The original instructions stipulate that Passover is a single day, Abib 14, followed by the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread, beginning on Abib 15. However, the Jews ended up combining the two during the Babylonian exile. This merging resulted in the Jews observing Passover late on Abib 14, just hours before the Feast of Unleavened Bread began. At the time of Jesus Christ, despite Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread being distinct festivals, they were commonly grouped together and simply called Passover. Thus, when the gospel writers mention Passover, it can sometimes refer to the whole eight-day period of Abib 14-21, which includes both Passover and Unleavened Bread.

The Days of Unleavened Bread relate to the time before the actual feast begins. The phrase "the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread" in Matthew 26:17 can be more accurately translated as "before the Feast of Unleavened Bread." This indicates that the disciples' inquiry about preparing the Passover occurred before the feast started, likely late on Abib 13 or just after sunset on Abib 14. Similarly, Mark 14:12 refers to "the first day of Unleavened Bread," which can be understood as "the beginning of the season of Unleavened Bread" or "the beginning of the time of Unleavened Bread." This period began on Abib 13, when the Jews disposed of leaven and prepared unleavened bread for the Passover meal. Luke 22:7 mentions "the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed," which also refers to this season, not the specific feast day that begins on Abib 15. Thus, the Days of Unleavened Bread encompass the time leading up to and including the Passover, starting on Abib 13.

The Days of Unleavened Bread are observed as a memorial of when Israel came out of Egypt. They serve as a reminder of significant events in the past. Additionally, these days remind us that we have come out of the world, urging us to be on guard against slipping back into it. They also encourage us to overcome and grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, emphasizing the urgency of becoming sinless and holy. The Days of Unleavened Bread are kept to remind us of what God did, which is the primary reason for their observance. This focus on God's actions sets the stage for the entire observance of the holy days and the plan of salvation.

The Days of Unleavened Bread memorialize the second major step in salvation, sanctification, where God separates us for holy use after cleansing us at Passover. He sets us apart and considers us holy, yet our human nature resists holiness, making it easy to return to old, sinful habits and erroneous thinking. God commands us to keep the Days of Unleavened Bread yearly to remind us to fight free of the bondage to satan's world and our carnal nature, striving to escape slavery with a high hand. The Night To Be Much Observed ties into the Days of Unleavened Bread by memorializing our freedom from spiritual bondage, recalling how we left the world behind and began our trek toward God's Kingdom with great hope and zeal. God instructed the Israelites to eat unleavened bread and remove leaven from their homes due to the urgency of their Exodus, symbolizing the need to flee from sin lest it pursue and destroy us, and to live God's pure way of life. Leaven illustrates the effect of sin in our lives, spreading like a little leaven through dough, affecting our whole being, where one sin leads to another unless broken through repentance. Sin puffs us up, as seen in the Corinthian congregation's pride over sexual sins, failing to recognize the slavery of such lifestyles and the true liberty found in keeping God's law. Leaven also represents false doctrine, which causes us to think too highly of ourselves, while true doctrine promotes sincerity, humility, and obedience to the Sovereign of the Universe, the overarching lesson of this festival. We keep these days as a memorial to God's law and His powerful deliverance from Egypt and bondage, understanding the urgency to cease sinning and the hard work of overcoming sin by ridding our homes of it. The seven days of Unleavened Bread, unlike the single days of other feasts, signify the extended time and attention required for mankind's participation in overcoming sin, a process of judgment that can seem to take an eternity for deep-seated sins, teaching us to draw nearer to the Source of power to overcome. By dismissing the Days of Unleavened Bread, much of this world's Christianity has lost a vital step in salvation: sanctification. God sets us aside for a lifetime of overcoming sin to enter His Kingdom, a process denied by doctrines that claim salvation is secure regardless of lifestyle, contradicting His holy Word. He has revealed this festival to us so that we might overcome, pursue holiness, and secure eternal life in His Kingdom.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread carries a significant emphasis in God's instructions, focusing primarily on the positive act of eating unleavened bread rather than the negative act of avoiding leavening. This Feast is first mentioned by name in Exodus 12:14, 17-20, where God ties the command to observe it with His deliverance of Israel from Egypt. In all of God's instructions for this Feast, there are more references to eating unleavened bread than to putting out or avoiding leavening, highlighting the intended focus on consumption over avoidance. The name of the Feast itself provides an obvious clue to this emphasis, pointing to the act of eating unleavened bread. Moses further records in Exodus 34:18 that the Feast of Unleavened Bread must be kept for seven days by eating unleavened bread, as commanded, in the appointed time of the month of Abib, marking the time when Israel came out from Egypt. The focus of this Feast must remain on God's activity, as it was by His intervention that Israel was delivered from Egypt. As Exodus 12:51 states, it was the Lord who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt on that very same day.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread holds profound significance, primarily as a remembrance of God's deliverance. A key instruction for this Feast is to eat unleavened bread every day throughout its duration. Additionally, a vital aspect is the command to eat nothing leavened and to ensure no leaven is present in our houses, symbolizing the removal of corruption from our lives. However, this act of putting away sin depends on the first two elements—remembering God's deliverance and eating unleavened bread. Without these, overcoming corruption becomes impossible. This Feast joyously commemorates the difference God has made, freeing us from spiritual bondage and granting us a new life under His dominion. Our deliverance, an indescribable blessing, opens avenues unimaginable to the world, made possible solely by what God has done. The eating of unleavened bread aligns with partaking of Christ, the Bread of Life, who epitomizes the absence of corruption. This ongoing act of consuming the spiritual unleavened bread is essential for abiding in Christ, receiving eternal life, being raised up, and living because of Him. These incredible privileges hinge on continuously feeding on the Savior through His Word and His presence in our lives.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread holds a significant focus on both removing leaven and eating unleavened bread. Initially, the emphasis was on diligently cleaning houses and automobiles of everything containing leaven before the feast and avoiding it during the seven days. While keeping leaven out is important, the primary focus should be on eating unleavened bread, as commanded repeatedly by God. This act of eating unleavened bread for seven days symbolizes becoming unleavened, purified, and perfected. It serves as a reminder to transform human nature into the divine nature of God, which is love. Eating unleavened bread also represents the perfect Unleavened Bread of Life from heaven, Jesus Christ, and the number seven symbolizes perfection. The ultimate goal of this feast is to be perfected in love, mirroring the nature of God and Christ, ensuring that in the resurrection, sin will no longer be possible because perfect love will prevail. This transformation is the essence of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, urging us to replace sinful nature with divine love, as inspired by the command to be perfect in love, just as our Father in heaven is perfect.

