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STUDY ON PASSOVER, UNLEAVENED BREAD, AND YAHSHUA'S LAST CHAGIGAH SUPPER Adapted and updated from a study by Frank Brown and Michael Mastropaolo This is a subject that seems to have no end of conflicting opinions, and has caused more than one heated argument between sincere brothers over the years. The most prevalent view among those who observe the Holy Days used to be that the Passover lamb of Exodus 12 was to be killed "between the evenings," meaning, to them, between sunset and dark of Abib 14, as Abib 13 ended. According to this view, it was then cooked and eaten that same night, and the death angel passed over at midnight. The people then spent the daylight part of the 14th "spoiling" the Egyptians before leaving as dark came on, ushering in the Days of Unleavened Bread beginning with the High Sabbath of the 15th, with the 21st being the last Holy Day. Most those of the Churches of God tradition believe and practice this. They also keep a "night to be much observed" at the beginning of the 15th to commemorate the Israelites' leaving Egypt. Most of the "Sacred Name" groups with whom I am familiar still follow this scenario except for the "night to be much observed," which they seem to ignore. A few others hold the view that the 14th and the 20th are the Holy Days, thinking that if we count the 14th as a "day of unleavened bread," we would then have eight days instead of the scriptural seven, if the Feast ended on the 21st. Some reason that because Yahshua ate the Memorial Supper with His disciples, this had to be the Passover meal, and that the Yahudi "couldn't count," so kept it a day late. One man wrote a long article in which he declared that the Savior "just this once" broke the law and kept it a day early, since He would be dead the next night, and could not, of course, keep it then. But we know that He never broke the law, not even once! More and more individuals and groups are coming to understand the events surrounding these days as we have come to understand them, after literally years of investigation and study. As you will see, we believe the Scriptures reveal a different picture than any of those painted above. So, just where does the truth lie? Can we know? Everyone says that his way is the correct way. Some think that just because "we have always done it this way," or Mr. Soandso taught this or that, that their own particular way is right. Or, they do a quick study and make far-reaching conclusions that won't hold water on closer examination. The Set-Apart Spirit will guide us into truth if we will let it. But it will not drag us, kicking and screaming, against our will. Please, before you read any further, go somewhere and pray. Ask Yahweh to show you the truth. If these conclusions are right, as we think they are, you should change your way of keeping these days. If we are wrong, we want to know, so we can change. But let it be from the Scriptures. So let us begin: 1. When is Passover? Exodus 12:6 states that it is the 14th of the first month. Leviticus 23:5 verifies this. Numbers 28:16 has the same witness, as does Ezra 6:19-20. 2. What is Passover? It is the sacrifice; the lamb, goat, or later, Yahshua the Messiah, and not the meal itself. See Exodus 12:6, 11, 21, 27. You do not kill a meal or a day. See also Deuteronomy 16:2, 5, 6. The sacrificial victim is the Passover. It is not the day or the meal. In Ezra 6:21, they killed the Passover. 2 Chronicles 35:1 (killed), 6 (kill), 11 (killed), 13 (roasted). This was done on the 14th of Abib, the first month of the year. 3. When does the Feast of Unleavened Bread begin? Leviticus 23:6, the 15th of the first month. Numbers 28:17, the 15th of the first month. I know some who think this is the second day of the Feast. Please compare Deuteronomy 16:3 with Numbers 33:3. The day to begin Unleavened Bread is the 15th, the day the Israelites left Egypt. They prepared on the 14th. The 14th of Nisan is the day when the Yahudi put leavening out of their homes, as YHWHcommanded, so they could celebrate the seven days of unleavened bread. YHWH commanded, "In the first month, on the 14th day of the month AT EVEN (at evening, the ending portion of the day -- compare Leviticus 23:32), ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month AT EVEN" (Exodus 12:18-20). No leaven was to be seen with them for the seven days of the feast (Exo. 13:6-7). Thus the leavening had to be put out on the 14th day of the month, as the 15th was the first day of the festival (Leviticus 23:6-7). What, then, was the 14th of Nisan? In Exodus 12:6 we read that on the 14th of Nisan the children of Israel were to SLAY the Passover lambs. "And ye shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation shall KILL it in the evening" (Heb., "between the two evenings"). Notice! The Passover lambs were to be killed in the evening of Nisan 14. That means toward the END of Nisan 14, or late afternoon. The "evening" of a day is not its beginning, but its ending, before sunset (see Exodus 12:18, Leviticus 23:32). In these verses, notice that the Feast of Unleavened Bread begins at the "evening" of the 14th of Nisan (leading into the high set-apart day of the 15th); likewise, the Day of Atonement, which is the tenth day of the seventh month, began "in the ninth day of the month AT EVEN" (Lev. 23:32). What does this tell us? Simply that although the actual festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread BEGAN with the 15th of Nisan and lasted through the 21st of Nisan, the 14th of Nisan was a vital, integral part of the festival! It was the day when the leavening had to be put out of the houses, and the day the Passover lambs -- necessary for the feast -- had to be killed! It is not reasonable to suppose that Yahweh would tell us the Feast of Unleavened Bread is the 15th, if that was the second day of the Feast, and not the first. This belief sprang up to justify or make fit another misconception many have, that the 14th is a day of Unleavened Bread, and to count through the 21st would make 8 days of unleavened bread. This belief also came from the mistake about the "evenings." It is assumed that "at even" or "between the evenings" means at sundown, or between sunset and dark. However, this is not so. The Scriptures are consistent. Yahshua said, "Scripture cannot be broken." Yahweh is a precise Being. If there are inconsistencies, they are the result of mistranslation, or men putting their own ideas into them when translating. This mistake has caused many to prepare on the 13th, and begin eating unleavened bread at the beginning of the 14th. But the 14th is the Scriptural preparation day for the Feast. It is the day that leaven is removed from our homes, and the day the Israelites killed the Passover and prepared it for the Feast beginning after dark on the 15th. It is also the day and time (3 PM) that Yahshua died on the stake [Luke 23:44-46]. 4. In Scripture parlance, does "evening" belong to the day ending, or the day beginning? Leviticus 23:27 says we are to observe the Day of Atonement on the 10th day. Verse 32 says to observe it from the evening of the 9th. Is this the end, or beginning of the 9th? The end, of course, just as the 10th begins. So, in these passages, “even” belongs to the day ending. This tells us that they did not rush out in the dark to put the lamb up on the beginning (dark part) of the 10th, nor rush out at sunset to kill it at the end of the 13th. They would have waited until the light part of the day. And, most important for what we are talking about, the verses in Lev. 23:5-7, and Num. 28:16-18 and especially Exodus 12:18 mean just what they say with the same consistency as Lev. 23:32, that the "at even" means from the end of the 14th (which begins the 15th) to the end of the 21st. These are the seven days of Unleavened Bread, with the 15th and 21st being the true Holy Days. Again, the 14th is the preparation for Unleavened Bread, the day when they got the leaven out of their homes, killed the Passover (lamb) in the "evening," about 3 p.m., and prepared it for the Passover meal that night. The Passover meal is the first meal of Unleavened Bread. This night is called, a night to be much observed (Exo. 12:42-43). This is corroborated in the Book of John. First, notice John 13:1. It says, "Now before the Feast of the Passover…” and then goes on to relate events that were taking place at the Memorial Supper. Yahshua finished His instructions and asked them to take of the bread and of the wine in remembrance of Him. This was the beginning of the 14th, the day preparation of the lamb would be done, a full 24 hours before the Passover meal would be eaten. He knew He would be dead in less than 24 hours. He, being our Passover (1 Cor. 5:7), died at precisely the same time as the lambs did in ancient Mitsrayim (Egypt in many translations), which the Gospels say was about the 9th hour, or 3 p.m. His Memorial Supper could not have been the Passover; if He had taken it early, as some insist, He would have broken the Law and thus would not have qualified to be our sinless Savior. Please remember Matthew 5:17-19. Others say the Yahudim (Jews in many translations) kept it a day late. This is nonsense. Yahshua said the Scribes and Pharisees sat in Moses' seat, and never even hinted that they were keeping the Set-Apart Days wrong or at the wrong time. This goes for Feast of Weeks as well. (Mat. 