat Cahtmez.
In this tradition, the wife thoroughly cleans the house and removes all
leaven, but she deliberately leaves behind some leaven, such as breadcrumbs for
the children to find.
The father then leads them in a candle light search (symbolizing the
Word) for leaven using a feather (Ruach Ha Kodesh) to brush the leaven onto the
wooden spoon (the execution stake) dropping it into a paper bag, which is then
discarded or burned. (Which depicts the price paid for our sin.)
1. First unleavened bread represents our Messiah Yahushua.
Unleavened by life, He was the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Moreover His
body was in the grave during the first days of the feast, He lay there, like a
seed divinely planted, waiting to burst forth as the eternal bread of life.
Yahushua Himself said, “I am the bread of life he who comes to me will never
hunger.” He also said, “This is the bread which comes down from heaven, so that
one may eat of it and not die.” John 6:35,50
It is interesting that Yahushua was born in Bethlehem, which means “house
of bread.”
2. Second unleavened bread speaks of a blameless life. Leaven of
itself speaks of sin and all have sinned according to the Scripture. An
unleavened life is a not a sinless life but a blameless life. This the Apostle
Saul tells us we are called to be. “Do all things without complaining and
disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God
without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you
shine as lights in the world, Philippines 2:14-15
This is in agreement with the Apostle Peter who said, “Therefore,
beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in
peace, without spot and blameless” 2 Peter 3:14
3. Third unleavened bread was eaten for seven days. This means we
are called to be blameless from Sabbath to Sabbath. We are not to put on a
spiritual face for our assemblies, then a different face for friends and
families. Peter the Apostle in quoting the Torah said, “Be holy (set apart) for
I am holy (set apart).” This is a stern warning against the leaven of the
Pharisees and Sadducees that Yahushua often condemned of which He called
hypocrisy Mathew 16:6. There are also other types of leaven like dead
ritualism, disbelief, humanism, worldliness, sensuality and legalism that we
must also rid our minds of.
4. Fourth unleavened bread is also called the bread of affliction. In Deuteronomy 16:3 YAHWEH calls this bread,
the bread of affliction. “You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days
you shall eat unleavened bread with it, that is, the bread of affliction
(for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste), that you may remember the day
in which you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life.” The word
affliction means, “to deprive ones self” or “cause one self to suffer.” This is
precisely what our Messiah Yahushua did for us during the Passover and this
feast of unleavened bread is sober warning to us that we too are called to
suffer. In Mathew 20:22 Yahushua warns us that all who follow Him will be
baptized with His baptism of suffering. Mathew 20:22 It is interesting that the
Matzah is prepared with holes in it which depicts wounding from suffering.
5. Fifth unleavened bread was prepared in haste and the process was
not completed. Yahushua sacrifice at Calvary is only the beginning hence,
the Apostle tells us that we are to go onto perfection. “Therefore, leaving the
discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to
perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works
and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of
resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” Hebrews 6:1-2 These
doctrines represent elementary teachings of our faith that we must all pass
through but we cannot remain there, we must go on the deeper things of the
Spirit. The fact that the bread was never completed represents this maturing
phase that we must all enter into. The preparation of haste also speaks of
taking hold of these truths and not turning back. Yahushua said that, “No one,
having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of
God.” Luke 9:62
6. Sixth unleavened bread speaks of a carefree life. Because the
feast of unleavened bread is mixed up at its start with the Passover, an
element of the Passover is intertwined into it because the Passover lamb was
eaten during this feast. Hence the burden of sin that we once carried has been
lifted off us and put on Yahushua. This is what Yahushua offered all who would
come to Him, He said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I
am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My
yoke is easy and My burden is light." Mathew 11:28-30 The unleavened bread is His yoke and burden that
Yahushua mentions here that we need to exchange for heavy burden. The Matzah
bread was a very light bread signifying the light yoke and burden of the
Messiah that we now carry.
It is obvious that many of the representation shown above have been
fulfilled in our Messiah Yahushua. Since we are not called to observe the
Passover of Moses in that we are not physically in Israel, where do we then
stand with this feast? As I have previously shown we are commanded to observe
YAHWEH’s feasts including the feast of Unleavened Bread. However, NOT in the
understanding of how Israel observed it but we are to observe it in the light
of the revelation of what it stands for as shown above. There is old saying that
goes this way, “you don’t throw away the baby with the bath water.” Thus you
don’t throw out Torah because of this new understanding. We must keep the heart
of the Torah and not its letter.
We are to eat unleavened bread for seven days, rid our houses of leaven
and on the final day we are to make it a convocation “celebration or festival”
as the Scripture commands but in this new light of understanding. This is also
the same understanding we must apply to observing this next feast.
The Feast of first fruits is called Yom HaBikurrim in Hebrew. It was
celebrated on the 6th of Sivan on first day of the week, a Sunday.
The Feast of Yom HaBikurrim
This feast is most often associated in the Christian Church with Easter.
The problem with this is that most of us know that Easter is not a Scriptural
term and is in fact pagan to the core because it originates from an ancient
pagan cult called Ishtar. It is outside the scope of this study to look at this
cult and it’s history, except to tell you that Easter, the Easter bunny and
Easter eggs has absolutely nothing to do with the feast of Yom HaBikurrim.
The feast of First Fruits is celebrated in the
month of Abib of which according to Scripture, the Father said Abib was to be
“the beginning of months” which is to be the head of the year. Exodus 12:2
Literally the beginning of the new year. Jewish Israel instead celebrate the
feast of Trumpets as the new year.