The Days of Unleavened Bread are highly disruptive, not only due to the effort required in deleavening but also because our diets are altered, which captures our attention as God intends. These days interrupt our normal routines, prompting us to consider their significance and purpose. Referred to as the Days of Unleavened Bread in certain contexts, this period encompasses the time when unleavened bread is consumed, beginning before the formal seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is consistently named as a time of celebration in Scripture. The Feast of Unleavened Bread serves as a memorial of God's deliverance, as first highlighted in Exodus 12:17, where God declares it commemorates the day He brought His people out of Egypt. This foundational reason underscores all aspects of the feast, with the eating of unleavened bread and the avoidance of leavening being responses to His act of liberation. Rejoicing is implied in this feast, despite the unusual food, as it remains an appointed time to remember God's deliverance, which should naturally lead to joy. God's instructions repeatedly emphasize His deliverance as the core reason for observing this feast, with multiple references in Scripture tying the command to keep it with His act of bringing His people out of slavery. The feast is a celebration to Him, focusing on what He has done, rather than on human actions. The symbolism of Egypt as the environment of sin and godlessness, under a despotic ruler, further illustrates this deliverance from a realm of spiritual bondage, highlighting God's intervention as the primary actor in this liberation. Eating unleavened bread during these days serves as a token to remind God's people of His liberation and the new beginning it offers. Described as the bread of affliction, it recalls the oppression and hardship endured in Egypt, prompting reflection on the past state of enslavement before God's intervention. The feast also encourages a deeper intake of God's word, symbolized by having His law in our mouths, which encompasses both speaking about His teachings and spiritually feeding on them during this time. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is ultimately a memorial of God's work and His deliverance, providing the foundation for our response in avoiding leavening and consuming unleavened bread. It is a feast to the LORD, centered on Him as the Unleavened Bread, emphasizing that spiritual strength and freedom come from feasting on His life and words, ensuring we remain free from the world's influence through His sustaining presence.

God's instructions for the Feast of Unleavened Bread emphasize remembering that He is the One who delivers us from sin's grasp and that we are required to eat the Bread of Life which is truly unleavened. Without the Unleavened Bread of Life, we have no means to overcome, as we are powerless to avoid and put out the corruption of sin that leaven represents. The spiritual strength required to overcome is a result of eating the Bread of Life continually, and that Bread is available only to those whom He has delivered from spiritual Egypt. The Feast of Unleavened Bread reminds us of our duty to put out sin, but even more, it is a joyous memorial of the spiritual deliverance that has been given and the salvation that comes through the Bread of Life that sustains us through the sanctification process as long as we continue to feast on Him.

The Days of Unleavened Bread hold a significant place in the journey of salvation, closely tied to other festivals as they lead into the giving of God's Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. This period is not merely about coming out of sin, as often understood, but carries a deeper meaning. The eating of unleavened bread during these seven days is directly intended by God to serve as a reminder of what He has done to bring His people out of bondage, rather than what they have accomplished themselves. The Days of Unleavened Bread are indeed about overcoming, but primarily they highlight God overcoming satan, this world, and sin on behalf of His people. This festival emphasizes that He is the leader, the guide, and the Captain of salvation, working to break His people free from their bondage. The act of eating unleavened bread is not about picturing the process of coming out of sin but rather about already being out as soon as one begins to follow Him. It is an act of righteousness, of obeying God and doing what is right by following His commands. The context of eating unleavened bread is rooted in what God did, not in human effort. It serves as a memorial of His actions, picturing the obedience of His people in following Him. When the Israelites came out of Egypt eating unleavened bread, it symbolized their act of righteousness in adhering to God's directive, not their personal overcoming of sin. If one does righteousness by following God, they will not sin, as the emphasis during the Days of Unleavened Bread is on doing what is right through obedience to Him.

The Days of Unleavened Bread hold a significant place in understanding God's role in our salvation. The keeping of the first day of Unleavened Bread, along with eating unleavened bread for seven days, is intended by God to serve as a reminder of what He has done for us. It is a personal reminder, as God instructed that we should show our children, saying, 'This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.' The eating of unleavened bread is directly tied to God's act of bringing us out, not primarily to our own overcoming of sin, though it relates indirectly to coming out of sin. The Days of Unleavened Bread are primarily about God overcoming—overcoming satan, the world, and sin—rather than our own efforts. Eating unleavened bread symbolizes what God has done first, and then our submission to His lead by following Him. It is a picture of righteousness, which is following God and doing things His way. When we follow Him proactively, it becomes almost impossible to sin, shifting the emphasis from avoiding sin to actively doing what is right. God commands that unleavened bread be eaten for seven days during the Days of Unleavened Bread, translating practically into following after righteousness every day of our lives. This annual observance serves as a concentrated effort to focus our minds on God's instruction in righteousness, reminding us to live in harmony with Him as He directs our steps. Eating unleavened bread each day during this period is not a burden but a reminder that following God's way daily is crucial to preparing for the Kingdom of God. The Days of Unleavened Bread memorialize what God did to free us from bondage, marking the starting point of our journey. They symbolize a two-pronged approach: first, reminding us of what God did to make this way of life possible, and second, representing our act of following Him and pursuing righteousness proactively. By doing the right and good thing, sin begins to disappear as a fruit of this approach, rather than merely dodging sin. Thus, Unleavened Bread emphasizes living according to God's guidance, ensuring that we walk in harmony with Him.

Brethren, the Days of Unleavened Bread and the eating of unleavened bread must be understood in the context of God's work in our lives. It is not about our efforts to overcome sin, but rather a reminder of what the Father did to bring us to where we are right now. This observance marks the Father's initiative in leading us to the Son, stirring our minds to grasp who Jesus is, and acknowledging that He is a Creator, just like the Father. We must conduct our lives believing and acting on these realities, recognizing that both the Father and the Son are actively involved in our transformation.

The Days of Unleavened Bread hold a significant place in understanding God's work in our salvation. These days are not solely about coming out of sin, as often understood, but primarily serve as a memorial of what God did to release us from bondage. The eating of unleavened bread, as introduced in Exodus 13, is a reminder of God's actions, not our own efforts. It signifies that God initiated and accomplished our liberation, doing virtually everything to bring us out of the world, symbolized by Egypt. During the Days of Unleavened Bread, the act of eating unleavened bread for seven days is a command from God, emphasizing the importance of consistently following His lead. This is not an optional act but a directive to walk in righteousness at all times, reflecting the purity and sincerity of God's Word. Unleavened bread represents this wholehearted commitment to obey God, mirroring how the Israelites followed Him out of Egypt by adhering to His guidance through the pillar of fire and cloud. The primary focus of the Days of Unleavened Bread is on God's overwhelming role in our deliverance. It highlights that He freed the Israelites on the very first day of Unleavened Bread, accomplishing His purpose with little required from them beyond obedience. Egypt, in this context, symbolizes the world, not sin directly, and the journey out represents following God rather than merely escaping sin. By eating unleavened bread, we acknowledge that righteousness comes from doing what is right by following God, not just avoiding wrong. This festival serves as a concentrated focus on God's righteousness in bringing us out of bondage and our response, which is to follow His way. God expects us to walk away from the world from the moment we accept His salvation, continuously following His lead. The Days of Unleavened Bread remind us that salvation is predominantly God's work, and our part is to make the choice to obey and follow Him in righteousness.