23:1-3). Here are some related Scriptures that verify the scenario described above. John 18:28: They led Yahshua into the hall of judgment, and it was early; and they themselves went not into the hall, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. This and John 13:1 quoted earlier clearly shows that the Passover had not yet been eaten. John 19:14, "and it was the preparation of the Passover, and …," John 19:31, "the Yahudi therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the (stake) on the Sabbath day, (for that Sabbath was an high day),” Luke 23:54, "and that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on." Mark 15:42, "and now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath,” v. 43, Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Yahshua's body. (Note here also the "even" has to be toward the end of the day, because the Sabbath had not yet begun. It is still "the day before the Sabbath," shortly after 3 p.m. after Yahshua had died; yet it was "even"). Here is the scenario: In ancient Israel (including the first Passover in Egypt), they were told to take their Passover sacrifice (animal) and put it up on the 10th day. Nothing indicates they were to go out in the dark to do this when the 10th began; it would have been done on the daylight part of the 10th. Then, on the 14th day, they got rid of the leavening in and around their homes (Exo. 13:7), and about mid-afternoon (between the evenings, evening beginning after the sun begins to decline in the western sky), they took the sacrificial animal and slew it. It was cooked according to Exodus 12, and the other preparations were made for the meal. Then it was eaten in the beginning part of the 15th, the first meal of Unleavened Bread. They continued eating unleavened bread from the evening ending the 14th and beginning the 15th, for seven days; the 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, and until the even ending the 21st day, just as Exodus 12:18 says. In like manner, Yahshua died around 3 p.m. on Abib 14, the preparation day. He was buried sometime before dark, which would herald the arrival of the High Sabbath, Abib 15. His supper with His disciples the night before was just what it has been called, the Last Supper. He WAS our Passover Lamb, the Lamb of YHWH (John 1:29). He died at exactly the right time! He correctly fulfilled the Passover sacrifice, RIGHT ON SCHEDULE! New Meaning Placed on Passover Therefore, the meal he had with his disciples, the night before, was not and could not have been the "Passover" at all. It was simply a final, "going-away," last meal he had with his disciples, at which he gave them special instructions and reminded them again of the bread and wine mentioned in John 6 which apply to his broken body and shed blood. Since time immemorial, the Yahudi have celebrated the Passover according to YHWH's instructions. They ate a ritual meal, which included lamb, up until the Temple was destroyed, and bitter herbs and unleavened bread. Now, while there is no Temple, the lamb is replaced by a shankbone of a lamb. (This is a change they made, though there is no scriptural basis given). They also eat, as Yahweh commanded "unleavened bread," and "bitter herbs" (Exodus 12:8). The Passover "seder," or order as it is called, is done in such a way as to remind them of the origin of the Passover, its meaning and history, and significance. Wine is used (diluted with water) during the meal at significant times, in the celebration. Yahshua, at the last supper, taught his disciples that when they ate of the Passover unleavened bread, it should remind them of him -- his broken body, beaten and bruised for us. He told them the cup of wine -- the cup of redemption -- symbolizes his shed blood, poured out for us, to redeem us to YHWH. Now that Yahshua the Messiah has come, and fulfilled the anti-type of the ancient Passover, the Passover seder/meal is MUCH MORE MEANINGFUL TO TRUE DISCIPLES! It has incredible, overwhelming, awesome, magnificent meaning and symbolism, for those of us who participate in it and partake of it, today! The supper we read of in the gospel accounts and that to which the Apostle Paul refers in I Corinthians 10 and 11 was the Master’s Last Supper. But it was not the Passover, nor did it replace the Passover. That Last Supper was certainly not a high day, as evidenced by Judas' actions and what the disciples thought. Yahshua told him to do quickly what he was planning, John 13:27, and the disciples thought, because Judas was the treasurer, Yahshua had sent him to buy something they might need for the Feast, verses 28-30. This was the beginning (night) part of the Preparation day, the 14th. They would not have “bought or