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Why Do We Observe Unleavened Bread? (Part One)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

When considering the Feast of Unleavened Bread, God's instructions place a stronger emphasis on the positive act of eating unleavened bread rather than the negative act of avoiding leavening. In all of God's commands for this Feast, there are more references to eating unleavened bread, highlighting this as the primary focus. The very name of the Feast points to this emphasis on eating unleavened bread. As recorded by Moses 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." This consistent focus underscores that the act of eating unleavened bread is central to observing the Feast as God intended.

Why Do We Observe Unleavened Bread? (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

The Feast of Unleavened Bread holds a primary purpose of remembering God's deliverance, with a secondary focus on the daily consumption of unleavened bread throughout the Feast. This act of eating unleavened bread is vital, as it aligns with the deeper spiritual significance of partaking in the Bread of Life, which Christ embodies as entirely free from corruption. As Jesus states, eating His flesh and drinking His blood—symbolized by the unleavened bread—grants eternal life, ensures resurrection at the last day, fosters abiding in Him and He in us, and enables us to live because of Him forever. This ongoing action of eating and drinking is essential, for without it, the incredible privileges of spiritual life and connection with Christ could be lost.

The Reason for Unleavened Bread

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

The Feast of Unleavened Bread signifies far more than the avoidance of leavening. Our focus needs to be on God's management of the process of deliverance.

The Unleavened Bread of Perfection

CGG Weekly by Clyde Finklea

During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, while keeping leaven out is important, our primary focus should be on eating unleavened bread. Scripture repeatedly commands us to eat unleavened bread for seven days, as seen in various passages such as Exodus 13:6-7, 23:15, 34:18, Leviticus 23:6, Numbers 28:17, Deuteronomy 16:8, and Ezekiel 45:21. Eating unleavened bread symbolizes becoming unleavened, purified, and perfected in love, reflecting the divine nature of God. This act reminds us to transform our human nature into the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the perfect Unleavened Bread of Life from heaven. Our focus on eating unleavened bread during the feast emphasizes the pursuit of perfection, as the number seven in Scripture represents perfection.

Deliverance and Unleavened Bread

CGG Weekly by John Reiss

The Feast of Unleavened Bread, observed by members of the church of God, serves as a memorial of God's deliverance of the children of Israel from Egyptian slavery, as instructed in Exodus 13:3, 8-9. This feast, alongside Passover, symbolizes God's rescue of the elect from the corruption of sin and this evil world. The first mention of unleavened bread, or matzah, appears in Genesis 19:3, where Lot in Sodom prepares a feast with unleavened bread for his angelic guests, who urge his escape from the city's impending destruction. Similarly, in Exodus 12:8, God commands the Israelites to eat unleavened bread with the Passover lamb, linking it to their liberation. Exodus 12:17-18 further mandates the observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days, starting on the fourteenth day of the first month, with no leavening allowed in their houses, commemorating the day God brought them out of Egypt. In the New Testament context, during the Days of Unleavened Bread, believers are reminded to live for righteousness by consuming unleavened bread, symbolizing the eating of Christ's flesh, as referenced in John 6:54, to internalize His character and ensure spiritual transformation.

Unleavened Bread Basics

Sermon by David C. Grabbe

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is highly disruptive, not only due to the effort of deleavening but also because it alters our diets, drawing our attention as God intends. The eating of unleavened bread and the avoidance of leavening are actions we take in response to God's command, but the primary reason for this feast is to memorialize His deliverance. God instructs that part of the reason we eat unleavened bread is so that the Lord's law may be in our mouths, indicating that unleavened bread serves as a token or teaching vehicle to bring deeper significance to mind. Each day for seven days, we are to eat unleavened bread as a reminder of God's liberation, providing a new beginning and reinforcing our memory of His works through this disruption to our normal food. The unleavened bread is also called the bread of affliction, reminding us of the former oppression and slavery under a hostile ruler in Egypt. Each bite recalls the hardship before God's intervention, prompting reflection on our past state of enslavement before conversion. God's instructions emphasize eating unleavened bread more than avoiding leavening, highlighting the positive act of taking in what is pure over merely avoiding corruption. The name of the feast itself, Feast of Unleavened Bread, underscores this focus on celebration and remembrance through what we consume. During this feast, having God's law in our mouths applies to both speaking and eating, suggesting that taking in God's word should be a significant focus, even more than usual. As we physically eat unleavened bread and avoid leavening, we should also give greater attention to God's teachings while setting aside material that is spiritually leavened. This feast provides an opportunity to evaluate our mental diets, considering whether we are truly free or still under the influence of worldly elements that we struggle to release. The physical act of eating unleavened bread symbolizes the spiritual act of feeding on God's word, which should fuel our lives and shape our thoughts and speech during these seven days.

