The Feast of Unleavened Bread, as outlined in God's instructions, holds a significant place among His appointed feasts, reflecting His purpose and precision. This seven-day feast, beginning just after Passover, is a time to remember God's deliverance, as He brought Israel out of Egypt. God's command is clear: for seven days, we must eat unleavened bread, emphasizing not merely the avoidance of leaven but the active partaking in what represents His deliverance. The focus is on what He did for us, memorializing His act of bringing us out of spiritual bondage. In the arrangement of God's feasts, Unleavened Bread mirrors a chiastic structure with the Feast of Tabernacles, where the first relates to the latter in a pattern of reversal. Both feasts span seven days, symbolizing divine perfection and completion, and involve specific actions for all seven days. For Unleavened Bread, the connection to dwellings is evident as God instructs that all leaven must be removed from our houses, representing stability and a settled place. These houses, with their foundations, contrast with the temporary booths of Tabernacles, yet both point to Christ as our true foundation and shelter. The food aspect of Unleavened Bread, named for the bread of affliction, recalls the haste of the exodus and the lack of time to prepare normal bread. This restricted diet keeps us off balance, prompting reflection on God's deliverance each day we eat unleavened bread. It serves as a reminder of our dependence on Him, just as the Israelites depended on Him during their journey from Egypt, beginning at Succoth, a place named for booths, linking it symbolically to Tabernacles. Through these elements, Unleavened Bread teaches us about God's act of deliverance and the stability He provides in a spiritual house, urging us to feed on the Bread of Life, Christ Himself, for strength to overcome. Both feasts, through their similarities in duration and focus on dwellings and food, and their differences in permanence and lack, guide us to trust in God's providence and surrender to His guidance on our journey.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is first mentioned by name in Exodus 12:14, 17-20, where God ties the command to observe this Feast 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. The instructions, then, are weighted toward the positive aspect of eating rather than the negative aspect of avoiding. Even the name of the Feast gives us an obvious clue to what God intends the focus to be: eating unleavened bread, rather than avoiding leavening. Moses records a third witness of this in Exodus 34:18: "The Feast of Unleavened Bread you shall keep. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, in the appointed time of the month of Abib; for in the month of Abib you came out from Egypt." We see the same two elements here, and thus the same emphasis. The focus of this Feast, then, must remain on God's activity.

The instructions for the Feast of Unleavened Bread reveal that the primary reason for its observance is to remember God's deliverance. The second instruction is to eat unleavened bread every day for the duration of the Feast. A third, vital aspect of this Feast is that we must eat nothing leavened nor have leavening in our houses, as stated in Exodus 12:19-20. This aspect of avoiding sin, or overcoming, is important but not at the top of the list for this Feast. If we overlook God's deliverance or neglect the eating of unleavened bread, we will be unable to perform the third aspect of putting away sin that God requires.

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. It is only through continually feeding on that spiritual sustenance that we abide in Christ and have access to spiritual strength. Without the Unleavened Bread of Life, we have no means to overcome and 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 Feast of Unleavened Bread, observed by members of the church of God, memorializes the redemption and exodus of the children of Israel from Egyptian slavery. God commands in Exodus 13:3, 8-9 to keep this feast as a reminder of His deliverance of them from the Egyptians. Its symbols picture God's deliverance of the elect from this evil world and the corruption of a life of sin. In Exodus 12:17-18, God instructs the Israelites to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on that day He brought their armies out of Egypt, and they are to eat unleavened bread from the fourteenth day of the first month at evening until the twenty-first day at evening, with no leavening found in their houses for seven days. Additionally, in Exodus 12:50-51, it is recorded that the children of Israel followed the LORD's commands through Moses and Aaron, and on that very day, the LORD brought them out of Egypt according to their armies. The earliest mention of unleavened bread, or matzah, appears in Genesis 19:3, where Lot in Sodom served it to his angelic guests during a feast, connecting it to his divine deliverance from corruption.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread holds a significant focus on both removing leaven and consuming unleavened bread. Initially, the emphasis was on diligently cleaning houses and automobiles of everything containing leaven before the feast, ensuring that nothing with leaven was consumed during it. While keeping leaven out remains important, the primary focus should shift to eating unleavened bread. Scripture repeatedly commands the eating of unleavened bread for seven days, as seen in various passages, highlighting its central role in the observance. This act of eating unleavened bread symbolizes becoming unleavened, purified, and perfected in love, reflecting the divine nature of God. It serves as a reminder to transform human nature into the likeness of Jesus Christ, the perfect Unleavened Bread of Life from heaven. The number seven, symbolizing perfection in Scripture, underscores this journey toward perfection through the seven days of the feast. Ultimately, the Feast of Unleavened Bread is about replacing sinful, carnal nature with the divine nature of love, aligning with the command to be perfect in love as the Father in heaven is perfect.