sold” on a High Day Sabbath. In Luke 22:15-16 (KJV), Yahshua is quoted as saying, "…I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of Yahweh." Some versions use "again," but several versions do not. They indicate that He said He desired to eat this (upcoming) Passover with them but would not until the Kingdom be come. Rotherham translates this, "…in no wise shall I eat it until…" Interlinear (Green), "…for I say to you that never in any way I will eat of it until…" American Standard (Sacred Scriptures) "…for I say to you I shall not eat it, until…" The Revised Standard, the Good News, Lamsa's Peshitta, are all similar. Ferrar Fenton has this: "I have longingly desired to eat this Passover with you before my suffering; however, I tell you that I shall not eat of it, until it can be administered in the Kingdom of (Yahweh)." Bullinger's Companion Bible, note on verse 16, ‘"this Passover" = not the eating of the LAMB, but the chagigah which preceded it.’ Here are answers to some common objections raised: Q. They left Egypt on the 15th. Didn't they spend the daylight part of the 14th spoiling the Egyptians? A. No, they did not. They had already done this. Note in Exodus 3:21-22, when Yahweh first contacted Moses, He told Moses that they would not leave Mitsrayim empty-handed, but He would grant them favor in sight of the Egyptians and they would "borrow" riches, jewels, wearing apparel, etc. This was done in Exodus 11:1-3, before the last plague. He informed Moshe that He would bring one more plague on Egypt, so "speak now in the ears of the people" to go spoil them. Also note the conditions for eating that first Passover meal. Exodus 12:11, "and thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste; it is Yahweh's Passover." They did not wait around all day collecting things from those people; they were thrust out. After the firstborn were found dead, they had no more favor with the Mitsrayimites. Exodus 12:29-33 plainly shows this. Note verses 32-33 especially: Pharaoh said, "BE GONE!" The Egyptians were urgent upon the people that they might send them out in haste! So they started out probably about daybreak, since they were in sight of the Egyptians who were already out burying their dead (Numbers 33:3). Note, too, many versions of Scripture render Exodus 12:35 that the Israelites had done as Yahweh commanded, and had already spoiled the Egyptians [New KJV, New English, Good News, Complete Jewish Bible, NRSV, etc.] Q. But didn't they leave Egypt by night? A. Yes, they did. Deuteronomy 16:1 says so. This was accomplished in three different ways: [a.] they got word shortly after midnight that they were being thrust out right then. Remember, they were already dressed for travel, so they would have begun almost immediately to assemble to move out. They were still streaming out when daybreak came, as noted above. [b.] One of the meanings of "by night" in Strong's Hebrew dictionary is "by adversity." Yahweh certainly brought plenty of adversity on those rebellious Egyptians, via the plagues. [c.] They did not finally escape from Egyptian borders until a week later, no doubt on the last Holy Day, Abib 21, when they passed through the Sea of Reeds all night long. See Exodus 14:18-31, especially verses 20 (gave light by night), 21 (all that night), 22-24 (Children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon dry ground), and (it came to pass that in the morning watch…), 27 (the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared). Q. But don't the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke tell us that Yahshua kept the Passover that night? A. No. These scriptures are ambiguous in the way that the original Hebrew was translated into Greek (and then into English) in that they conflict with John 13:1 (and other Scriptures) that says these events took place before the Passover. They do not say Yahshua took the Passover. That is an assumption based on how they read, and previous teaching from others on this subject. Please keep in mind that many scholars are now concluding that the original Apostolic Scriptures were written in Hebrew or Aramaic and later translated to Greek—which we now have translated to English. It is believed that there was no confusion with the original scriptures. The disciples prepared for the Passover in that upper room, and probably kept it there the next night, but this night, they only ate a meal there. Note, as discussed above, that He desired to eat this (upcoming) Passover with them before He suffered, but He obviously could not, since He would be dead before the following evening came. Q. Something else does not seem to fit. If we eat unleavened bread beginning the night of the 14th, through the 