During the lifetime of Jesus Christ, two competing ways to observe the Passover existed among the Jews. One was kept by the people in their homes in the evening as Abib 14 began, while the other was led by the priests at the Temple in the late afternoon of Abib 14. In the Gospels, Jesus and His disciples are depicted observing the Passover in a private home at the beginning of Abib 14. As Abib 14 drew near, the disciples noticed people on the outskirts of Jerusalem engaging in preparations for sacrificing the Passover lamb, prompting them to ask Jesus where He wanted them to prepare for the Passover. This inquiry likely occurred late on Abib 13 or just after sunset on Abib 14, aligning with the time the Passover lamb was to be killed between sunset and dark as the 14th began.

Originally, God's instructions directed the Israelites to keep the Passover in individual homes, catching the blood of the lamb in a basin and smearing it on the doorposts and lintel of the house. Over time, despite these clear directives, variations emerged in observance. At the time of Jesus Christ, two distinct Passover observances existed: one led by the priests at the Temple late in the afternoon of Abib 14, and another observed by the people in their homes at the beginning of Abib 14. Jesus and His disciples ate the Passover in a home rather than at the Temple, keeping it as Abib 14 began, in alignment with the earlier tradition of home observance. Historical records indicate that, due to the limited space and time constraints at the Temple, a far greater number of lambs were slain by individuals at their homes compared to those sacrificed by the priests.

Passover, as a distinct festival, was to be observed in one's home, setting it apart from other festivals that required attendance at the place where the LORD chose to put His name. According to the instructions given, the Passover sacrifice was to be made at home, with the lamb killed at twilight on the fourteenth day of the month, and the blood applied to the doorposts of the houses where it was eaten. The Israelites were specifically commanded to remain in their houses until morning after the Passover observance, highlighting its domestic nature. This clear directive establishes that Passover was not to be sacrificed within any gates or at a central location designated by the LORD, but rather in the individual homes of the people.

During the time of Christ, many Jews understood God's original command and intent for Passover to be a domestic observance, celebrated at home. Historical records from Josephus and Philo indicate that a larger group of people sacrificed the Passover lamb at their homes, while a smaller group, primarily the religious leaders who controlled the Temple, followed a pattern of sacrificing at the Temple. This resulted in two distinct ways of observing Passover. Our responsibility is to follow God's command as originally given, without change, observing Passover at home as exemplified by Jesus Christ at the beginning of the 14th day, using the new symbols He instituted, rather than adhering to later traditions established under kings like Hezekiah and Josiah.

From the scriptural evidence provided, it is evident that Jesus Christ kept the Passover in accordance with the original instructions given by God in Exodus 12, Leviticus 23, and Numbers 9, which designate the 14th day for the Passover observance. Historical changes made by figures like Hezekiah, Josiah, and Ezra centralized the celebration, shifting control to the priesthood and the Temple, altering the practice from a home-sacrificed lamb to a Temple-based observance. However, these changes lacked the authority to override God's original command. Jesus, being taught directly by the Father and not by rabbinical schools, did not adhere to the altered traditions of men. His observance of Passover at the beginning of the 14th day, as seen in the accounts of His last Passover, aligns with the timing specified in the early Scriptures, where the lamb is to be slain between the two evenings immediately following the sunset of the 13th. This practice stands in contrast to the later Jewish tradition of a 15th day observance. Furthermore, the New Testament accounts, particularly in John 13:1, distinguish Jesus' Passover from that of the Jews, indicating that He kept it according to God's command rather than the modified customs. The preparation for Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, involving the removal of leaven from homes and borders as early as the 13th day, underscores the significance of adhering to the original timing and manner of observance as Jesus did.

In the context of observing God's ordinances, the practice of keeping Passover at home holds significant importance. The children of Israel were instructed to observe Passover in their houses located in Goshen, not assembled in Rameses or dwelling in tents. The lambs were to be killed at twilight, specifically at ben ha arbayim, marking the beginning of the fourteenth day of the first month. This timing is critical, as it establishes that the entirety of the Passover events occurred on the fourteenth, not extending into the fifteenth. The process of killing, roasting, and eating the lamb, along with burning the leftovers, took approximately 8 to 9 hours, from sunset around 6:00 p.m. until between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m. on the fourteenth. The Israelites were commanded to remain in their houses throughout the night of the fourteenth, not leaving shortly after the Death Angel passed at midnight. They stayed in their homes in Goshen until morning, adhering strictly to the directive to not go out until boqer, the break of day. The scriptural record emphasizes the location of the observance, with the term "houses" used repeatedly to underscore that the Passover was a domestic event. The Israelites struck the lintel and doorposts of their houses with blood, and none were to go out of their doors until morning, ensuring protection as the Lord passed over their homes in Egypt. There is no indication of them assembling elsewhere or preparing to depart immediately after midnight; they remained in their houses as commanded, demonstrating obedience to God's instructions.

The Passover is named for God passing over the children of Israel while they remained in their homes, not in tents or gathered elsewhere, but specifically in their houses. This detail is crucial as it underscores the setting for the observance of this significant event. Even one year later, as confirmed in Numbers 9, the instructions for keeping the Passover remained unchanged, emphasizing that it must be observed according to all its rites and ceremonies, including not going out of the house. These practices carried the force of law, ensuring that every aspect, from striking the doorposts and lintel to staying indoors, was to be followed precisely as initially commanded. God reconfirmed that nothing was to be omitted, even when the Israelites were no longer in Egypt but in the wilderness, highlighting the importance of maintaining the original observance of Passover in their homes.