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is highly disruptive, not only due to the effort required in deleavening but also because it affects our diets, which certainly captures our attention as God intends. This feast stands out among other days, prompting us to consider its significance. It is first mentioned by name in Exodus 12, where God provides the fundamental reason for its observance: it serves as a memorial of His deliverance, specifically recalling the day He brought His people out of Egypt. God commands this feast to be observed to continually remember His act of deliverance, which forms the foundation for all other aspects of the feast. The eating of unleavened bread and the avoidance of leavening are actions taken in response to this memorial, yet the primary reason God gives is to commemorate His deliverance. Although rejoicing is not directly mentioned in the instructions, it is implied as this is a feast, and rejoicing should result from remembering God's deliverance, even if the food, often referred to as the bread of affliction, is unusual compared to typical festive fare. The Bible consistently calls the seven-day observance the Feast of Unleavened Bread, emphasizing it as a time to celebrate. Physical Israel kept this feast as a memorial of God's deliverance from Egypt, while spiritual Israel observes it as a memorial of a greater, spiritual deliverance. Repeated references in Scripture, such as in Exodus 23:15 and Exodus 34:18, tie the command to observe this feast with God's act of deliverance, reinforcing that the feast is not a celebration of human actions but a memorial of what He has done. God emphasizes that the Israelites came out of Egypt only because He made it possible by intervening and leading them out, highlighting His role as the initiator and primary actor in their liberation. The feast also serves as a reminder of the environment from which God delivered His people, symbolized by Egypt as a place of affliction and slavery under a hostile ruler. Eating unleavened bread each day recalls this former oppression and the hardship endured before God's intervention. The instructions for the feast, as reiterated in various passages, consistently focus on remembering God's deliverance, with the act of eating unleavened bread serving as a token to reinforce this memory and signify a new beginning. Furthermore, the feast involves having God's law in our mouths, suggesting that both speaking about and taking in God's teachings are significant aspects of the observance. This dual application encourages reflecting on God's work and communicating it, as well as feeding on His word more intently during these seven days. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is ultimately a feast to the LORD, centered on His deliverance and the provision of the bread of life, which helps His people remain free from the world and its influences. Avoiding leavening in all its forms is dependent on taking in the unleavened bread that represents Christ and His words, ensuring that the spirit of the world loses its hold as the spiritual value of what has been given becomes paramount.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread holds a significant place in the journey of salvation, closely tied to the spiritual progression that leads to the giving of God's Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. This festival, observed by eating unleavened bread for seven days, is directly intended by God to serve as a reminder of what He has done to bring His people out of bondage. The keeping of the first day of Unleavened Bread, in particular, emphasizes God's role in this deliverance, as at that early stage of conversion, little has been overcome by the individual. The Days of Unleavened Bread are indeed about overcoming, but primarily they highlight God overcoming satan, this world, and sin, rather than the efforts of individuals. This understanding is crucial to recognize that He is the leader, the guide, and the Captain of salvation, breaking His people free from their bondage. The eating of unleavened bread does not picture coming out of sin but rather serves as a memorial of what God did. Israel came out of Egypt already eating unleavened bread, symbolizing their obedience in following Him. Eating unleavened bread during this period is an act of righteousness, not a depiction of emerging from sin. It represents doing what is right by obeying God's command. If one follows God in righteousness, they will not sin, as they are aligning with His will. The emphasis in eating unleavened bread is on performing righteous acts through obedience, underscoring the importance of following God as the central focus of this observance.