The Scriptural command for this feast is found in Leviticus 23:9-11.
“And the LORD (YAHWEH) spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the
children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you come into the land which I give
to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits
of your harvest to the priest. 'He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD
(YAHWEH), to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the
priest shall wave it.” Leviticus 23:9-11
The day of Firstfurits is today celebrated in
Israel shortly after Passover because there is no Temple in which the priest
can wave the omer or sheaf or present the proper offerings and because the
Passover and Unleavened bread overshadow it. Leviticus 23:11-14 tells us the
kinds of offerings YAHWEH expects to have presented to Him on the feast of
first fruits.
Of particular importance is what the priest did
on this day. On the Day of Firstfurits
the priest waved a sheaf of first fruits of the barley harvest before YAHWEH.
Let us now look at what the significance of this
feast is for us today.
1. First the term “firstfruits” speak of the
resurrection of our Messiah Yahushua. Yahushua’s resurrection is a type of
harvest. It marked the beginning of our Fathers harvest season. In the book of
Revelations Yahushua is referred to as the first born from the dead. “And from
Jesus Christ, (Yahushua) the faithful witness, the firstborn from the
dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.” Revelations 1:5 Saul in many
of his writing also referred to Yahushua as the firstborn. Refer to Romans
8:29,23
1 Corinthians 15:20,23 and Colossians 1:18.
2. Second the feast of firstfruits represents
the dead who were raised shortly after the resurrection. They are also
firstfruits. We read of this in Mathew 27:52-53 “and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who
had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His
resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” This
resurrection is depicted in the barley harvest that was bound together as
presented as sheaves.
3. Third it represents Yahushua as being the first born of ALL
things. He is first in every way. He is given first place in everything
because everything thing is summed up in Him. This is the message of Ephesians
1:10-11,23. But interestingly in many other Scriptures we see this pattern.
·
The firstborn of the Father Hebrews 1:6
·
The firstborn of every creature Colossians 1:15
·
The firstborn of Mary Mathew 1:23-25
·
The firstborn from the dead Revelations 1:5
·
The firstborn of many brethren Romans 8:28
·
He is also the Alpha and the Omega Revelations 1:8
·
The first and the last Isaiah 44:6
·
The Beginning and the end Revelations 21:6
·
He is also the head of the body Colossians 1:18-20
In a sense this feast speaks about new beginnings because it officially
marked the beginning of the Hebrew year.
4. Fourth the feast of firstfruits speaks of the best fruits of the
harvest. The first batch of the harvest was always considered to be the
best. That is why YAHWEH commanded that the first born of a man and beast belongs
to Him Exodus 13:2, 11-13, 22:29. Some
of the first fruits were presented to the priest and Levites Leviticus
19:23-25, Nehemiah 10:34-39. All the first fruits were to be offered with
thanksgiving and praise.
5. Fifth the picture of the priest standing
alone and waving a sheaf before YAHWEH speaks of our Messiah Yahushua. Who
is our priest according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 7:17 He alone
represents us before our Father. He alone is our advocate or representative in
heaven. The angels or Moses does not represent us in heaven only Yahushua being
our high priest represents us.
6. Sixth the feast of firstfruits represents
the spirit of giving. The firstfruits of the harvest was given to YAHWEH
and His priests and it was not sold. Also part of the barley harvest of first
fruits was set aside for the poor. This is in accordance with the Command of
YAHWEH in Leviticus 19:9,22 Deuteronomy 24:19-22. Israel was commanded to leave
the occasional forgotten sheaf and the gleanings of the harvest in the corners
of their fields so that they could be used to feed the stranger, the
fatherless, the widow and poor.
Again we see that all aspects of this feast is
fulfilled in our Messiah Yahushua. Therefore, we keep this feast in the light
of this understanding.
Next week we will examine the feast of Shavout
or Pentecost.
In last weeks study we looked at the middle feasts of the spring, the
feast of unleavened bread and feast of first fruits. These feasts are
celebrated one closely after the other. The feast of unleavened bread is
clearly a depiction of our Messiahs sinless life and our call to suffer as He
suffered for us. The feast of first fruits is a about His resurrection and our
promise of resurrection.
In this study we will look at the feast of Weeks, Shavout in the Hebrew
and Pentecost in the Greek. This is the last feast of the spring feasts and was
joyously celebrated because of its harvest aspect. This feast is called a high
Sabbath (an ascension feasts), or in the Hebrew a Shalosh Regalim - one of the
three required annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem. Deuteronomy 16:16, 2 Chronicles
8:13. We have a lot to cover in this lesson so I have dedicated this study to
this feast alone.
The Feast of Shavuot
The word Shavout in Hebrew means Weeks, which comes from the Hebrew word
“sheva”, the Hebrew word for the number seven, the number of completion and
perfection. This feast is closely associated with the number seven. Seven weeks
after the waving of the barley first fruits, Israel celebrated this feast in
late spring. This feast is also called the feast of the harvest of the First
Fruits. (Exodus 23:16, 34:22)
The Scriptural command for this feast is found in Leviticus 23:16-21
'Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall
offer a new grain offering to the LORD (YAHWEH). 'You shall bring from your
dwellings two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine
flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the firstfruits to the LORD
(YAHWEH). And you shall offer with the bread seven lambs of the first year,
without blemish, one young bull, and two rams. They shall be as a burnt
offering to the LORD (YAHWEH) with their grain offering and their drink
offerings, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma to the LORD
(YAHWEH).'Then you shall sacrifice one kid of the goats as a sin offering, and
two male lambs of the first year as a sacrifice of a peace offering. The priest shall wave them with the bread of
the firstfruits as a wave offering before the LORD (YAHWEH) with the two lambs.