The Days of Unleavened Bread, as outlined in God's instructions, hold a significant place among His feasts, each designed to focus on Him and His deliverance. This seven-day feast, beginning just after Passover, mirrors the structure of the Feast of Tabernacles, both lasting seven days and emphasizing specific actions during that period. God's command for Unleavened Bread, repeated multiple times, is clear: for seven days, we must eat unleavened bread as a memorial of His deliverance from an environment of sin, as seen in the exodus from Egypt. The connection between Unleavened Bread and Tabernacles is evident in their shared origin and symbolism. The first day of Unleavened Bread marks the Israelites' camp at Succoth, a name linked to booths or tabernacles, reflecting the temporary dwellings of their journey. This ties directly to the Feast of Tabernacles, where dwelling in booths for seven days recalls the same exodus experience, highlighting God's provision and guidance during their pilgrimage. In Unleavened Bread, the focus on dwellings is tied to houses—places of stability and permanence from which leaven must be removed and where unleavened bread is consumed. These houses symbolize a settled state, contrasting with the temporary booths of Tabernacles, yet both point to Christ. He is the foundation of the spiritual house we inhabit, delivering us from spiritual bondage, and He is the Bread of Life, the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth that we must partake of daily during this feast to maintain our divine connection. The dietary aspect of Unleavened Bread further reinforces its lessons. The bread, lacking leaven, is described as the bread of affliction, reminding us of the haste of the exodus and the lack of normal satisfaction in food. This restriction keeps us mindful of God's deliverance and the need to focus on Him, turning off autopilot to remember the purpose of these seven days. Through comparing and contrasting with Tabernacles, Unleavened Bread reveals deeper insights into God's purpose. Both feasts involve a sense of lack—whether in food or dwelling—to teach reliance on Him. Unleavened Bread emphasizes deliverance and stability in Christ as our foundation, urging us to feed on Him daily and avoid bringing corruption into our spiritual house. Ultimately, both feasts converge in pointing us to Christ as our Deliverer, the source of strength we must seek continually on our journey.

Brethren, as we reflect on the Days of Unleavened Bread, we must understand their profound significance in our spiritual journey. The eating of unleavened bread, while associated with leaving Egypt, relates most directly to a vital truth often overlooked. It serves as a reminder of what God has done for us, as He Himself brought Israel out of bondage by the strength of His hand. We are to eat unleavened bread because the Lord delivered us, emphasizing that it was His action, not ours, that secured freedom. The Days of Unleavened Bread are indeed about overcoming, but primarily about God overcoming Satan, the world, and sin on our behalf. Though we must make efforts to overcome, the fundamental lesson of eating unleavened bread is to never forget that we do what we do spiritually only because of what God did. He is the Creator, handpicking us for His purpose, and it is His initiative that frees us, just as He freed the Israelites. God's command to eat unleavened bread, as recorded in Exodus 13, directly follows His instruction to remember the day He brought Israel out of Egypt. This reinforces that our salvation hinges on His work, not our own. The emphasis during the Days of Unleavened Bread, especially on the first day, is not on what we have overcome, but on what God continues to do in our lives. We must keep Him at the forefront of our minds as the One performing the creative labor in our transformation. Furthermore, the connection to the firstborn during this period highlights additional layers of God's purpose, showing that unleavened bread is tied to more than just coming out of sin. It reflects His claim and His actions in setting apart and freeing His people. Brethren, let us ensure that we understand the Days of Unleavened Bread in this context, recognizing that God the Father is the Head of the Family, driving His purpose forward, and we must live with this truth at the core of our relationship with Him.

The Days of Unleavened Bread, observed for seven days, typify our journey out of sin and this world to follow God. This period symbolizes a lifelong process of working in cooperation with God to build the character necessary for eternal life. It requires constant vigilance, as unlearning the ways of this world and learning God's way can take as long as the time spent in those former ways. During one week each year, God reminds us of our responsibilities on our Christian pilgrimage, offering hope, confidence, and encouragement that we can indeed succeed in becoming unleavened. This festival emphasizes not only the removal of leaven, representing sin, but also the importance of eating unleavened bread, which signifies taking in God's Word with sincerity and truth, and living it out through our actions.

The Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread address the escape from bondage and the means to remain free after liberation. The Days of Unleavened Bread specifically emphasize the importance of taking in the pure word of God to sustain spiritual freedom. Just as the Israelites did little to free themselves from Egyptian slavery, with God orchestrating their release, the spiritual journey requires ongoing reliance on His grace. However, after leaving bondage, our responsibility grows, and we must actively participate in maintaining our freedom by adhering to the lessons of grace. During the Days of Unleavened Bread, the focus is on consuming unleavened bread, which symbolizes the intake of God's unadulterated word. This is a command to continuously feed on His truth, as seven days of eating unleavened bread represent perfect completion, indicating that from the moment of liberation, one must never cease to imbibe God's word throughout life. This practice is vital to avoid spiritual fasting and to ensure that our thinking aligns with God's nature. Leavening, as a type of sin, illustrates how corruption spreads and changes us, much like false doctrines or worldly desires can taint spiritual life. In contrast, the unleavened bread of God's word, exemplified by the sinless life of Jesus Christ, provides a pure foundation for thought and conduct. His words and example are uncorrupted, serving as the basis for transforming our minds and protecting us from returning to bondage. The Days of Unleavened Bread remind us that the solution to spiritual bondage lies in a change of mind through the pure word of God. This truth, unlike the limited and prejudiced words of men, shields us from the influences that seek to re-enslave us. By focusing on God's word, we are empowered to pursue the highest goal, the Kingdom of God, and to maintain the liberty He has granted us.

The seven Days of Unleavened Bread symbolize our journey out of sin and separation from this world to follow God. This process demands a lifetime of diligent effort and constant vigilance to sustain. During one week each year, God reminds us of our responsibilities on our Christian pilgrimage, offering hope, confidence, and encouragement to persevere. God's instructions emphasize the importance of eating unleavened bread for seven days, highlighting it as a priority over merely removing leaven. If we are occupied with eating unleavened bread, we have no time or desire for the leavened kind. Spiritually, this means focusing on consuming God's unleavened Word, which is pure, sincere, and true, to sustain and guide us. Christ, as the embodiment of this Word, exemplifies living it fully, not just knowing it, but applying it in every action. We are called to ingest His character and way of life, not only through rituals but by studying and living the written Word of God. This active engagement transforms belief into a lived reality, building the character necessary for entrance into His Kingdom. As we eat this unleavened bread, we must also do good, filling our lives with right actions to minimize the opportunity for sin. These Days of Unleavened Bread thus represent both the removal of leaven and the active consumption of God's truth, urging us to live a life of faith manifested in works.

I Corinthians is especially helpful on the subject of unity, as it was written just before Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread. Much of its instruction touches on the causes of disunity and provides the major solution as well. The epistle addresses the importance of personal responsibility in creating unity within the body of Christ, emphasizing that sin, regardless of against whom it is committed, produces separation and disunity. During this season, the focus on examining oneself and repenting of shortcomings is critical, as highlighted in I Corinthians 11, where Paul warns the congregation to discern the Lord's body, meaning the church, and to treat each other with respect and love. Failure to do so brings judgment, as evidenced by sickness and death within the congregation, underscoring the seriousness of disunity. The solution lies in yielding to the love of God, as detailed in I Corinthians 13, which fosters unity and strengthens the body, aligning with the spiritual renewal and commitment to harmony emphasized during the Days of Unleavened Bread.