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread holds a significant place in reminding us of what God has done for 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 accomplished in bringing us out of bondage. This is emphasized in the personal nature of the command, as it is about what the Lord did for each individual when they came forth out of Egypt. Eating unleavened bread is not primarily about coming out of sin, but rather about remembering God's actions and submitting to His lead by following Him. It symbolizes righteousness, which is doing things as God would have us do them. When we follow God proactively, it becomes almost impossible to sin, shifting the focus from avoiding sin to actively pursuing righteousness. The Days of Unleavened Bread are primarily about God overcoming—overcoming satan, the world, and sin—rather than our own efforts. They memorialize what God did to free us from bondage, serving as our starting point. Eating unleavened bread every day during this feast is a reminder to follow God's way every day of our lives, focusing our minds on His instruction in righteousness to live in harmony with Him. This annual seven-day observance is a concentrated effort to reinforce that following God's lead, as Israel did out of Egypt and through the wilderness, is crucial to preparing for the Kingdom of God. It underscores a two-pronged approach: remembering what God did to make this way of life possible and symbolizing our proactive pursuit of righteousness by following Him, which naturally leads to leaving sin behind.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread holds a significant place in understanding God's work in our salvation. The eating of unleavened bread during this feast is not primarily about coming out of sin, but serves as a memorial of what God did in releasing us from bondage. As recorded in Exodus 13, we eat unleavened bread because of what the Lord accomplished, not because of our own actions in leaving sin behind. God initiated and performed the work of freeing us, and the observance of this feast reminds us of His pivotal role in our liberation. The Days of Unleavened Bread, along with the eating of unleavened bread for seven days, are intended by God to be a reminder of His actions in bringing us out of captivity. This feast is primarily about God overcoming the world and its influences, rather than our personal efforts in overcoming sin. The initial context of eating unleavened bread is tied to following God's lead, as exemplified by the Israelites who followed Him out of Egypt, obeying His guidance through the pillar of fire and cloud. Egypt, in this context, represents the world, not sin directly, and serves as the place of our bondage. The act of eating unleavened bread symbolizes following God's direction, which inherently leads to righteousness. When the Israelites left Egypt on the first day of Unleavened Bread, they were no longer of the world, even though they were still within its territory. Their journey began by following God, signifying obedience and a departure from the influences of the world. The command to eat unleavened bread for seven days during the feast underscores a continuous call to righteousness. God does not offer an option to deviate from this path; we are always under His command to follow Him. Unleavened bread represents sincerity and purity, reflecting the pure Word of God that we are to follow without fail. This feast pictures what God does—virtually everything in bringing us out—and our small but essential part, which is to follow His lead in righteousness. The emphasis during the Days of Unleavened Bread is not on avoiding sin but on doing what is right by following God. This positive approach mirrors the life of Jesus Christ, who did not sin because He always did what was right. God's command to eat unleavened bread each day of the feast reinforces that we are to walk in righteousness continually, as He leads us out of the world and toward His purpose.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a commanded holy day on God's sacred calendar. It is observed for seven days, during which participants are instructed to eat unleavened bread every day of the feast. This emphasis on eating unleavened bread is central to the feast, as it is mentioned repeatedly in the instructions given in Exodus 12, Exodus 23, and Leviticus 23. The apostle Paul in I Corinthians 5:8 refers to the Feast of Unleavened Bread as a type, suggesting that the unleavened bread symbolizes sincerity and truth. Sincerity represents an inward quality of tested purity, akin to holding a piece of cloth up to the sun to reveal its flaws. It implies a spotless mind or heart, flawless integrity, transparency, honesty, and having no ulterior motives. Truth, on the other hand, stands for the outward manifestation of genuine Christian character, which is the active right doing or the living out of that pure mind or heart. The feast serves as a reminder to focus on ingesting, incorporating, and assimilating the bread of life, which is Jesus Christ, into our daily lives. This practice of consuming Christ through diligent study helps develop the sincerity and truth needed to exhibit holiness and righteousness. The feast encourages the habit of daily spiritual nourishment, akin to eating unleavened bread every day, to grow into the image of Christ and have the mind of Christ. The Feast of Unleavened Bread also commemorates God's redemption of Israel from Egypt, symbolizing the spiritual journey from bondage to freedom. This redemption came at a great cost, with the death of the firstborn in Egypt, and Israel's deliverance was secured by the blood of the Lamb. This event is a type of the spiritual redemption and freedom from sin that believers experience through Christ. The feast underscores God's agency in calling and leading His people, both physically and spiritually, out of bondage. It reflects God's love, faithfulness, and His plan to build a nation of people resembling Abraham, both physically and spiritually. The ultimate focus of the feast is on Christ's role as the bread of life, leading believers in their walk of faith and righteousness toward the Kingdom of God.