They shall be holy to the LORD (YAHWEH) for the priest. And you shall proclaim
on the same day that it is a holy convocation to you. You shall do no customary
work on it. It shall be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your
generations.” Leviticus 23:16-21
In Christian circles this feast is called Pentecost from the Greek word
fifty because it is celebrated fifty days, after the Day of First Fruits. In
Hebrew this counting of fifty days is called “the counting of the Omer” or
Seirat HaOmer in Hebrew or Sefira for short. See Deuteronomy 16:9. In the
Church this feast is primarily associated with the coming of the Holy Spirit
(Ruach Hakodesh) and the birth of the Church.
In ancient Israel this feast was celebrated with a holy convocation
where all work would cease. During this feast Israelites males were required to
travel to Jerusalem to present the required wheat offerings in the temple.
Exodus 34:22-23 outlines the required offerings, which is one of wheat. In the
feast of first fruits or Birkkurim the first fruit offering is Barley.
The primary feature of this feast in ancient Israel was the waving of
the two loaves of leavened bread by the priest and the seven lambs of first
year that were sacrificed by the priest. A special note the bread presented in
this feast is leavened bread whereas the bread presented in the feast of
unleavened bread is unleavened. I will explain the significance of this later.
In Israel today this feast is associated with the giving of the Torah.
Since the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, the rabbis of that time decided
to associate it with the giving of the Torah to ensure its long term survival.
However, originally it was intended to be an agricultural festival, where the
first fruit of the harvest would be presented to YAHWEH as an offering
Leviticus 23:17-20.
1. First the two lambs and two leavened bread represent the two
entities of Israel. The number two is especially associated in Scripture
with the two fold division that occurred in Israel after the reign of Solomon
921 B.C where King David’s kingdom was split into two divisions. After that
division we see throughout the Scripture the following representations:
2. Second the two leavened bread speaks of disunity of the two houses
of Israel. In the Tabernacle of
Moses the Father instructed Moses to prepare twelve unleavened loaves of show
bread to be placed inside the tabernacle before Him on every Shabbat. Exodus
25:30 Leviticus 24:5-9 These twelve loaves were unleavened because they
represented the unity of the twelve tribes. In this feast the disunity of the
Israel is presented as a reminder before YAHWEH who is the only one who can
unify the two houses of Israel. Leaven we know symbolizes sin and both houses
have stumbled and fallen short over the one who brought the unity, our Messiah.
Isaiah 8:14, John 2:22 Romans 11:25. It is these two houses that comprise the
“ecclesia” in the Greek and “Kehela” in the Hebrew, which when correctly
translated in the English is called the assembly or congregation.
3. Third the seven lambs that were sacrificed is a prophetic picture
of a harvest of souls that would occur during this feast. In the feast of Passover a single lamb was
sacrificed of which represented our Messiah Yahushua but in this feast seven
lambs were sacrificed which represents the harvest of soul that would occur
during Shavout after Yahushua had died. Yahshua said, “Most assuredly, I say to
you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone;
but if it dies, it produces much grain.” John 12:24 The Scripture tells us that
on the day of Shavout three thousand souls were added to the Kehela or Ecclesia
(Assembly) because of Yahushua’s sacrifice.
4. Fourth the feast itself is a
representation of the marriage contract that was originally made at Sinai.
The first celebration of the feast of Shavout for Israel as a nation was at Mt
Sinai. What happened at Sinai was preceded by a covenantal relationship between
YAHWEH and Israel, a mutual commitment by the two parties pledging eternal
faithfulness, in the form of a marriage contract, in which Israel is depicted
as the bride and YAHWEH as the bride groom. That Marriage that took place at
Mount Sinai between the children of Israel and YAHWEH was sealed with words,
“we will do and we will hear.” Exodus 19:8 These words committed Israel to keep
YAHWEH’s commandments, Statutes, Ordinances and regulations forever and to all
generations. This particular feast resulted in the death of three thousand
Israelites, of which is symbolic of following the law without the Spirit.
5. Fifth the feast also
speaks of the renewing of the marriage covenant that was made at Sinai. Scripture records that Israel
broke the Sinai marriage covenant many times but YAHWEH promised that He would
not forsake His bride and that He would forgive them and renew His covenant
with them. This renewing occurred during the feast of Shavout at 33 AD. At
Sinai the terms of marriage contract, the Commandments was written on two
tablets of stone by YAHWEH and the ceremony was officiated by the priest Moses.
At Shavout 33 AD the Ruach (Spirit) came upon Israel and the law was written on
the hearts of Israel by the Spirit of YAHWEH in fulfillment of Jeremiah
31:33-34. At this feast Peter the Apostle was the priest that presided over the
ceremony.
6. Sixth the first fruits of the wheat harvest that was presented
during this feast represents the first and the best of the harvest.
Proverbs 3:9 &10 commands all Israel to honor YAHWEH with their substance
and the first fruit of their increase. The feast marks the time when Israelites
brought the whole tithe into YAHWEH’s storehouse, that there might be meat
(physical and spiritual food) in His store house. Malachi 3:10 Therefore, He
promised them that He would rebuke the devourer for their sake and pour out
such a blessing that they would not be able to contain it. Malachi 3:10-11 The
condition was that they would bring Him the best and the first of their harvest,
the rest they did with as they pleased.