God's precise control over time is evident in the observance of the Days of Unleavened Bread, as detailed in Scripture. Exodus 12:14 declares that this day shall be a memorial, a feast to the Lord throughout your generations, kept as an ordinance forever. This festival serves to commemorate a significant event tied to a specific calendar date, marking the exact time of Israel's departure from Egypt. Exodus 12:17 reinforces this by stating that on this selfsame day, the Lord brought the armies of Israel out of Egypt, commanding its observance as an everlasting ordinance. The term "selfsame" indicates an exact anniversary, emphasizing the precision of God's timing. In Exodus 12:41 and 51, it is noted that the departure from Egypt occurred on the selfsame day after 430 years, highlighting an event's recurrence on the very same date. This anniversary connects to the Days of Unleavened Bread, underscoring a historical moment of deliverance that remains as a memorial through the passage of time. Furthermore, Joshua 5:10-11 records that the children of Israel kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month and ate unleavened cakes and parched corn on the morrow after the Passover, which is the fifteenth day, again on the selfsame day. This observance, exactly 40 years after leaving Egypt, reaffirms the significance of the anniversary marked by the Days of Unleavened Bread, demonstrating God's faithfulness in timing across generations.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread spans seven days, from the 15th to the 21st of Abib, also known as Nisan on the Hebrew calendar. The first and last days of this week are holy convocations, designated as holy days where we gather before God to worship Him. During these seven days, we are strictly commanded to eat unleavened bread and to ensure no leaven is consumed or present in our homes or areas of authority, such as cars or workplaces, from the beginning of the 15th day until the end of the 21st day. This removal of leaven is to be completed before the 15th day begins, as by the end of the 14th at evening, all leaven must be out of our possession. This feast emphasizes the removal of sin from our lives, aligning with the understanding that, though we are considered truly unleavened before God through His grace, we must still actively purge sin from our midst to maintain that state and grow in righteousness.

The First Day of Unleavened Bread is a commanded holy day on God's sacred calendar, one of seven holy convocations observed throughout the year. This feast, following Passover, holds significant spiritual meaning beyond merely outlining God's plan for salvation through prophetic timing. While viewing the holy days as types revealing God's plan is not incorrect, the primary focus should shift to their deeper spiritual relevance, particularly their connection to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. The Feast of Unleavened Bread emphasizes eating unleavened bread for all seven days, as repeatedly instructed in Exodus 12, Exodus 23, and Leviticus 23. This act is central to the feast, symbolizing the consumption of uncorrupted, pure bread. The Apostle Paul, in I Corinthians 5:6-8, connects this to a spiritual type, urging us to keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Sincerity represents an inward quality of tested purity, implying flawless integrity and transparency, while truth signifies the outward manifestation of genuine Christian character, aligning with God's righteousness through active right doing. This feast points directly to Jesus Christ as the model of sincerity and truth, embodying inward purity and outward goodness. In John 6, during the Passover season, He declares Himself the true bread that came down from heaven, the bread of life that must be consumed for spiritual nourishment. Eating unleavened bread every day of the feast symbolizes diligently taking in Christ's character, teachings, and examples, which sustains, energizes, repairs, heals, and fosters spiritual growth. Without Him, there is no spiritual life within us. The Feast of Unleavened Bread serves as an annual reminder to focus on ingesting and integrating the bread of life daily. This ongoing practice, supported by diligent study and contemplation, helps develop the sincerity and truth necessary for holiness and righteousness, ultimately leading to growth into His image and having the mind of Christ. God provides this feast as a training mechanism, combining spiritual study with physical practice through living out what we learn in good works, with Christ as the perfect Model. Further, in I John 2:3-6, the concept of unleavened bread is linked to knowing Christ and walking as He walked. Consuming the bread of life and imitating Him in outward actions aligns us with eternal truth, driving us toward purification by casting out leavened bread and embracing sincerity and truth daily. This process begins with God's calling, as seen in John 6:44-45, where He draws us to Christ to be taught by Him, engaging in a rigorous life course of eating the bread of life and practicing it in real life. Exodus 13:4-10 adds another layer, highlighting the feast as a remembrance of what the Lord did in bringing Israel out of Egypt, signifying redemption and the obligation to keep God's law due to His act of freeing them from bondage. This mirrors the spiritual calling out of the world and slavery to sin, as God, through Christ, leads us with a strong hand, just as He led Israel. Christ's role as the bread of life extends to leading us to holiness and righteousness, preparing us for the Kingdom of God through His teaching and love. Thus, Christ is not only our Passover but also our unleavened bread. He is the focus of this feast, embodying the agency, mercy, love, blessings, and providence that make our spiritual journey possible. His work as the One who leads us in our walk of faith and righteousness underscores the true significance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread plays a vital role in the spiritual journey, assisting in the process of becoming and remaining unleavened before God, which leads to growth and bearing fruit. This feast, as outlined in Exodus 13:3-10, provides balanced instructions: for seven days, unleavened bread shall be eaten, and no leavened bread shall be seen or consumed in all quarters. This symmetry reflects two commands—abstaining from leaven and consuming unleavened bread—mirroring the negative and positive directives found in Romans 12:2, to not conform to this world and to be transformed by the renewing of the mind. The act of not eating leavened bread symbolizes resisting worldly influences, while eating unleavened bread represents the transformation through renewing the mind with God's instruction. This dual principle is a reminder to conquer sin and replace it with righteousness. The feast serves as an annual exercise, a physical and spiritual drill, emphasizing that God's law should be in our mouths, guiding both our actions and thoughts, represented by the hand and the forehead as symbols of work and reasoning. Eating and not eating during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, practiced multiple times a day, constantly reinforces the importance of ingesting God's teaching. It underscores the concept that what goes into the mind and body influences what comes out, aligning with the idea that inputs equal outputs. This feast annually reminds us to shun the corruption of leaven and to seek and ingest unleavened bread daily throughout the seven days. Jesus Christ, speaking around the time of the Feast of Unleavened Bread as noted in John 6, used the occasion to teach that the true lesson of the feast is not merely about physical bread or removing leaven, but about seeking the food that endures to everlasting life. He emphasized that real life is in the Spirit and that His words are spirit, leading to eternal life. Consuming unleavened bread during this feast is akin to ingesting Him, the Bread of Life, by embracing His character, example, way of thinking, and words. The Days of Unleavened Bread call us to focus on the life and teachings of our Savior Jesus Christ, the true bread from heaven, who serves as our example and guide in living an unleavened life of sincerity and truth. Through this process, with the help of His Spirit, we strive to reflect His character image, growing in unity and knowledge of the Son of God, as we work together to build His church in love.

The Days of Unleavened Bread, as detailed in Exodus 12, were first observed by the Israelites immediately after escaping the slavery of Egypt, long before the law of Moses was given. This seven-day feast, following the Passover, is one of God's annual holy days outlined in Leviticus 23, and it holds significant spiritual meaning for His church. Jesus Christ, from His earliest childhood, faithfully kept the Days of Unleavened Bread, as recorded in Luke 2:41-43, demonstrating His commitment to observing God's commanded feasts. He did not annul these holy days during His ministry but continued to uphold them as an example for His followers. The early church, as documented in the book of Acts, also observed the Days of Unleavened Bread, showing their adherence to God's annual festivals. Paul, in his first epistle to the Corinthians, specifically references this feast in I Corinthians 5:6-7, admonishing his Gentile converts to keep the feast by purging out spiritual leaven, which represents sin. He emphasizes that Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us, linking the observance of these days to the understanding of His sacrifice. Paul's instruction to "let us keep the feast" clearly indicates that the Days of Unleavened Bread are to be observed by the New Testament church. Furthermore, Jesus commanded His disciples, the foundation of His church, to observe the Days of Unleavened Bread, as seen in Luke 22:8. This command extends to the church today, reinforcing that these holy days are not merely historical observances but are vital to maintaining the true worship and understanding of God's plan of salvation. The symbolism of the Days of Unleavened Bread, representing the removal of sin from our lives, remains a powerful reminder for God's people to live in obedience and spiritual purity.