God intended the Passover to be a domestically observed festival, kept at home as a family sacrifice. From the first Passover in Egypt, the lamb was to be slain at the beginning of the fourteenth day of the first month, with its blood sprinkled on the doorposts of the home. The entire day was devoted to preparations, including slaying, cleaning, and roasting the lamb, staying in the house through the night of the Death Angel's passing, burning the remains, and gathering for departure during the daylight portion of the fourteenth. This day required work, distinguishing it as a festival rather than a holy day. Scriptural evidence consistently supports this domestic observance. In Numbers 9:1-3, even after the establishment of the tabernacle and priesthood, God commanded the children of Israel to keep the Passover at its appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day, according to all its rites and ceremonies, with no changes introduced. Further, in Exodus 12:24-27, God instructed that this ordinance be observed forever, even after entering the promised land, with children witnessing the sacrifice at home and asking about its meaning, indicating a family setting for the observance. Historical accounts also confirm this practice among the common people. Philo, a Jewish scholar from Alexandria, noted that during the Passover, the whole nation performed the sacrifices themselves at home, acting as priests for that special day each year, without relying on the official priesthood. This domestic observance contrasted with the later practice of a temple-killed Passover, which emerged among the religious elite but was not commanded by God in the foundational instructions. The original Passover, kept at home, differed significantly from later traditions. The lamb was killed at the beginning of the fourteenth at home, its blood sprinkled on doorposts, and it was eaten on the night of the fourteenth to commemorate the passing over of the houses in Egypt. This observance, combined with the Feast of Unleavened Bread, spanned eight days, maintaining the distinct meaning and timing as established by God.

The observance of Passover, as originally commanded, was a deeply personal and domestic affair, centered in the home rather than a central location like the temple. According to the earliest instructions, the lamb was to be killed at the beginning of the fourteenth day of the first month by the head of the family, with the blood sprinkled on the doorposts of each house. This solemn celebration, eaten on the night of the fourteenth, commemorated the Passover event itself and was distinct from the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which followed for seven days, totaling eight days of observance. There was no indication of a temple ceremony, priestly involvement, or pilgrimage to a common shrine, emphasizing the private, family-oriented nature of the feast. This domestic setting underscored the direct relationship between God's people and His protection, as seen in the historical deliverance of Israel from Egypt.

Brethren, the observance of Passover as a home-based, family-observed requirement is rooted in the clear instructions given by God. As recorded in Exodus 12:22, the Israelites were commanded to remain in their houses until morning, not venturing out until the break of day while the Death Angel passed through Egypt. Their homes, spread across the large area of Goshen, were the setting for this sacred event, emphasizing personal and individual responsibility in keeping the covenant with God who passed over them, preserving their lives and granting them liberty. This home-based observance of Passover stands in contrast to other ceremonial offerings which were to be performed at a central place of worship, as detailed in Deuteronomy 12. Unlike those national offerings requiring a sanctified altar at the tabernacle, Passover did not necessitate such a setting. It was uniquely designed to be kept within the family home, reinforcing the personal connection to God's protection and covenant. In Joshua 5, we see this principle upheld. While Passover was kept on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho, no wave sheaf offering or other ceremonial sacrifices were made. The reason is evident: there was no officially sanctified altar available, as the tabernacle had not yet been established in the land. Joshua, a man who faithfully followed God's law without turning to the right or left, adhered to these instructions, ensuring that only Passover was observed in the homes of the Israelites, just as God commanded.

Freedom is what Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread are ultimately about. God's freeing Israel from bondage in Egypt serves as an object lesson for us to apply spiritually. Truth and freedom go hand-in-hand, and God has us rehearse this every year so that it never gets far from our minds. The full importance and impact of Christ's death are missed by many because they do not observe Passover in the commanded way, thus failing to continue in the way and learn the lesson. Freedom, the kind God is bringing us into, comes progressively, not all at once, as illustrated by the Israelites taking seven days to reach and cross the Red Sea and another forty years to enter their inheritance. If they had not continued on the way, they would never have been free. Passover opens up a relationship with God, made possible by Christ's death, which cost Him His life's blood. This covenant, established at the cost of the most precious life ever lived, is central to our salvation. We were separated from God, but He opened the way for us to be in agreement with Him. This relationship must be developed and continued to achieve freedom. The observance of Passover emphasizes the awesomeness of the cost to get us free and how far Christ was willing to go without sinning. The cost was meant to instill in us a profound sense of personal obligation to Christ, recognizing that He died specifically for each of us, and to exemplify the cost of staying free by striving to be sinless. God instructed the Israelites in Exodus 12 that keeping Passover was to be a family affair, not done at the Temple or Tabernacle. Every family was to kill their own lamb, making the point that each was responsible for the death of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. These families, often not wealthy, lived closely with their animals, and the lamb they sacrificed was likely a family pet, something very close to them. This served as a powerful object lesson, showing that nothing is too great a price to pay for our redemption.