Many of the representation shown above were fulfilled on the day of
Shavout or Pentecost. Thus, it is no longer necessary for us to celebrate this
feast in the manner of which the ancients Israelites observed this feast. Many
of the requirements, the offerings and sacrifices shown in this feast were done
in the temple and by the Levitical priesthood of which were discontinued with
the destruction of the temple.
However, some of the patterns observed in this feast have been adapted
by both the Jewish and Israelite movement. These traditions are again purely
mandatory and must be lead by Ruach Hakodesh. In the Israelite movement the
waving of the two leavened loaves is performed by a leader or rabbi and an offering
is collected on this day. Many of principals used in this feast, like the
principle of first fruits and the principle of harvest are now practiced by
Church.
Before I finish I would like to now briefly explain some of the
controversies regarding certain understandings of what happened during this
feast.
Some facts that we need to
know and understand about Shavout
1. Shavout was always celebrated in the temple. The traditional belief
that Ruach Hakodesh fell in the upper room is a misunderstanding of the Greek
word “oikos”
which also means temple. It would not have been possible for Shavout to
be celebrated in any other place other than temple because it would be against
Torah. Deuteronomy 16:10-11 commands that this feast be celebrated on Mt Moriah
where the Temple is located and frankly it is impossible for three thousand
people to fit into an upper room scenario.
2. Shavout is the birthday of YAHWEH’s renewed Kehela or Ecclesia
(Assembly)
Yahushua said that He would build a renewed Kehela. See Mathew 16:18 The
Church claims that they are this renewed Entity and that Israel has now been
replaced. It not possible that two assemblies were born on this day, it would
be a violation of Scripture if YAHWEH would form a new entity during this
feast. Basically this would mean that YAHWEH would have two brides and two
chosen people, one called Israel and the other called the Church. This would
clearly mean that YAHWEH is practicing spiritual adultery and He would be
violating His own Word because there is only one chosen people and one bride.
3. Shavout is the place where YAHWEH renewed the great commission. The
great commission of Mathew 28:19-20 was renewed during the feast of Shavout. In
the Shavout of Sinai, Israel was given a divine mandate to take the Torah to
all of mankind but they fell short of this task because of disobedience. Hence
why YAHWEH then dispersed them but instead of fulfilling their task, they
planted religion and legalism where they went. Thus, when Yahushua came He
specifically instructed His disciples that they were to preach and teach the
message of the Kingdom of YAHWEH Matthew 4:23, 9:35, 24:14, Luke 4:43 A mandate that has not
been completed to this day.
4. Shavout is not about the first coming of Ruach Hakodesh. The Spirit of
YAHWEH has always been on the Earth from the beginning, we see His presence in
Genesis, (Genesis 1:2) over the prophets and during Israel’s journeys. His
presence on Earth did not begin another dispensation but it merely marked the
turning of the Ruach from one house to both houses of Israel including the
gentiles. The Spirit was given to so that the work of re-gathering Israel and
the remnant could be accelerated to the four corners of the globe where YAHWEH
had scattered His people and His remnant.
The essence of the commission is the reuniting of these Israel into ONE
kingdom.
5. Shavout is not about speaking in tongues. Tongues was given as a sign
that the Ruach Hakodesh had descended upon His people but the feast itself is
not about speaking in Tongues. We know from Scripture that during this feast
many Israelites and gentiles from all over the nations had converged upon
Jerusalem (Acts 2:5-9), so when the Rauch came they heard them speak
supernaturally in their native tongues, signifying that the Ruach would mend
the disunity among mankind that had come from the division of towel of Babel,
when YAHWEH had confused mans tongue. It is interesting that the same tongues
of fire that was manifested at the 33 AD Shavout was also present at the Sinai
Shavout Deuteronomy 4:36.
6. Shavout is not about the giving of the Torah. We know that only the
Ten Commandments was given during this feast and that the five Books of the
Torah was given much later and it was placed along side the Ark of the
Covenant, whereas the Tablets of the Ten Commandments were placed inside the
Ark. Deuteronomy 31:26-27 The Commandments are the actual terms of the marriage
contract and is summed up in the two commandments that Yahushua gave us, which
is to love YAHWEH with all of your heart and to love your neighbor as your
self. Thus, if we love in this manner we also fulfill this feast.
Next week we will look at the feast of Trumpets and the Day of
Atonement.
THE MOEDIM (FEASTS) OF YAHWEH
In our previous study we looked at the feast of Shavout. This is the
last feast of the spring season and is a very popular feast in Israel. Shavout
we saw in all of its essence was fulfilled during the feast of 33 AD, following
the death of our Messiah Yahushua. Never the less we continue to celebrate this
feast because of it foreshadows the reunification of all Israel and the final
harvest at the end of the age.
In this study we will look at the of feast of Trumpets and the Day of
Atonement
These feasts are called Yom Teruah and Yom HaKippurim in the Hebrew and
are called the “High Holy (set apart) Days.” They are most solemn of all feasts
in Jewish life because of what they imply. Their focus is on preparing Israel
to meet YAHWEH their maker on the Day of Judgment. They were celebrated over a
ten day period during the fall of the year.
These deciding days are often called the “Ten Days of Awe” in Hebrew
understanding because they are times of self examination and self repentance.
The Scripture teach us that it is “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands
of the living God (Elohim).” In Psalms 67:4 and 96:13 we are told that YAHWEH
will judge all the inhabitants of the earth most likely on this day.