The Days of Unleavened Bread, part of the spring holy day season, emphasize the importance of putting sin out of our lives for seven days. During this time, we focus on cleaning our homes of leaven, understanding that it symbolizes sin, and this physical act represents the greater effort of searching out and removing hidden sin from our lives. This season makes us acutely conscious of how we are living, encouraging us to walk softly before God and strive to be right with Him in every way. Although the physical days come to an end, we must carry the spiritual lessons of being unleavened throughout the year, working hard to remain free of sin. The purpose of these days is to teach eternal lessons, and we must not slip back into old habits once they are over, but instead use the meaning of being unleavened as a foundation to build our lives upon all year long.

Through the centuries, theologians have argued against the observance of God's holy days, often targeting scriptures like Galatians 4:9-10 to suggest that Christians need not keep the days declared holy by God's law. Among these holy days are the Days of Unleavened Bread, established by God as specific times to be observed. However, in the letter to the Galatians, Paul nowhere mentions these holy days as the weak and beggarly elements he criticizes. Instead, he is on record honoring God's law and teaching the Corinthians to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The context reveals that the observances Paul warns against are not God's commanded days but pagan, idolatrous festivals and practices that the Galatians were returning to after their conversion. Far from abolishing the Days of Unleavened Bread, these scriptures emphasize that true Christians should observe the holy days Jesus Christ kept, rejoicing in them as they walk in His footsteps.

Passover is approaching, and with it, the Days of Unleavened Bread. Deuteronomy 16:1-8 provides key instructions for this period, emphasizing the observance of unleavened bread for seven days. You shall eat no leavened bread with the sacrifice; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, known as the bread of affliction, to remember the day you came out of Egypt in haste. No leaven shall be seen among you in all your territory for these seven days. Six days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day, there shall be a sacred assembly to the LORD your God, during which you shall do no work. The instruction in Deuteronomy 16 clearly pertains to the seven Days of Unleavened Bread, focusing on the day Israel left Egypt, which is the 15th, and not the 14th. The entire period covered by this instruction is seven days, aligning with the Days of Unleavened Bread as a distinct observance.

We observed a simple teaching God commanded us to do during the Days of Unleavened Bread: we kept all leavening out of our houses and off our properties and ate only unleavened bread for seven days. Those short seven days flew by with easy but careful vigilance to ensure no leavened products crept into our houses and that we ate only unleavened bread each day. However, we must consider if we truly grasp the purpose behind these days. Are we merely performing a ritual, or are we ensuring the real point of deleavening our homes and observing these days does not get lost in the physical activity? We must keep in mind God's real purpose and our part in it. The Days of Unleavened Bread are about remembering the events of the Exodus and becoming involved in them so that we can use the lessons to enhance our journey toward God's Kingdom. It is not a time to rest or make a show of eating flat bread while counting the minutes until we can have leavened food again. It is a time for getting the leavening out and eating the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth while seeing and believing the awesome power of the great Creator God in delivering His people. It is a time to count the cost of our deliverance, to see God's justice and mercy in action, and to recognize that He has set apart His firstborn for Himself because He spared us from the death angel. It is a time to understand that, having been bought at such a great cost, we have a responsibility to make His law our law from the inside out to accomplish His purpose. We can keep these days just as the Israelites did, faithfully deleavening our homes and eating flat bread, but we must strive to make this year's feast the most remarkably memorable time in our personal history. We can march out of Egypt with the nation of Israel and see the mighty hand of God delivering us all along the way. We can be driven to make the Eternal's way our way because, in faith, we have already seen it work. As we prepare to deleaven our homes, we must keep the point of these days in mind. God has given us an extraordinary feast, a spiritual banquet, to remind us of many vital lessons, principles, and instructions that will nourish us in our trek toward our Promised Land, the Kingdom of God.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread contains a significant sign. In Exodus 13:6-10, God declares that eating unleavened bread for seven days and abstaining from leavening is a sign on your hand. This sign is given so that His law will be in our mouths, as it is in the doing but results in our speaking or teaching God's law. Additionally, this sign memorializes God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt and His deliverance of us from the powers of darkness. If we shrug off this sign, God's instructions leave our mouths, and if we diminish its importance, we despise God's deliverance and risk being ensnared again by sin, satan, and the world. Even among those who observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the sign is being undermined in some quarters, with claims that eating unleavened bread each day for seven days is not necessary and not a sin if neglected. Yet, considering Who the unleavened bread represents and our great spiritual need to ingest Him each day, it raises concerns about how much we tremble at the Word of God.

The Days of Unleavened Bread, as originally instructed by God, are distinct from Passover, though later traditions combined the two under the name Passover. The scriptural evidence indicates that Deuteronomy 16 originally referred to Unleavened Bread, but was altered to suggest a connection with Passover, creating confusion about the timing of these observances. This change likely occurred after the Jews returned from Babylonian captivity, under the influence of figures like Ezra, who centralized worship to prevent further disobedience to God's law. Despite such intentions, no human authority could permanently alter what God commanded regarding the Days of Unleavened Bread. In the New Testament, inspired writings clarify the distinction between Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, as seen in Mark 14:1, where the two feasts are explicitly separated. Luke 2:41 and 43 further emphasize this by referring to the plural "days" observed by Jesus in Jerusalem, indicating He kept the Days of Unleavened Bread as commanded by God, not according to human tradition. Jesus, living a perfect life, adhered strictly to God's commandments and would not have observed traditions that contradicted His Father's instructions, such as combining or altering the timing of these feasts. The preparation for the Days of Unleavened Bread involved significant effort, including removing leaven from homes and borders, a process that began well before the actual feast. Matthew, Mark, and Luke refer to a day of preparation as "the first of the unleavens," likely the 13th day, when leaven was required to be put out in readiness for both Passover and the subsequent Days of Unleavened Bread. This preparation underscores the importance of observing these days as God intended, distinct from later customs that merged the observances.

During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, God draws a clear, physical line for us by commanding that we do not eat leavening for seven days. We can create gray areas for ourselves, questioning items like baking soda in toothpaste or yeast in beer, but these are not truly gray areas if we adhere to the principle. Leaven symbolizes sin, as it makes bread rise just as sin causes us to puff up through pride. This line is fairly easy to see, and anything questionable returns to the principle that whatever is not of faith is sin. Just as the Feast of Unleavened Bread makes us concentrate on everything we eat, and hopefully on our daily actions as well, we must carry that attitude through the year. We have to make our judgments as simple as deciding on the last day of Unleavened Bread whether we can have a doughnut today or tomorrow.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread, as outlined in Exodus 13, carries profound significance for Israel. Moses instructed the people to remember the day they were delivered from Egypt, the house of bondage, by the strength of the Lord's hand, and no leavened bread shall be eaten. For seven days, they were to eat unleavened bread, with a feast to the Lord on the seventh day, ensuring that no leavened bread or leaven was seen among them in all their quarters. This observance was to be a sign on their hand and a memorial between their eyes, so that the Lord's law might be in their mouth, recalling how the Lord brought them out of Egypt with a strong hand. The purpose of the Feast of Unleavened Bread was to commemorate their release from bondage in Egypt, emphasizing that only God has the power to deliver. It also involves eating unleavened bread for seven days, symbolizing a complete cycle, and serves as a reminder of the Lord's law. For spiritual Israel today, this feast presents a great spiritual lesson, showing how only God can release us from the bondage of sin and lead us into His Kingdom. The Night to be Much Observed, marking the beginning of the feast, is a time to remember what our God and Savior did for us, especially recalling that it was the first night Jesus Christ's body lay in the tomb, signifying His sacrifice that delivers us from sin and death. The eating of unleavened bread for seven days further represents feeding on sincerity and truth, with truth being equated to the entirety of God's Word. As Jesus Christ is the Word and declared Himself as the truth, unleavened bread embodies this truth, urging us to love and uphold it. Finally, the feast serves as a sign that the Lord's law is in our mouth, pointing to the role of spiritual Israel as a kingdom of priests, destined to instruct the world in God's law and ways during the coming reign with Christ.