The Days of Unleavened Bread, lasting seven days, symbolize our journey out of sin and away from this world to follow God. This period represents 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 the world and learning God's way can take as much time as we spent following the wrong path. During this one week each year, God reminds us of our responsibilities on our Christian pilgrimage, offering hope, confidence, and encouragement that we can succeed in becoming unleavened. The focus is not only on removing leaven, which represents sin, but also on eating unleavened bread, which symbolizes embracing God's Word with sincerity and truth. This dual action of removing sin and ingesting God's Word compels us to live it out through our actions, striving to do good and fulfill God's will.

The first day of Unleavened Bread began last night as part of the Night To Be Much Observed and continued until sunset the following evening. This day holds great significance and importance for Christians, memorializing distinctive events, prophecies, promises, and fulfillments made by God in the distant past, which continue to be fulfilled by Him to this day. It is God's faithfulness, combined with these elements, that makes this day so notable. However, attacks against the observance of the first day of Unleavened Bread and other festivals of God persist, both from outside and within the Church of God. Abib 15, also known as Nisan 15, is established as the first day of Unleavened Bread, distinct from Passover on the 14th. Scripture clearly indicates that the 15th is a Sabbath, a day of unleavened bread, during which unleavened bread is to be eaten for seven days. Unleavened bread is never mentioned in reference to Passover except for the meal itself, as no sacrifice to God was to contain leaven. The Days of Unleavened Bread begin as the 14th ends and the 15th begins, continuing until the end of the 21st of Abib, encompassing the full seven days without including the 14th Passover. Israel left Egypt on the 15th, at the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, not on Passover, which is on the 14th. This departure occurred on the night of the 15th, distinguishing it from Passover events. Scripture emphasizes remembering the 15th as the first day of Unleavened Bread, the day they came out of Egypt, separate from Passover, with each day holding its own significance and to be observed for its unique occasion. Both Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread are designated as separate festivals, each to be kept for its distinct purpose.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is observed from the 15th to the 21st of Abib, also known as Nisan, on the Hebrew calendar, lasting seven days. The first and last days of this week are holy convocations, days set apart for gathering before God to worship Him. During these seven days, we are strictly commanded to eat unleavened bread and to ensure that no leaven is found in any place under our authority, such as our homes, cars, or workplaces. This command is to be followed diligently, as it was originally given with severe consequences for disobedience. The timeline for the Feast of Unleavened Bread is clear: by the end of the 14th day at evening, all leaven must be removed from our possessions. From the beginning of the 15th day until the end of the 21st day, nothing leavened can be eaten or present in our homes. This period focuses on the removal of leaven, emphasizing a commitment to purging sin from our lives, even as we are seen as truly unleavened before God through His grace.