These two feasts differ from the others in that they are not centered on
agriculture.
These
feasts occur in the month of Tishri (September/October) which is the seventh
month of the Hebrew year. Seven is related to completion and this feast along
with the Day of Atonement and Tabernacles completes the fall feasts which tell
of the completion of our walk and the completion of the Fathers work on
Earth.
The Feast of Yom Teruah
Yom
Teruah means day of blowing hence why it is called the feast of trumpets or
Zikron Teruach which means a memorial of blowing. Leviticus 23:24 The word
“Teruah” means “a alarm, a signal, a sound of tempest, a shout of joy or a
blast of war. Yom Teruah is the only feast that fell on the first of the month.
It fell during the dark or the first silver of the new moon. All other feasts
fell during the middle of the month during the time of the full moon when it
was light.
In
Jewish tradition this feast is also known as Rosh HaShannah meaning the head of
the Year. In Israel this feast marks the beginning of there New Year however;
this practice is not supported by Scripture. The Father said that the month of
Abib Exodus 12:2 is the beginning of the year.
Judaism
defends its position on two Scriptures in Exodus 23:16 and 34:22. A careful
study of these Scriptures shows that they in fact refer to the end of the seven
month long lunar cycle, which refers to the monthly rotation of the moon around
the earth which marked the period of these feasts. It is suggested by
Historians that this digression in Judah occurred during the Babylonian
captivity where this feast became associated with the Babylonian New Year which
occurred during this month.
The Scriptural command for this feast is found in Leviticus 23:23-25
“Then the LORD (YAHWEH) spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the
children of Israel, saying: 'In the seventh month, on the first day of the
month, you shall have a Sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy
convocation. 'You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an
offering made by fire to the LORD (YAHWEH).'”
This feast is a Sabbath day therefore no work was permitted to be done
on this day.
How this feast was to be commemorated is found in Numbers 10:1-10
Specifically the priests were to blow two trumpets made from sliver hammered
work and they were to be used only to: Gather the Assembly (Verse 2), move the
camp (Verse 5), prepare for war (Verse 9) and celebrate the feasts (Verse
10).
1. First the two trumpets represent the dual work of the Son and Spirit in proclaiming
the goods news of the Gospel of the Kingdom. In the New Covenant we see this partnership unfolding in the life of
the Messiah where He would not begin His commission until He was baptized with
the Ruach (Spirit). Matthew 3:16 Likewise we see this same relationship
unfolded when the Messiah commissioned His disciples. He instructed them ‘to
wait for the Spirit if truth to come and after they were baptized by the Spirit
of truth they would receive power to be His witnesses to the ends of the Earth’
John 15:26, Acts 1:8 This commission occurred during the feast of Sukkot.
2. Second the two trumpets represent two Witnesses. We have already
touched on this aspect during the last feast. What is significant here is that
these two trumpets represent the two witnesses, which depict two voices
(Revelations 1:10 Isaiah 43:10) In Isaiah 58:1the message of the trumpets is
made known, “Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My
people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins.” Historically
there have been two groups whom have been giving voice to the Earth concerning
the above message; Jews and Christians. However, prophetically this is about to
change as YAHW EH reveals to the Church her real identity in Israel.
3. Third the two trumpets foreshowed things to come. The trumpets were to be made of one piece of
hammered sliver Numbers 10:2 which symbolize refinement and redemption.
Hammered trumpets tell us of the Father molding process through affliction. The
Father said of the two witnesses that ‘He would refine them (Jeremiah 9:7) in
order to refine, purge and make them pure, until the end time (Daniel 11:35)
and it will be like the refinement of sliver (Zechariah 13:9) so that Israel
will be as an offering of righteousness (Malachi 3:3).
4. Fourth the two trumpets speak
of the two fold message of the Torah. The first aspect of the Torah being
its judgment (its law side) and the other being its pardon (its mercy side).
What the Church calls law and grace. Our Messiah came to re-establish the law
of YAHWEH and offer the pardon of YAHWEH. He said, “Do not think that I came to
destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”
Mathew 5:17 In other words to correctly establish the Law. In another passage
He also said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they
do." Luke 23:34
5. Fifth the blast from two
trumpets speaks of the coming judgment of YAHWEH. The two trumpets were
blown as a warning to Israel to consecrate themselves because they were about
to meet their maker and judge. Yahushua being the trumpet Himself warned Israel
that "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which
judges him; the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” John
12:48
6. Sixth the blast of the two trumpets speaks of the last trumpet
before the Messiah returns. Many believe that the Messiah will return
during the feast of trumpets.
In Christian circles this feast is most significant because of its
association with the last trumpet. The Apostle Saul referred to the last
trumpet as the moment where all believers will be resurrected, which is when
the Messiah returns, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:52
In Jewish households this feast is celebrated with the reading of the
Torah. This practice comes from the time of Ezra when the Torah was read before
the Assembly during this feast. See Nehemiah 7:73-8:1-6 Messianic Israelites
also read the Torah during this feast and blew the two silver trumpets as a
call to Ephraim and Judah to unite.
The Feast of Yom HaKippurim
Yom
HaKippurim means Day of Atonement. The word Kippur means to cover, expiate,
cancel, cleanse, forgive, pardon, to make reconciliation. This feast is about
Israel having her sins pardoned or atoned through the offering of the
sacrificial blood.