The Days of Unleavened Bread hold a significant place in the observance of sacred ordinances, marking a time of remembrance and spiritual reflection. These days, observed annually, follow the Passover and span seven days, during which only unleavened bread is eaten, symbolizing sincerity and truth. The first century Church of God, under the original apostles, continued to recognize the importance of these days, as evidenced by their mention in historical accounts around 59 AD and earlier, indicating their ongoing relevance in the early Christian community. The Days of Unleavened Bread are tied to the timing of the Lord's Supper, which is observed after sundown on the 14th of Abib, just before the feast beginning on the 15th, aligning with the scriptural command to keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.

The Days of Unleavened Bread hold significant importance as God commands their observance to symbolize the removal of sin from our lives. The New Testament emphasizes that Christians are to keep this festival, as Paul instructs, "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." Leaven represents sin and corruption, and Jesus Himself warns against the hypocrisy symbolized by leaven. Paul further illustrates the danger of sin spreading by stating that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. The act of deleavening our homes during the Days of Unleavened Bread serves as a powerful reminder of our need to purge sin from our lives. Paul advises using this feast to examine attitudes and remove sins, reinforcing that while we are justified through faith in Christ's sacrifice, allowing sin to return requires us to actively get rid of it. This physical act of removing leaven symbolizes a lifelong struggle against human nature, a process of sanctification as we strive to conform to the image of Jesus Christ. The annual observance of the Days of Unleavened Bread reminds us that we are not perfect and that our lives involve constant warfare against sin. Even when we diligently deleaven our homes, finding every crumb proves challenging, illustrating the deceitful nature of sin and the need for continuous self-examination. Removing sin is hard work, and this festival annually reinforces the ongoing battle all Christians must wage. The reason we must remove leaven from our homes, unlike the requirement for physical circumcision, lies in the enduring purpose of this act. While the symbolism of circumcision is fulfilled under the New Covenant through repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Spirit, the object lesson of deleavening retains great meaning. The symbolism of putting sin out of our lives will not be completely fulfilled until we are transformed and inherit the Kingdom of God, becoming like Him who cannot sin.

As the first signs of spring emerge, the minds of longtime Christians often turn to the nearness of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. We consider the need to evaluate ourselves in preparation for another year of living God's way, as well as to begin the physical work of removing leaven from our homes. The anticipation of extended fellowship, meaningful messages, and fine food during God's festivals fills us with eagerness, as these are indeed feasts. The Feast of Unleavened Bread, as outlined in Leviticus 23, carries significant principles for observance. These festivals are God's feasts, belonging to Him as their Source, who set their times and gave them meaning, with Him as their ultimate Object. Our observance must focus on Him and His teaching, bringing spiritual and physical benefits. Additionally, these holy times are proclaimed as holy convocations, set apart for bringing God's people together for fellowship, instruction, and to honor and worship Him, fostering unity in purpose, doctrine, and relationships within the Body of Christ. Specific instructions for the Feast of Unleavened Bread include observing the first and last days as Sabbaths, during which no customary work is to be done, except for preparing food necessary for feasting. God stipulates that feasting is part of the holy day experience, encouraging us to eat and drink in thanksgiving and joy on His appointed times, though it is preferable to prepare much of the food beforehand to fully benefit from the feasts. A unique aspect of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is God's command to remove leaven from our homes and to refrain from eating anything leavened for the seven days of the festival. Leavening, including yeast and modern chemicals like baking powder and baking soda, symbolizes corruption and sin. Through this festival, God emphasizes that just as He brought the children of Israel out of Egyptian slavery, He has brought us out of bondage to sin, calling us to live an unleavened life of sincerity and truth. During this week, Christians forgo soft breads, donuts, muffins, cakes, and other leavened breadstuff, instead eating matzos or homemade unleavened bread each day as a reminder of what God has done and how we should live before Him and this world. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is also one of the pilgrimage feasts where God's instruction includes giving offerings. We are to appear before the Lord our God and not come empty-handed, giving as we are able according to the blessings He has bestowed upon us. This practice helps us appreciate His loving care in greater ways.

During the observances of Passover under the righteous kings Hezekiah and Josiah, as recorded in II Chronicles, a multitude of additional sacrifices from flocks and herds accompanied the Passover lamb. These included burnt, peace, and thank offerings, which were normally offered during the Days of Unleavened Bread. These sacrifices were distinct from the Passover lamb, often referred to as Passover offerings because they occurred during the broader period associated with the feast, which encompassed the Days of Unleavened Bread. In II Chronicles 35, it is evident that two types of sacrifices were made during Josiah's observance: the Passover lambs and additional offerings such as burnt and peace offerings, which were either boiled or burnt on the fire. These additional offerings, made from both flock and herd, including cattle, were not part of the original Passover command but were commanded by God for other times, including the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Numbers 28:16-17 specifies that on the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of the LORD, and on the fifteenth day begins the feast where unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days, with no commanded burnt or other offerings for the day of Passover itself, highlighting that such offerings pertain to the Days of Unleavened Bread. Deuteronomy 16:1-8, while mentioning Passover, focuses on instructions related to the Feast of Unleavened Bread, particularly the Night to Be Much Observed, which is the first night after Passover. The text connects the month of Abib with the Exodus, a linkage consistently associated with Unleavened Bread in other scriptures such as Exodus 13:3-4, Exodus 23:14-15, and Exodus 34:18. The sacrifices described in Deuteronomy 16, to be made at the place where the LORD chooses to put His name, involve flock and herd, aligning with offerings typical of the Days of Unleavened Bread rather than the specific Passover lamb sacrifice. Furthermore, Deuteronomy 16:3 instructs to eat unleavened bread for seven days with the offering, which cannot refer to the Passover lamb as it was to be consumed and burned immediately after the meal, indicating these instructions pertain to the broader feast period. Deuteronomy 16:4 specifies that no leaven shall be seen for seven days and that meat sacrificed on the first day at twilight shall not remain until morning, aligning with the timing and practices of the first Day of Unleavened Bread, not Passover day. Deuteronomy 16:7-8 describes eating the sacrifice and then returning to tents in the morning, reflecting a celebration on the Night to Be Much Observed, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt, followed by six days of eating unleavened bread and a sacred assembly on the seventh day, further emphasizing the focus on the Days of Unleavened Bread. The scriptural evidence suggests that the original instructions in Deuteronomy 16 were for Unleavened Bread, specifically highlighting the practices and observances during this seven-day period following Passover.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread embodies the journey to true freedom under our immortal, almighty Redeemer. Unlike mere men with limitations, He provides us with a clear and explicit vision of our future, revealing where we are going and how we may arrive there. He possesses the complete power and authority to ensure we reach our Promised Land. This feast highlights our part in preparing for the place He is preparing for us, as we learn His way of life to be raised at the last day. Through His guidance, those on God's list are led to complete and total freedom as His sons and daughters.