Every year, God guides His church through seven holy days to reveal His plan for mankind, with the Feast of Unleavened Bread holding significant lessons during the Passover season. This feast, lasting seven days, emphasizes the importance of putting sin out of our lives, as we diligently clean our homes of leaven, symbolizing the search for hidden sin. The Days of Unleavened Bread reinforce our commitment to walk softly before God, striving to be right with Him in every way. Though the physical days of the feast pass, we must carry forward the spiritual meaning, working hard to remain unleavened throughout the year. God's purpose in these holy days is to teach eternal lessons, and we are called to apply the insights from the Feast of Unleavened Bread continuously, ensuring we do not slip back into old habits or become leavened again.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread plays a significant role in the spiritual journey of believers, 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 with both negative and positive commands: no leavened bread shall be eaten, and unleavened bread shall be consumed for seven days. This balance mirrors the spiritual directives to not conform to the world and to be transformed by the renewing of the mind. The act of abstaining from leavened bread symbolizes rejecting worldly corruption, while eating unleavened bread represents ingesting God's righteousness and instruction. The feast serves as an annual reminder through physical actions, such as cleaning out leaven, and spiritual exercises, like keeping leaven out of one's life, to ensure that God's law remains central in thought and deed. It emphasizes that God's instruction should be in one's mouth, metaphorically represented by the hand for work and the forehead for thinking, highlighting the importance of practice and belief. Furthermore, the Feast of Unleavened Bread underscores the principle of input and output, where what is taken into the mind and heart influences what is expressed in life. It calls believers to shun sin and seek the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth on a daily basis throughout the seven days. Jesus Christ, speaking around the time of this feast as noted in John 6, emphasized seeking the food that endures to everlasting life rather than perishable bread, pointing to Himself as the true bread from heaven. His words and Spirit are presented as the essential elements for eternal life. This feast also serves as a reminder to focus on spiritual transformation over mere physical or intellectual pursuits. It is not about accumulating knowledge or doctrine alone but about ingesting the character and example of Jesus Christ, reflecting His image in daily life. The ultimate goal, as the feast illustrates, is to grow into His likeness, to love righteousness, hate lawlessness, and serve God with undivided loyalty, all while fostering unity and forgiveness among believers. As this feast concludes, the focus remains on the life and teachings of our Savior Jesus Christ, the true bread from heaven, who guides in remaining unleavened.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread serves as a profound object lesson within God's holy days, emphasizing the need to purge out leaven from our lives as a symbol of removing sin and false teaching. This annual practice of not eating leaven, putting leaven out of our homes, and consuming unleavened bread is designed to be a learning experience that helps us remember important spiritual truths. By being deeply involved in these activities, the memories become more vivid, reinforcing the lessons God intends for us to learn. The Days of Unleavened Bread define our responsibility in God's plan, requiring us to actively purge out the old leaven to become new and converted. While God does His part in this transformation, we are also required to do ours by working to eliminate false teachings, habits, attitudes, and ways that conflict with God's doctrines. This process of purging is essential because sin, represented by leaven, begins with false teaching that is accepted and practiced, often from early in life before conversion. Each year, as we begin the repetition of the holy days, God reminds us at the outset of the Feast of Unleavened Bread that we have received grace through the blood of Jesus Christ. This sets the stage for our major responsibility to work towards purging out the leaven within us, preparing us for living in His Kingdom. The symbolism of leaven further teaches us to be cautious of thoughtlessly ingesting false doctrines, which may seem pleasurable but ultimately have harmful consequences. The act of removing leaven from our homes, though it may seem simplistic, reinforces a spiritual lesson that drives home the importance of continuing this effort throughout the year. By participating in these practices, we are reminded that what may seem necessary or pleasurable in life, like leaven in bread, must be sacrificed to align with God's purpose. Through this annual observance, we are encouraged to yield to Him, trusting that He will do His part to miraculously purge the leaven from us as we strive to live according to His truth.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread begins the day after Passover, on April 20, marking a significant time for God's people to observe His commands. God instructed through Moses that leaven must be removed from homes on the first day of this feast, and no leaven should be found in houses for seven days, as stated in Exodus 12:15 and 19. This command extends to all areas of responsibility, including homes and quarters, which encompass borders and territories under one's control, as detailed in Exodus 13:7. God expects sensible application of this instruction, focusing only on areas where leaven might reasonably be present. The type of leaven to be removed during the seven Days of Unleavened Bread includes baking powder and yeast used in breads, cakes, and cookies, but excludes brewers' yeast and related drinks. God does not require extreme measures like making homes antiseptic, nor does He expect carelessness; a balanced, thorough approach to deleavening is necessary. All family members, including children, should participate in deleavening to symbolize the putting away of sin, as no single person can address the sins of others. For those unable to perform heavy housework due to age or health, assistance from fellow members is encouraged, reflecting the communal need for help in removing spiritual leaven. Deleavening must be completed by the sunset that closes Abib/Nisan 14, marking the beginning of the First Day of Unleavened Bread and the Night to be Much Observed. God commands that no work, including deleavening, be done on this holy day, except for necessary food preparation, as clarified in Exodus 12:16. Leaven should remain off the property until after the sunset closing Abib 21, the Last Day of Unleavened Bread. Planning for deleavening should start early, considering practical aspects like garbage pick-up schedules and supplies, to ensure focus on both physical and spiritual preparations for this significant feast.