Leviticus
16 is entirely dedicated to the details of this feast. This feast was celebrated
on Tishri 10 which corresponds to late September or early October in our
Gregorian Calendar.
The
feast of Yom HaKippurim is regarded as the most awesome day in the year.
It
also fell on the Sabbath and no work was permitted to be done on this day but
it was also considered to be more than a Sabbath in that it was a time to
humble the soul. Leviticus 16:29-31. The word humble as used in this Scripture
is translated from the word “anah” which means to abase, afflict or chasten.
Most who honour this feast fast for 24 hours, from sunset to sunset, a
celebratory meal was often eaten the day before Yom HaKippurim begins. In Acts
27:9 this feast is called “the fast.” However, how we should fast, should be
led by Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit).
The Scriptural command for this feast is found in Leviticus 23:26-32
“And the LORD (YAHWEH) spoke to Moses, saying: "Also the tenth day
of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy
convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made
by fire to the LORD (YAHWEH). "And you shall do no work on that same day,
for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD
(YAHWEH) your God. "For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same
day shall be cut off from his people."And any person who does any work on
that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. "You
shall do no manner of work; it shall be a statute forever throughout your
generations in all your dwellings." It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn
rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at
evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your Sabbath.”
The most astounding factor of this feast is the High Priest who was
gloriously dressed on this day and the solemn work he did in the temple on this
day. Only one time in the year was the high priest permitted to enter the most
set apart place or the holy or holies and it was on this day. Two particular sacrifices were also made on
this day, the unblemished goat that was sacrificed and the unblemished goat
that was released on this day.
With the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD the animal sacrifices of
which this feast was based were discontinued. Thus, Yom HaKippurim is celebrated in Israel
today with many customs. Some customs that have been inherited through the ages
include sacrificial prayers, avoiding washing oneself for pleasure and
cohabitation, the wearing of leather shoes, anointing the body, avoiding any
pleasurable practices.
One particular custom that men do is called Tashlich. In this custom men
congregate around a pool of water where they symbolically empty there pockets
and stones (representing sin) are cast into pool of water. This custom is based
on Micah 7:19. Also during this feast many wear white as symbol of purity. As a
tradition the book of Jonah is read at this time because of its theme of
repentance.
1. First the High Priest who presided over this feast clearly represents our
Messiah Yahushua. In the book of Hebrews Saul tells us “… Christ came as High Priest of the good
things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with
hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves,
but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having
obtained eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:11-12 It is Clear that the High Priest
in this feast represents our Messiah Yahushua.
2. Second the goat that was slain by the High Priest during this feast
represents our Messiah Yahushua. After
the high priest atoned for his own sins and those of his family by the blood of
the bull (Leviticus 16:6, 11-14), the goat which had been designated for YAHWEH
was brought to him. The high priest then slaughtered this goat, and its blood
was used to purify the most set apart place. Saul clearly shows us who this
goat represents: “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come,
with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not
of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his
own blood he entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained
eternal redemption.” Hebrew 9:11
3. Third the goat that was released by the High Priest also depicts
our Messiah Yahushua. This second
goat is called the scapegoat and was not killed but was sent into the
wilderness or desert where tradition states it was backed off over a cliff to
its death. The goat was taken to
a ravine, thought by some scholars to be a precipice about 12 miles east of
Jerusalem. It was on this goat that the High Priest laid his hands and
transferred the sins of Israel. Scripture tells us
that Yahushua was both cut off from the land of the living and He was taken outside
the camp. Isaiah 53:4-9, Hebrews 13:11-12 Thus, David wrote, “As far as the
east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm
103:12 Their is an alternative
understanding to this position which I present in this next point.
4. Fourth the goat that was released by the High Priest may also
represent the rebellion of Satan that led to mans downfall. The name of the goat that was released on
this day is Azazel, which means “belligerent
towards God (el)" or destroyer. In Hebrew Azazel also represents the
rebellious Malak or angel that taught men the art of war and refining metals
that caused YAHWEH to destroy the earth during the time of Noah. In the
Apocrypha Enoch 10:8 YAHWEH “ascribes” or places upon Azazel the sins of men
because he taught men to rebel against YAHWEH and to destroy each other.
According to the book of Enoch Azazel is imprisoned in the desert in a place
called the abyss until during the tribulation, where he will be released for a
short time to destroy men then he will be cast into the eternal lake of fire
forever? Revelations 9
5. Fifth the Golden Censor that
was taken by the High Priest into the most set apart place represents the
prayers of Yahushua and the saints. The temple had no windows therefore the
High Priest had to use an artificial light, the Golden Censor to illuminate his
way in the most set apart place; this caused smoke to rise in the chamber. The
smoke from the Golden Censer represents the prayers of our High Priest Yahushua
who is ever interceding for us. Psalm 141:2, Romans 8:34, 1 Timothy 2:5,
Hebrews 7:24-25 1 John 2:1 It also speaks of the prayers of the saints.
Revelations 5:8, 8:1-5 Any seasoned prayer warrior knows that it is prayer that
will take us “behind the veil.” It is in Prayer that we find mercy and
forgiveness.
6. Sixth the white linen garments that the High Priest dressed in
represents the righteousness of Yahushua. This righteousness the Apostle
Saul explains is imputed righteousness that comes only through faith in Yahushua.
Romans 4:5, 10:10 Philippians 3:9 This is the summation of the Day of
Atonement. It points us to the righteousness that comes by faith through our
Messiah Yahushua and not by works of the law. Thus, we are able to understand
David’s prayer “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I
shall be whiter than snow.” Psalms 51:7
Again we see that all aspects of this feast are
fulfilled in our Messiah Yahushua. Therefore, we must keep this feast in the
light of this understanding.
