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Feast of Unleavened Bread
April 19, 2011

Leavening, substances used to cause bread doughs to rise, is mostly used in the Bible to figuratively describe sin. Leavening cause bread to appear bigger and than it is as air pockets form in the dough causing the dough to rise. Similarly, sin can cause the sinner to appear bigger than life. One only needs to looks at a iconic pop figure whose life has gone astray to understand this concept. Occasional other figurative uses of the word appear in the Bible, such as when leaven is used to describe the Kingdom of God. The first of the annual Holy Days listed in the Bible is the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and to be specific, the first day of the feast. Often thought to be a non-requirement on modern Christianity, first-century apostolic Christians, and I include myself in this number, view the Holy Days as a requirement on Christians today, and this includes the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Because leaven is used figuratively to describe sin, the Feast of Unleavened Bread can be construed to advocate a life that is free of sin and the limitations that arise from a life based in sin. Notice what Jesus taught his disciples as recorded in the gospel according to Luke.

Luke 12:1-3
In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

Hypocrisy is identified by Jesus as the leaven of the Pharisees. While able to live a live in compliance with their understanding of the Law of God and do so using exacting measures, the Pharisees were not sincere in their practice. They were hypocrites. A similar account is recorded in the gospel according to Matthew, and in this account another group is included by Jesus.

Matthew 16:6-12
Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

In addition to hypocrisy, the account in Matthew adds doctrine as a type of leaven. To some, as it was to the Pharisees and Sadducees, the teachings themselves were what caused sin. Some become so wrapped up in the teachings, that these individuals focus solely on learning, and never apply what it is taught. There is tremendous knowledge, and no application of that knowledge. These individuals have a form of godliness, and deny its power. As we observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and understand that leaven can be equated to hypocrisy even when there is a strong understanding of the teachings of the Bible, we celebrate during these days the desire to live a life free of hypocrisy, and rather to live a life based in sincerity and truth. It was with the knowledge, that Paul, a former Pharisee was able to give direction to the Corinthians.

I Corinthians 5:6-8
Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

As a former Pharisee, Paul understood the exact nature of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, and this is why he urged the Corinthians to keep the feast and equated unleavened bread to sincerity and truth. This verse also shows the first century apostolic church observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread and is why I and many like me continue to observe the feast annually. In addition to the hypocrisy, Paul equated leaven with malice and wickedness, so as we begin to understand what the Feast of Unleavened Bread is about, we see that this is a celebration that begins the banishment of all that is evil as we know it on earth. So what is the historical account of the Feast of Unleavened Bread?

Leviticus 23:5-8
In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD�S passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

Although unleavened bread must be eaten instead of leavened bread for the duration of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, it is only the first and seventh day that are Holy Days. The calendar used in the Bible is different than our calendar today. In 2011, the first day of Unleavened Bread begins at sunset on Monday April 18, and continues through sunset on Tuesday April 19. The seventh day of Unleavened Bread begins at sunset on Sunday April 24, and continues through sunset on Monday April 25. These are annual Sabbaths, and are not days for work. Rather these are days to celebrate a life free from hypocrisy, malice, and wickedness. These are types of evil, and evil is what causes suffering for mankind. To prepare for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, there is a requirement to remove leavening and leavened bread from one�s house. Some groups of first-century apostolic Christians have created a doctrine on what this means to them that to me equates to what Jesus taught when warning about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Bible teaches more in the Book of Exodus as this celebration occurred with the Exodus from Egypt by the Children of Israel.

Exodus 12:15-20
Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

These verses explain a greater understanding of this celebration. By the first day all leaven and leavened bread is to be removed from the house. Some groups of first-century apostolic Christians have established an understanding which might as well be a doctrine that one is sinful unless they completely spring-clean their home, as even a tiny bread crumb might have been carried by an ant onto an attic rafter. The groups sadly worship their observance of this Holy Day rather than observe the Holy Day and worshipping God. It is sufficient to remove leaven and leavened bread from our house to the best of our knowledge without the need to feel guilty. Some also believe there is a need to eat unleavened bread each day during the week. The command is to eat nothing leavened, and the replacement behavior of eating unleavened bread is given in verse 18. To interpret verse 18 literally would require one to do nothing for the duration of the feast except to eat unleavened bread, and there is no recorded history to substantiate this understanding. It is sufficient to eat unleavened bread instead of leavened bread whenever bread is eaten. These verses add that preparation of food is permitted on the Sabbaths, whether these are weekly or annual Sabbaths.

For those observing the Feast of Unleavened Bread, I extend to you a desire for a joyous Feast, and wish peace to those who may disagree with the need to observe the Holy Days or in their observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
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