A pagan seven-day celebration to Baal coincided exactly with the Feast of Unleavened Bread, occurring from the fifteenth to the twenty-second day of the first month. This parallel highlights a counterfeit pattern established by satan to mimic the true celebrations ordained by God. During the time of Hezekiah, a significant reform took place, and a great congregation assembled at Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, following the Passover, at the commandment of the king rather than a direct command from God. This unusual circumstance saw both the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread observed together, though no such combined observance was specified in the law. Hezekiah, driven by the urgency of national survival, centralized worship at the Temple to oversee the practices, ensuring they were not corrupted by pagan influences. The children of Israel present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great gladness, accompanied by the Levites and priests praising the LORD daily. Under Josiah, additional offerings beyond the Passover lamb were made during the Days of Unleavened Bread, and for the first time in Scripture, the entire eight-day period was referred to as Passover, indicating a blending of the two observances. This shift occurred during a national emergency, where Josiah, like Hezekiah, assumed control to prevent the people from reverting to pagan practices, enforcing worship in a manner he deemed necessary under the circumstances.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread holds a significant place in the observance of God's law, emphasizing the importance of morality and righteous living. This holy day, particularly the First Day of Unleavened Bread, serves as a memorial of God's act of bringing Israel out of Egypt, symbolizing His grace in calling His people out of bondage and setting them on the path to the Promised Land. Similarly, it reflects how He calls us out of sin and places us on the road to the Kingdom of God. During the seven days of this feast, we are instructed to eat unleavened bread and to ensure no leaven is seen among us, as outlined in Exodus 13:3-10. This act of eating unleavened bread represents taking in and accepting what is good, pure, and right, while rejecting what is corrupt and sinful. Moses links this observance to the day God freed Israel, underscoring that it is by His strength alone that we are delivered, much like our own calling where we simply follow His lead. The symbolism of unleavened bread is further elaborated in I Corinthians 5:6-8, where Paul urges us to purge out the old leaven of malice and wickedness and to keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. This means actively identifying and overcoming sin, replacing bad habits with right and holy behavior based on God's undefiled Word. Paul emphasizes that Christ has made us unleavened through His sacrifice, and our role is to remove what is corrupt and to embrace what is pure, becoming a new lump, a renewed creation in the image of Christ. Exodus 13:8-10 also instructs us to teach future generations about this feast, highlighting three key points: God's act of freeing us by His own power, the feast as a sign and memorial that His law may be in our mouth, and the perpetual observance of this ordinance each year. The concept of having the Lord's law in our mouth, as seen in Deuteronomy 30:11-14, signifies that His Word is near to us, to be taken into our hearts and minds, spoken, and lived out in our actions. This feast reminds us annually to focus on His law, which defines sin and guides us to overcome it while practicing righteousness. The Feast of Unleavened Bread plays a crucial role in reminding us that our journey does not end with initial justification. It symbolizes a long period of actively purging sin and adopting pure, truthful living, aligning with God's desire to create a people in the image of His Son, eager to live as He does. This observance remains an integral part of our walk toward the Kingdom of God, reinforcing the necessity of moral living guided by His law.

During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we are reminded of the importance of removing sin from our lives, as God has commanded us to observe this time with great care. In Exodus 12:15-20, it is clear that for seven days we must eat unleavened bread and ensure no leaven is found in our houses, for anyone who eats leavened bread during this period shall be cut off from Israel. This feast serves as a memorial of God bringing the Israelites out of Egypt, a symbol of the sinful, anti-God world, by His mighty hand and outstretched arm. Just as He led them out of oppression, He watches over us as we walk out of a sinful world controlled by satan the devil, intervening in our lives to turn us toward Him and repent. Every year, during the Days of Unleavened Bread, we are called to rededicate ourselves to the fight against sin, recognizing that this battle continues as long as we are in human flesh. God wants us to remember His power in delivering Israel and in continuing to deliver us, pushing us through the wilderness toward the Promised Land. We must cooperate with Him, searching out sin, digging it out, and purging it completely, waging total war against this corrosive enemy. In I Corinthians 5:6-8, Paul emphasizes the need to purge out the old leaven, for a little leaven leavens the whole lump. We are to become a new lump, truly unleavened, as Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore, we must keep the feast not with the old leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. The Greek word for purge, ekkathairo, means to clean out thoroughly, removing all impurities and abominations so that not one vestige of sin remains. God desires us to reach into the heart of the problem, cleansing it so deeply that no trace of sin can surge back to infect us again.

The Days of Unleavened Bread serve as a vital reminder of the re-education process we undergo in our spiritual journey. As recorded in Exodus 13:3-10, Moses instructed the people to remember the day they left Egypt, the house of bondage, by the strength of the LORD's hand, and to eat no leavened bread. For seven days, beginning on the fifteenth day of the month Abib, they were to eat unleavened bread, ensuring no leaven was seen among them. This act symbolizes stopping one behavior and starting another, continuing in that new way. It parallels the Sabbath, where we cease normal labors and engage in God's will, and similarly, during these days, we leave leavened bread and embrace unleavened bread. This observance annually commemorates how God led Israel out of Egypt, a process taking seven days culminating with the crossing of the Red Sea, and likewise redeems us from a spiritual Egypt, guiding us toward the Promised Land, the Kingdom of God. In I Corinthians 5:7-8, Paul urges the Corinthian church to purge out the old leaven to become a new lump, as they are unleavened through Christ, our Passover, who was sacrificed for us. He commands them to keep the feast, not with the old leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Here, leaven represents the corruption of sin, which we must remove from our lives, while unleavened bread signifies living with pure, unadulterated motives and clear spiritual judgment. The challenge of living in sincerity and truth is evident, as our understanding varies and is limited by our backgrounds and abilities. Despite being de-leavened by Christ's sacrifice, sin and human nature persist within us, as Paul expresses in Romans 7:14-25, describing the ongoing battle against the flesh. This struggle mirrors Israel's experiences in the wilderness, where God sought to re-educate them by commanding them to abandon the sinful ways of Egypt and Canaan and to follow His life-giving ordinances, as seen in Leviticus 18:1-5. The Days of Unleavened Bread thus encapsulate this dual process of purging old ways and adopting God's path, a re-education essential for our spiritual growth.

One of God's annual feasts, the Days of Unleavened Bread, provides instruction on avoiding a famine of hearing His Word. The New Testament shows that Jesus Christ and the disciples observed this feast, continuing even after His death. In this context, leavening symbolizes sin, hypocrisy, pride, and false doctrine, while unleavened bread represents sincerity and truth. A famine of hearing God's words is akin to a famine of eating unleavened bread, leading people to consume leavening—false doctrines and wicked ways of thinking. The instructions for the Days of Unleavened Bread offer a solution that requires continual diligence. God commands the removal of all leavening, ensuring none is seen, which means being vigilant to keep out falsehoods and guard against the world's philosophies that can poison the mind. Simultaneously, He instructs us to eat unleavened bread, taking in truth every day. The emphasis appears greater on ingesting truth, as there are more instructions about eating unleavened bread than avoiding leavening, suggesting that making truth a part of us is vital. This act of studying truth enables us to identify and resist falsehoods by being familiar with what is true. Neglecting either action is not an option; God requires both avoidance of leavening and intake of unleavened bread. If we pass over truth for something less nourishing, we risk becoming spiritually weak over time, unable to resist lies, and may not realize we are starving ourselves to spiritual death. However, if we value God's truth, diligently ingest this unleavened bread daily, and carefully avoid what is false, He will continue to feed and bless us with His truth. The preventative for this famine lies in what we value, appreciate, and prioritize.