Next week we will look at the last feast of Fall, the feast of
Tabernacle of which will conclude our series on the Moedim of YAHWEH.
In our last study we examined the Feast of Yom Teruah and the Feast of Yom HaKippurim or
what we call in English the feast of feast of Trumpets and the Day of
Atonement. We learn in that study that these two feasts are the most solemn of
the YAHWEH’s feasts because of what they imply. Their focus is on preparing
Israel to meet YAHWEH their maker on the Day of Judgment.
In this study we will look at the final feast of the seven feasts, the
feast of Sukkot. Commonly known as the feast Tabernacles, Booths or Ingathering
and less commonly known as the Feast of feasts of Nations or the Feast of
Lights. Sukkot falls in the seventh month on 15th day of Tishri and
lasts for seven days after the fall fruit harvest.
After the sober times of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement, this autumn
feast which came 5 days later was celebrated with much joy and festivities.
Thus, Tabernacles is thought to be the feast of feasts. Tabernacle is one of
the three great pilgrimage festivals called Shalosh Regalim in Hebrew, where
all males are required to appear before YAHWEH in Jerusalem with an offering.
The Feast of Sukkot
Sukkot means
a temporary shelter or abode hence why it is called a booth. The people of
ancient Israel made these tabernacles from leafy branches and sticks. These
booths were built every where-against walls, buildings, in open court yards, on
roof tops etc (See Nehemiah 8:16)
The
Father commanded that Israel celebrate this feast by dwelling in these
temporary shelters for seven days. He wanted them to remember that their
forefathers had to dwell in booths made from tree branches after they left
Egypt.
The Scriptural command for this feast is found in Leviticus 23:33-43
“Then the LORD (YAHWEH) spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the
children of Israel, saying: 'The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be
the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD (YAHWEH).'On the first day
there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. 'For
seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD (YAHWEH). On
the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an
offering made by fire to the LORD (YAHWEH). It is a sacred assembly, and you
shall do no customary work on it. 'These are the feasts of the LORD (YAHWEH)
which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by
fire to the LORD (YAHWEH), a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice
and drink offerings, everything on its day; 'besides the Sabbaths of the LORD
(YAHWEH), besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your
freewill offerings which you give to the LORD (YAHWEH). 'Also on the fifteenth
day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you
shall keep the feast of the LORD (YAHWEH) for seven days; on the first day
there shall be a Sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a Sabbath-rest. 'And you
shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees,
branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook;
and you shall rejoice before the LORD (YAHWEH) your God for seven days.
'You shall keep it as a feast to the LORD (YAHWEH) for seven days in the
year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it
in the seventh month. 'You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are
native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 'that your generations may know that I
made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land
of Egypt: I am the LORD (YAHWEH) your God.'”
This feast is also mentioned in Exodus 34:22. Why this feast is
sometimes called the Feast of Nations is because of the prophecy of Zechariah,
where Zechariah had spoken that this feast would be restored during the
millennium and it would become compulsory for every nation to come to it or
they would not have any rain. Zechariah 14:16. Note this prophecy refers only
to those nations that are considered to be rebels against YAHWEH’s laws and not
against those nations who keep YAHWEH’s law.
Why it is sometimes called the Feast of Lights is in commemoration of
the pillar of fire that led the people of Israel by night. In ancient Israel
women would light huge golden menorahs whose wicks had been made from the
braided set apart garments of the priest that had been worn the previous years
and then discarded. These menorahs shed enough light to illuminate the courts
yards where the booths were built and the city of Jerusalem.
Among other traditions that were done during this week is a tradition
called Simchat Beit Hashoeivah, the water drawing celebration. This tradition
commemorated the drawing of the water from the rock at Horeb Exodus 17:1-7. It
was also a prayerful appeal for winter rains that would water the crops and
provide for a plentiful spring harvest. The priests would draw one jar of water
for each day of the feast until the seventh day when seven priests drew seven
jars of water. Each day the jar of water was poured on the Alter, while palm
branches were waved and silvery notes were played by the priests. Others priest
would recite certain Psalms and Isaiah 12:2-3 was chanted as the main
dedication prayer.
Like most of the other feasts Sukkot also started on a Sabbath day,
therefore, no work was permitted to be done on this day. However, work could be
done over the next 6 days but generally people took the whole week off to
celebrate Sukkot.
However, you might have noticed after the seventh day, on the eight day
(See verse 36) YAHWEH set aside this day as another Sabbath day where no work
was to be done. In Hebrew this day is considered a separate feast called
Shemini Atzeret. I will explain this feast briefly at the end of this
study.
1. First booths represent the temporal nature of our life on this earth. Indeed the teachings of our Messiah reminded of this truth. He
said in Mathew 6:19-20 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; "but lay
up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and
where thieves do not break in and steal.” He also called the rich man who laid
up for himself treasurers on this Earth “fool.” Luke 12:20.
2. Second booths represents our Messiah Yahushua who tabernacles with us on
Earth. In John 1:14 it says “And the Word became flesh and dwelt
among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the
Father, full of grace and truth.” The
word “dwelt” as used here is translated from the Greek word “skenoo” which
means to tent or encamp in other words to tabernacle. The living word became
flesh and tabernacles among us, just as it was foretold in the Torah and the
Prophets.