21st, doesn't that make eight days instead of seven? Or, is it proper to eat the Memorial Supper with unleavened bread, then get up the next morning and eat biscuits and gravy, then begin again that night to eat unleavened bread? A. As explained above, there is no evidence that Yahshua and the disciples ate a Passover meal that night. A lamb is not mentioned (remember that Passover lambs were killed by the priests at the Temple, 2 Chronicles 30:15-18; 35:10-18; Ezra 6:19-20, and this was not begun until the next day, at the time Yahshua died). Nothing is said of bitter herbs. Passover was a family affair and some of His disciples had families, yet none of them were present for this important occasion. And, most significantly, the word for "bread" used in relation to the Memorial Supper denotes leavened bread, the same as leavened shew bread, and is different from the word for unleavened bread used elsewhere. There are 72 occurrences of "bread" in the New Testament, all from Strong's Greek Dictionary word #740, and three of them refer to the "bread" used at the Memorial Supper, Mat. 26:26, Mark 14:22, Luke 22:19. It is "artos," and says, "From #142, bread (as raised) or a loaf: (shew) bread, loaf." #142 is "airo", to lift, to raise, among others. Yet there are nine occurrences of "unleavened bread" in the New Testament, where the word is Strong's #106, "azumos," from #1 (as a neg. particle) and #2219; unleavened, i.e. (fig.) uncorrupted; (in the neut. plur.) spec. (by impl.) the Passover week: - unleavened (bread)." Yet none of these nine occurrences is in relation to the Memorial Supper. So, to say that He used unleavened bread that night, is to add to the Scriptures. The preparation day is not one of the days of Unleavened Bread, but is the preparation day for them. Q. If the 15th and the 21st are the High Sabbaths, why would Yahweh have them travel, and do all that work on His High Sabbaths? A. All of Yahweh's High Sabbaths commemorate great events in the history of His people, past, present, and future, and His plan for them. The High days of Unleavened Bread ARE high days because of the significant events that took place on those days. That is why Yahweh made them High Days. This is Yahweh's doing, and it is His plan so we would remember these days and teach them to our children. They are also shadows of things yet to come (Col. 2:17). Consider, too, that at Jericho, the Israelites marched seven times around the city, blew the trumpets, and shouted on a High Day. These fulfilled YHWH’s instructions. Also, leaving Mitsrayim symbolized leaving the ways of this world—which we would certainly find justified in doing on a High Day. Q. In Deuteronomy 16:4, referring to the Passover lamb, the last part says, "neither shall there be anything of the flesh, which you sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning." Doesn't this show that the first day (the day the lamb was killed) is the first day of Unleavened Bread? A. No, it does not. "Sacrificedst" is from Strong's #2076, and means to slaughter an animal, usually for sacrifice; slay. "First" is from Strong's #7223, and means first in place, time or rank; before, former, past. (my emphasis). So this could just as easily read, "which you sacrificed the former (or prior) day at even. There is no question but that PART of the Passover is kept on the 14th of Nisan -- that is when the lambs were to be presented to the priests at the Temple of YEHOVAH God, and slain, in preparation for the Passover meal which is on the 15th of Nisan. Since the lambs were slain between 3 and 5 P.M., on Nisan 14, and then had to be roasted, the meal itself had to fall on Nisan 15 -- at the very time leading up to the moment at midnight -- when the firstborn of the Israelites were spared, while the Egyptian firstborn were being slaughtered by the hand of YHWH (Exodus 12:6, 8, 12, and 29). The verses mentioned above are in reference to the SLAYING of the Passover, that is, the killing of the lamb. The Passover lamb was SLAIN "AT EVEN" (Lev. 23:5) -- Josephus shows it was essentially between 3-5 P.M. of Nisan 14. Then it had to be taken home from the Temple, put on a spit, and cooked -- roasted -- for hours. Therefore, the Passover meal was EATEN, and CELEBRATED, at night on Nisan 15. The Yahudi have always known this. When Scripture says "they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at evening," (Num.9:5), it is referring to the fact that the lambs were SLAIN at that time! But since you cannot slay and eat at the same time (unless you ate it raw!), you must add to that time of slaying the time needed for preparation, cooking, and eating, which must of necessity be several hours later -- or on the 15th. Numbers 28:16 points out the obvious: "And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of YHWH." That is, it was KILLED then. "And in the fifteenth day of the month is a festival." That is just as it should be -- the killing of the lamb is in the 14th, without which there could be no Passover FEAST, which is here even said to be on the fifteenth! In Joshua's day the children of Israel "kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month AT EVENING in the plains of Jericho" (Joshua 5:10). What does "kept" mean? The Hebrew word translated "kept" in reference to the Passover (Num. 9:5; Josh. 5:10; II Chron. 