During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, God draws a clear, physical line for us—do not eat leavening for seven days. We can create gray areas for ourselves, questioning things 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. That 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 it is hoped, makes us focus on our daily actions as well, we must carry that attitude through the year. We have to make our judgments as simple as asking ourselves on the last day of Unleavened Bread, can I have a doughnut today? No. Can I have one tomorrow? Yes.

Under the reign of Hezekiah, a significant event unfolded when the Passover could not be observed at its regular time in the first month due to insufficient sanctified priests and the people not being gathered in Jerusalem. Consequently, it was agreed to keep the Passover in the second month. Many people assembled in Jerusalem to observe not only the Passover but also the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, known as Iyar. This observance included removing altars and incense altars from Jerusalem and casting them into the Brook Kidron, signifying a purification effort. The Feast of Unleavened Bread, following the Passover on the fourteenth day of the second month, was kept as part of this delayed celebration, marking a unique occurrence of these holy days being observed together at a later time.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread holds significant meaning as outlined in Exodus 13. Moses instructed the people to remember the day they were brought out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, by the strength of the Lord's hand, and during this time, no leavened bread shall be eaten. For seven days, they were to eat unleavened bread, culminating in a feast to the Lord on the seventh day, ensuring that no leavened bread or leaven was to be seen among them in all their quarters. This observance was to serve as a sign on their hand and a memorial between their eyes, so that the Lord's law might be in their mouth, recalling how with a strong hand the Lord delivered them from Egypt. The purpose of this feast was to commemorate their release from bondage, to adhere to the practice of eating unleavened bread for seven days, and to symbolize the presence of the Lord's law in their lives.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread embodies the journey to true freedom under our immortal, almighty Redeemer. Unlike mere men with limitations, He has provided us with a clear and explicit vision of our future, revealing where we are going and how to arrive there. He possesses the complete power and authority to ensure we reach our Promised Land. This feast signifies our preparation 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.

God's holy days, as outlined in Leviticus 23, reveal specific steps in His plan to build children in His image. Among these, the Feast of Unleavened Bread holds significant meaning in the process of transforming mankind. Following the Passover, which centers on repentance and forgiveness through Christ's sacrifice, the days of Unleavened Bread symbolize the need for Christians to come out of the world and conquer their sinful natures. As described in Exodus 12:15-20 and I Corinthians 5:7-8, this feast emphasizes the removal of sin, represented by unleavened bread, from our lives as a crucial step in aligning with God's purpose. Through observing this feast, we are reminded annually of our ongoing journey toward spiritual renewal within His ordered plan.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread, as originally instructed by God in Deuteronomy 16, was distinct from Passover, though later edits in some texts replaced references to Unleavened Bread with Passover, reflecting a time after the Babylonian captivity when both feasts were commonly called Passover. This alteration in Deuteronomy 16, lacking specific numbered dates, allowed for the insertion of the name Passover without changing numerical references, unlike other Scriptures such as Exodus 12, Numbers 9, and Leviticus 23, which clearly delineate the dates. In the New Testament, inspired writers clarify the distinction and historical blending of the feasts. Luke 22:1 notes that the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which was called Passover by the people, though not by God, indicating a name-change where both feasts were combined under one term. Mark 14:1 similarly distinguishes between Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread as separate observances. Luke 2:41-43 refers to the Feast of Passover but mentions completing the days, plural, pointing to the seven days of Unleavened Bread rather than the single day of Passover, showing that Jesus kept the commandments of God regarding these days in Jerusalem. Matthew 26:17, along with parallel accounts in Mark and Luke, refers to the first of the unleavens, a term likely indicating the preparatory period before Passover and Unleavened Bread, specifically the 13th day of the first month when leaven was to be removed from houses and bread. This preparation, detailed in historical sources like the Mishna, involved searching for and burning leaven on the evening of the 13th, ensuring readiness for the feasts. The Greek term toon azumoon, meaning "the unleavens," plural, may encompass not just bread but also days, houses, and people in a state of being unleavened, reflecting the comprehensive nature of the preparation for the Feast of Unleavened Bread as commanded in Exodus 12:15,19. John's Gospel further distinguishes the feasts as kept by the Jews according to their traditions versus God's commandments. In John 2:13-16, what is called the Passover of the Jews is likely the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and Jesus' actions in the temple, driving out moneychangers, show His disapproval of their corrupted observance, aligning with Old Testament sentiments where God despises feasts corrupted by human traditions.