According to another Jewish tradition a prayer was recited on the first
day of the feast that says, “Glory to God in the Heavens and on earth peace and
good will towards the earths,” These words are similar to the words spoken by
the Malak or angel when Yahushua was born. Luke 2:14
3. Third the booths represent the birth of our Messiah Yahushua. We know from both the historical, Scriptural
and astronomical records that our Messiah was born during the feast of Sukkot.
Three principle proofs confirm this; first the timing of the duties of the
priest Zacharia the father of John the Baptist confirm that Yahushua was conceived
shortly after the term he served as priest in the temple, the date of his
duties is known to Bible scholars. Luke 1:26 Second the Scripture confirms that
there was no room anywhere in Israel for Mary and Joseph to stay because of
this feast. Luke 2:7 and finally the Scripture confirm that a great star was
seen in the heavens. Mathew 2:1-2 Astronomers have determined that a
conjunction of three stars occurred during this period in the years 5 B.C to 7
B.C.
4. Fourth the alternative name for
this feast, the Feast of Lights represents our Messiah Yahushua as the Light of
the World. In John 9:5 Yahushua clearly revealed Himself as the light of
the world. He said, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the
world." He then tells His disciples that they too are lights in this
world. Mathew 5:14 “You are the light of the world.” The Apostle Paul
understood this truth because he reminded the Kehela at Philippi that they are
called lights in this world. “that you may become blameless and harmless, children
of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among
whom you shine as lights in the world” Philippians 2:15
5. Fifth the priestly
custom of gathering water to pour over the alter at this feast is
representative of Messiah Yahushua as the water of life. It was during this
feast that Yahushua said these words, “On the last day, that great day of the
feast, Jesus (Yahushua) stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts,
let him come to Me and drink. "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has
said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:37-38 It is a
practice among Jews that on the seventh day of this feast that Psalm 118:25 is
read, which is a cry for mercy. This is called Hoshannah Rabbah (the great Hossana)
which is why Yahushua revealed Himself during this feast as the water of
life.
6. Sixth the feast of Tabernacle as a whole speaks about the final
harvest and Millennium reign of our Messiah. This feast was the last harvest of the year and generally was the
greatest harvest. This prophetically
foreshows the great harvest of souls that will happen prior to and during the
tribulation. We see this harvest pictured here in Revelation 7:9-10 The prophet
Joel spoke of the multitudes of people during this period that are in the
valley of decision that would be harvested during this time. “Multitudes,
multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD (YAHWEH) is near
in the valley of decision. Joel 3:14 This tribulation harvest end with the start
of the millennial reign of our Messiah.
Matthew 24:29-31
Again we must conclude that all aspects of this
feast with the exception of number six are fulfilled in our Messiah Yahushua.
Therefore, we must also keep this feast in the light of this understanding.
In Israel and among Messianic Israelites around
the World this feast is still celebrated today with the construction of
Sukkots. Jewish families generally take the entire week off as a holiday to
fellowship with one another and the week is celebrated with lots of meals. Many
Christians from around the world travel to Israel to celebrate this feast. It
is one of the most popular times to go to Israel.
Before I finish let me just explain a few things about Shemini Atzeret
or the Eight Day. The Eight day speaks of eternity, it foretells the Fathers
plan to spend eternity with Israel. The Messianic age is a definite period of
time but Shemini Atzeret represents a Day that is beyond time. In Hebrew the
word for eight or Shemini comes from Shemoneh which indicates the idea of
plumpness as if a surplus above the prefect seven. The perfect Millennial
Kingdom will be rounded out with the fullness of the Eight Day when the New
Jerusalem comes down and the Father forevermore dwells among us. Revelations 3:12,
21:2; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28.
Other significances of the eight day in Scripture are:
·
Children we circumcised on the eighth Leviticus 12:3
·
Oxen and sheep had to be with their mothers for seven days and on the
eight day they could be offered to the Holy One. Exodus 22:30, Leviticus 22:27
·
Alters were dedicated on the eight day.
·
Priest were consecrated for seven days then presented on the eight day.
·
Lepers and lambs were presented on this day and other imperfections were
made pure on the eight day.
All of these examples reveal the importance of the eight day.
Conclusion
It would be appropriate to finish our study with a short recap of the
feasts and why we must keep them.
There are eight main feasts of the Torah.
These feasts are important to us because:
1 The Torah calls these feasts, the feasts of
YAHWEH.
2 The Torah commands ALL Israelites to
observe these feasts.
3 The Torah commands that these feasts are to
be observed FOREVER.
4 The Torah commands that these feasts are to
be kept HOLY (qodesh).
5 The Torah calls that these
feasts CELEBRATIONS or festivals (holidays).
6 The Torah calls these feasts REHERSALS.
This concludes our series on the Moedim of YAHWEH.
YAHWEH Bless You!
Israel’s Feasts and their
Fullness Batya Ruth Wooten Saint Cloud
Florida 2002
Interpreting the Symbols and
Types Kevin J Conner City Bible Publishing Portalnd Oregon 1992
Why do we Celebrate the
Biblical Feasts Hebraic Roots an Introductory Study
The Feats of YHWH
refeclection on the Moedim for Judah and Ephraim Biblical Holidays by Rabbi
Mordechai Am Echad Messiaci Ministries Press
The Goat for Azazel Bryan T.
Huie September 28, 1998
When was Christ Resurrected Bryan T.
Huie
May 10, 1999
The Sabbath vs Sunday Bryan T. Huie
April 15, 1997