35:1,17-19, Ezra 6:19) is asah and means: "to do, to make," in the broadest sense and widest application -- and is variously translated "dress," "make," "hold," "keep," "feast," "accomplish," "furnish," "fulfill," "gather," etc. (see Strong's #6213). The same word is used in Genesis 1:16 -- "And God MADE (Heb. asah) two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he MADE (asah) the stars also." In fact, Elohim "made" the firmament (Gen. 1:7), He "made" the beasts of the earth (v.25), He "saw everything that He had MADE" (v.31), He "ended his work which he had made" (Gen. 2:2), He "made the earth" (2:4), and made "a woman" (2:22). Adam and Hawwah (Eve) "made" aprons after they sinned (Gen. 3:7). In fact, Elohim "made" man in His likeness, and later repented that He had "made" him (Gen. 5:1; 6:6-7). The word in every one of these cases is asah. Therefore, people who get hung up on the word "kept," when discussing the "Passover," need to be AWARE of the real meaning of this word ASAH in the Hebrew language! It would be best to translate the passages where this word is used to apply to the Passover, "they MADE the Passover on the fourteenth of the first month." This would solve the difficulty in understanding. They MADE the "Passover" on the 14th, by taking it to the priests at the Temple, for approval and certification, by killing the lamb, and by roasting it. They "made" the Passover by all the preparations they made that day, the 14th of Nisan -- but they ATE it on the 15th! In fact, in the thousand year reign, we find that the Temple will be rebuilt as an abode for YHWH's Shekinah Esteem, and the Levitical priesthood will function with Yahshua as High Priest. And we read: "In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the Passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten." The word "have" is the Hebrew hayah and means, "exist, become, come to pass," always emphatic. This is the true teaching of the Word of YHWH. To attempt to observe the Passover differently, or at a different time than YHWH directs, is tantamount to rebellion against YHWH's Word, which says explicitly: "Ye shall not ADD unto the Word which I command you, neither shall you diminish anything from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the YHWH your Elohim which I command you" (Deut. 4:2). The apostle John also wrote: "If any man shall ADD unto these things, Elohim shall ADD unto him the PLAGUES that are written in this book; and if any man shall TAKE AWAY from the words of the book of this prophecy, Elohim shall TAKE AWAY his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things that are written in this book" (Rev. 22:18-19). The truth is, Yahshua did not change the Passover symbols. He merely introduced new meaning for the bread and wine. YHWH says: Deu 16:1 “Guard the month of Aḇiḇ, and perform the Passover to יהוה your Elohim, for in the month of Aḇiḇ יהוה your Elohim brought you out of Mitsrayim by night. Deu 16:2 “And you shall slaughter the Passover to יהוה your Elohim, from the flock and the herd, in the place where יהוה chooses to put His Name. (Deut. 16:1-2). During the thousand years, the Passover meal, with all its Renewed Covenant significance, will be observed after sundown on Nisan 14 -- the beginning of Nisan 15! Not recognizing the Renewed Covenant significance, this has been the Yahudi (Jewish) custom throughout the ages. When the Yahudi were unable to go to Jerusalem for the Passover, they observed it at home or the synagogue, without lamb. This was in accordance with their limited understanding.