The Days of Unleavened Bread hold a significant place in the history and observance of God's plan, beginning on the 15th day of the first month, as distinct from the Passover on the 14th. This period, starting with the Night To Be Much Observed, marks the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt, a night of solemn observance to the LORD for bringing them out of bondage, as recorded in Exodus 12:40-42. It is a time to remember the action required to maintain and grow the relationship with God, emphasizing the need to leave Egypt, which symbolizes sin. The scriptures clearly delineate the timing of events, with Numbers 33:1-4 specifying that the Israelites departed from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover, going out with boldness in the sight of the Egyptians. Deuteronomy 16:1 further confirms this by noting that the LORD brought them out of Egypt by night, aligning with the start of the Days of Unleavened Bread. During these seven days, as instructed in Exodus 12:15 and Deuteronomy 16:3-4, no leavened bread is to be eaten, symbolizing the haste of their departure and the bread of affliction. Specific sacrifices associated with the Days of Unleavened Bread, particularly on the first day at twilight, are highlighted in Deuteronomy 16:2-7. These sacrifices, distinct from the Passover offering, are to be made at the place where the LORD chooses, and involve boiling the meat, not roasting as with the Passover lamb. These offerings, often referred to as hagigah or festivity sacrifices, are occasions of social rejoicing before the LORD, as seen in various scriptural references, and are meant to be eaten without impurity, reflecting the call to leave sin behind during this period. The Night To Be Much Observed, at the beginning of the Days of Unleavened Bread, is a commanded observance that initiates these days with a focus on God's watchful care and providence. It commemorates the ease with which Israel left Egypt under God's protection, a historical event of profound significance, marking the start of their journey out of bondage and into a covenant relationship with Him.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a significant annual observance that God commands us to keep every year in its season as a memorial of Him leading Israel out of Egypt. It is a feast unto the Lord, not merely for our enjoyment, but as part of our worship of Him, to be observed perpetually by an everlasting ordinance. For seven days, we are to eat unleavened bread and ensure no leavened bread passes our lips, completely removing all leaven from our dwellings by the first day to avoid any taint during this holy time. God instructs us to meet in holy convocation on the first and seventh days, refraining from customary work except for necessary food preparation, emphasizing a focus on spiritual matters over physical ones. The Days of Unleavened Bread, as named by God, center on the command to remove leavening and consume unleavened bread, symbolizing a deeper spiritual process. This feast portrays the work God does in bringing us out of sin and this sinful world, likened to coming out of Egypt. It also represents a lifelong journey of overcoming sin and walking in righteousness, not just the initial liberation but a continuous path through the wilderness of life toward complete freedom. Through this annual repetition, God ensures we rehearse the meanings and applications of these days, embedding layers of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom into our character as we actively engage in learning more about His way of life.

The Days of Unleavened Bread hold significant meaning as a reminder of God's redemption and the journey out of sin toward His Kingdom. This observance, rooted in the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, symbolizes God leading His people out of bondage and into the wilderness, paralleling the Christian path from Satan's grasp to a life directed toward the Promised Land. It underscores the challenges of overcoming ingrained sinful habits and the continuous struggle against the influences of the world and Satan, with God providing the strength to resist and grow. In I Corinthians 5:6-8, Paul instructs the church to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread, emphasizing the need to purge out the old leaven of malice and wickedness and to replace it with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. This involves cleansing both the mind and actions, addressing inner attitudes as well as outward behaviors, to stand before God holy and incorrupt. Paul's command to keep this Feast, even years after Christ's death and resurrection, highlights its ongoing importance for the church as a yearly reminder of the process of removing sin and embracing righteousness. The original instruction in Exodus 12:15-17 establishes the observance of Unleavened Bread for seven days, with the removal of leaven from houses and holy convocations on the first and seventh days. God declares this as an everlasting ordinance, to be observed throughout generations, signifying its eternal relevance. It serves not only to commemorate God's act of bringing the Israelites out of Egypt but also to remind His people of their active role in coming out of sin. In I Peter 4:1-4, Peter connects the theme of Unleavened Bread to the Christian walk, urging believers to live righteously in response to Christ's sacrifice. He describes how they once followed the ways of the world, engaging in various sins, but now must resist conformity to such corporate behaviors. God has redeemed them from mindless devotion to the world's course, setting them on a path toward His Kingdom, requiring a deliberate choice to reject the crowd's sinful ways. Similarly, in Ephesians 2:1-3, Paul speaks of being made alive by God from a state of spiritual death due to trespasses and sins, having once walked according to the course of this world under Satan's influence. This reflects the corporate nature of sin that all have followed, but through God's intervention, believers are freed from blind conformity to pursue His way. The Days of Unleavened Bread, as observed by the New Testament church, including Jesus and the apostles, reinforce the call to leave behind the leaven of sin and to walk in sincerity and truth, both individually and as a body set apart from the world's influences.

The Days of Unleavened Bread serve as a vital teaching experience, emphasizing the importance of repeatedly engaging in practices that ingrain spiritual lessons into our character. God commands us to observe these days by removing leaven from our homes and eating unleavened bread for seven days, as a reminder of the liberation from bondage experienced by the children of Israel when the Lord brought them out of Egypt with a strong hand. This act of eating unleavened bread symbolizes freedom, contrasting with leaven, which represents slavery and sin, and it reinforces our memory of spiritual liberty. Each year, during the Days of Unleavened Bread, we receive instructions on their themes, learning and adding to our understanding through repetition. This constant revisiting ensures that the lessons become deeply embedded in our minds, influencing our judgments and choices. The practice of removing leaven is an object lesson, actively engaging us to enforce the teaching of freedom and the obligation to avoid sin, which keeps us free from bondage. God's purpose in repeating these observances is to counteract human nature's tendency to forget, as seen in the Israelites who, despite witnessing His power, failed to retain the lessons of their liberation. The Days of Unleavened Bread define our responsibility in His plan to purge out old teachings, habits, and attitudes—symbolized by leaven—so that we may be renewed and conform to His ways. Through these practices, we are reminded that maintaining liberty requires continuous effort to eliminate the influences that lead to spiritual bondage.

The Days of Unleavened Bread hold a significant place in understanding our relationship with God and the process of sanctification. We keep the Days of Unleavened Bread as a celebration of what God does, for He brings us out of this world's system and sin, not merely that we come out on our own. As recorded in Exodus 13:3, Moses instructed the people to remember the day they came out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, for by the strength of His hand, the LORD brought them out, and no leavened bread shall be eaten. This command is directly tied to what the LORD accomplished for us. Further, in Exodus 13:7-9, it is emphasized that unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days, with no leaven seen among us, as a sign and memorial of what the LORD did when He brought us out of Egypt. This act serves to keep the LORD's law in our mouths, acknowledging His mighty hand in our deliverance. Repeatedly, as seen in Exodus 13:14, we are reminded to tell our children that it was by the strength of the LORD's hand that we were brought out from Egypt, from bondage. This celebration during the Days of Unleavened Bread is not a minor detail but a major lesson to be rehearsed at the beginning of each Sacred Year. It establishes the proper footing for the entire salvation process, orienting our thinking toward our relationship with God. It is a vital reminder of God's grace, which we celebrate during Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, recognizing that all we are and all we achieve in righteousness is due to what He has done. If we are to glory, we must glory in the Lord, in what He is creating in us, enabling us to imitate Him.