On this first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, it is vital to remember and appreciate the gift of God's Word, which is the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth that we are to partake of during these seven days and throughout our lives. This annual ritual serves as a reminder of the constant need for spiritual nourishment and transformation into the image of God through His Word. In Exodus 13:3-10, Moses emphasizes the importance of remembering the day the Israelites left Egypt, out of the house of bondage, by the strength of the Lord's hand. He instructs that no leavened bread shall be eaten, and for seven days, unleavened bread must be consumed, with a feast to the Lord on the seventh day. This observance links God's miraculous act of freeing them from bondage to the festival, highlighting the act of eating unleavened bread as a memorial of His extraordinary intervention. Further, in Exodus 12:37-39, the Israelites, leaving Egypt in haste, baked unleavened cakes because they could not wait and had not prepared provisions for themselves. This illustrates that unleavened bread was their only option due to the urgency of their departure, and since they had not provided food, God Himself became their provider, sustaining them in the wilderness. In Exodus 16, after a month in the wilderness, the Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron for lack of food. The Lord responded by raining bread from heaven, called Manna, to test whether they would walk in His law. This bread, described as like white coriander seed with a taste of honey, sustained them for forty years, showing God's provision and testing their obedience to His instructions. Deuteronomy 8:2-3 reinforces that God led the Israelites in the wilderness to humble and test them, feeding them with Manna—a food unknown to them or their fathers—to teach that man does not live by bread alone but by every word from the mouth of the Lord. This underscores the spiritual lesson of dependence on God's Word for true sustenance. In I Corinthians 5:6-8, Paul urges the Corinthians to purge out the old leaven to become a new lump, as they are truly unleavened through Christ, who was sacrificed as our Passover. He instructs them to keep the feast not with old leaven or the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, guiding them to live according to Christ's way, free from the fraudulent ways of the world.

As the first signs of spring emerge, the anticipation of the Feast of Unleavened Bread grows among Christians, prompting both spiritual self-evaluation and the physical task of removing leaven from homes, as instructed in Exodus 13:3-10. This festival, one of God's appointed times listed in Leviticus 23, is recognized as His feast, emphasizing His central role and the spiritual and physical benefits derived from focusing on Him during these holy convocations. The Feast of Unleavened Bread, also known as Hag Hamatzot, includes specific Sabbaths on its first and last days, during which no customary work is to be done, aligning with the principle of holy convocations for worship and instruction. God's command in Exodus 12:16 allows only the preparation of necessary food on these days, encouraging feasting as part of the holy day experience, though preparing food in advance is preferred to maximize the feast's benefits. A unique aspect of this feast is the requirement to remove leaven from homes and abstain from eating leavened products for seven days, as detailed in Exodus 12:15 and 13:3-10. Leavening, symbolizing corruption, is replaced with unleavened bread like matzos, serving as a daily reminder of God's deliverance from bondage and the call to live a life of sincerity and truth. Additionally, the Feast of Unleavened Bread is a time for offerings, as instructed in Deuteronomy 16:16-17, where individuals give according to their ability and the blessings received from God, fostering a deeper appreciation of His care during this pilgrimage feast.

The Days of Unleavened Bread hold a fundamental significance as a time of re-education and transformation in our lives. 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 first month, known as Nisan or Abib, they were to eat unleavened bread, ensuring no leaven was seen among them. This act serves as a sign and a memorial of the LORD's deliverance, to be kept annually as an ordinance. This period symbolizes a cessation of old ways and the adoption of new ones. Just as Israel left Egypt on Nisan 15, marking a week-long journey to complete freedom by crossing the Red Sea on the seventh day, we annually observe these days to recall that God redeemed us from a spiritual Egypt, leading 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 truly 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, while unleavened bread symbolizes a life of pure, unadulterated motives and clear discernment in faith and practice. The Days of Unleavened Bread, therefore, are a microcosm of our lifelong process of re-education. They remind us to stop sinful practices, start living by God's truth, and continue in sincerity, striving to align our judgment and actions with His will.