Conclusion: Based on these Scriptures and others, it seems likely that the original lambs of the Torah scriptures were put up on the daylight portion of the 10th day, then killed between the evenings, which is about mid-afternoon [3 PM] of the 14th day. The Passover is the sacrifice, the animal, not the meal. It was then prepared during the remainder of the afternoon (it takes about 4 hours to roast a small lamb, longer if it is bigger). The meal was eaten in haste at the first Passover; the people were ready to leave as soon as the word came. When that word did come, soon after midnight, they began immediately to make final preparations, then left. They did not wait around for another 12 or 24 hours; they were thrust out. They finally got completely out of Mitsrayim a week later when they crossed the Sea of Reeds all night long. The Master’s Supper and the Passover are two different but related events. Henceforth the Passover was to be a memorial of His death, the True Lamb of Yahweh. He said, "This do, in remembrance of me." We do not observe a memorial before the event it memorializes takes place. Some argue that He and His disciples kept the Passover a day earlier than the Jews. If so, then Paul, who had been a devout Pharisee, could not have said, "…as touching the law a Pharisee, …the righteousness which is in the Law, blameless." Phil 3:5-6. Paul could not have said this if he and the other Pharisees had been keeping the Passover--or any of the Festivals on the wrong date. Fledgling Church was Jewish Not many Christian Commentaries will admit to the fact that the assembly at Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) was composed almost entirely of Yahudim (Jewish) converts and proselytes to Judaism. Indeed, as the assembly grew, we are told that many Priests joined the faith. (Acts 6.7) The fact is, the foundation members of that assembly all came from Judah and more specifically the disciples were all Galileans except Judas. The assembly in its infant years regularly congregated at the temple and in the synagogues. This practice continued even after the destruction of the temple, so much so that in his book “From Sabbath to Sunday” Bacchiocchi states that regular non believing Jews had trouble distinguishing who was a “believer” in Jesus and who was not. They devised a cunning plan to separate the sheep from the goats, so to speak. They introduced a benediction which incriminated those “believers” who worshipped in the synagogues and could not otherwise be distinguished from ordinary unbelieving Jews. This was around the year 80 AD as he shows p. 158. It is on the suggestion of R Gamaliel 11, a little after the fall of Jerusalem and very likely in the neighborhood of the year 80 AD that was inserted in the Schemoneh Esreth the famous fomula against the Minim: “May the apostate have not any hope and may the empire of pride be uprooted promptly in our days. May the Nazarenes and the Minim perish in an instant, may they all be erased from the book of life, that they may not be accounted among the righteous. Blessed be Thou O God, who bringest down the proud.” That this malediction was regularly pronounced in the Synagogues is confirmed by the testimonies of several Fathers. Jerome, for instance, writes explicitly “three times daily in all the synagogues under the name of the Nazarenes you curse the Christians”. The purpose of the formula was not simply to curse the Christians as apostate, but as Marcel Simon observes it constituted a ‘truthful test’ to discover them. He explains that: Since all the members of the community could be called upon in turn, in the absence of the official priests, to officiate in the public worship, the method was certain: the participant contaminated with heresy had necessarily to hesitate to pronounce with this benediction, his own condemnation. The Talmud states very clearly, “Whenever someone made a mistake with any benediction of the Minim, he was to be called back to his place because supposedly he was a Min. What is being said here is that there was no way of telling a believer in Our Messiah and those of Judaism. If the followers of Messiah were keeping Passover a day before Judaism, they would have stuck out like a sore thumb--and there would have been no need for the contrived benediction. It must be remembered also that this continued until roughly 80 C.E. which was ten years after the destruction of the temple and the demise of the Sadducees. And the same could be said of the observance of the Feast of Weeks or any of the other festivals. It is realized that there are those who believe they can punch a few holes in the conclusions of this study. There are also holes in all the other arguments others have proposed. This scenario seems closer to reality and fits more scripture than all others currently being espoused. It is my hope and prayer that anyone reading this study, regardless of your present understanding, will duly investigate this issue diligently and prayerfully, looking up and studying all related Scriptures - those I have used as well as others, and share your conclusions with me and with others. Let us all strive to grow in grace and knowledge.
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