Grace, Unleavened Bread, and the Holy Spirit

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The eating of unleavened bread during the Days of Unleavened Bread serves as a profound reminder of what God has done for us. It is intended by Him to recall His act of bringing us out of bondage, as seen in Exodus 13, where it is emphasized that this practice is because of what the Lord did when He delivered us from Egypt. The focus is not primarily on our coming out of sin, but on God's initiative and action in our salvation, highlighting His strength in freeing us. Eating unleavened bread symbolizes our response to God's lead, representing our submission and obedience in following Him. It pictures righteousness, which is doing things as God would have us do them. When we follow Him in this way, sin becomes nearly impossible, as our emphasis shifts from avoiding sin to proactively doing what is right. This positive approach, exemplified by Jesus, contrasts with merely dodging sin, showing that righteousness is the active pursuit of God's way. God commands that unleavened bread be eaten for seven days during the feast, translating practically into following after righteousness every day of our lives. This annual observance during the Days of Unleavened Bread focuses our minds on God's instruction in righteousness, reminding us to live in harmony with Him as He directs our steps. It is not a burden but a crucial reminder to prepare us for the Kingdom of God by consistently following His way. Unleavened bread also memorializes what God did to free us from bondage, serving as a starting point for our journey. It symbolizes both God's action in making this way of life possible and our proactive following of Him, aiming to do right and good, which results in sin diminishing as a fruit of righteousness. Thus, eating unleavened bread encapsulates a dual focus: remembering God's deliverance and committing to a life of obedience and righteousness.

Jesus in the Feasts (Part One): Unleavened Bread

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Feast of Unleavened Bread, as a commanded holy day on God's sacred calendar, holds a central focus on eating unleavened bread for all seven days. This emphasis is clear in instructions found in Exodus 12, Exodus 23:14-15, and Leviticus 23:4-8, where God repeatedly stresses the importance of consuming unleavened bread daily during the feast, alongside the prohibition of eating leavened bread. This act of eating unleavened bread is not merely a physical requirement but carries a deeper spiritual significance. In I Corinthians 5:6-8, Paul connects this practice to a spiritual type, explaining that we are to keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Sincerity represents an inward quality of tested purity, implying a spotless mind or heart, flawless integrity, transparency, honesty, and unalloyed virtue. Truth, on the other hand, signifies the outward manifestation of this genuine Christian character, encompassing active right doing and the living out of God's righteousness. Together, sincerity and truth cover both inward holiness and the outward display of that purity through good works. This feast points directly to Jesus Christ as the model of sincerity and truth, embodying perfect inward purity and outward goodness. In John 6:26-29, 32, and 48, Christ identifies Himself as the true bread that came down from heaven, the bread of life that must be consumed for spiritual sustenance. Eating unleavened bread every day during the feast symbolizes the diligent ingestion of Christ's character, teachings, and examples, which nourish, sustain, energize, repair, heal, and promote spiritual growth. Without taking in Christ, there is no spiritual life within us. The Feast of Unleavened Bread serves as an annual reminder of the ongoing practice of incorporating the bread of life into ourselves daily. Skipping this practice can lead to neglecting spiritual growth, whereas consistent ingestion through study and application helps develop the sincerity and truth needed to grow into Christ's image and have the mind of Christ. God provides this feast as a training mechanism, combining spiritual study, contemplation, and communication with physical practice through living out what is learned in good works, with Christ as the perfect Model. Further, in I John 2:3-6, the concept of knowing and feeding on Christ is linked to walking as He walked, emphasizing the process of purification by consuming the bread of life and manifesting it in outward righteousness. This process begins with God's calling, as seen in John 6:44-45, where He draws individuals to Christ to be taught by Him in a rigorous life course of eating the bread of life and practicing it in real life, which equates to keeping the feast with sincerity and truth. In Exodus 13:4-10, additional meaning is given to the feast, highlighting God's redemptive act of bringing Israel out of Egypt. This redemption, achieved through His strong hand, obligates His people to keep His law and covenant. This historical event parallels the spiritual calling out of bondage to sin and its ruler, as reflected in Hosea 11, Matthew 2, Exodus 6, and Deuteronomy 7:6-9, where God's love and faithfulness motivate His actions to free and lead His people, both physically and spiritually, into a promised inheritance. Ultimately, Christ is our unleavened bread, the bread of life who leads us in a walk of faith and righteousness toward the Kingdom of God. His agency, mercy, love, blessings, and providence make everything possible, positioning Him as the central focus of this feast, rather than our own efforts or sins.

Unleavened Bread and the Holy Spirit (2019)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The eating of unleavened bread during the Days of Unleavened Bread is directly intended by God to serve as a reminder of what He has done to bring us out of bondage. It is not primarily about coming out of sin, but rather about God's actions in our salvation. The keeping of the first day of Unleavened Bread, along with eating unleavened bread for seven days, emphasizes God's role in overcoming Satan, this world, and sin, rather than our own efforts. Eating unleavened bread pictures us doing our part in obeying what God did by following Him. It is an act of righteousness, not a symbol of coming out of sin, because doing righteousness means following God and thus not sinning. The emphasis in eating unleavened bread is on doing what is right, as a memorial of God's work in freeing us, not on our personal overcoming of sin.

Unleavened Bread and Pentecost

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The eating of unleavened bread during the Days of Unleavened Bread serves as a vital reminder of what God has done to bring us out of bondage. It is not primarily about our coming out of sin, but about commemorating God's act of releasing us from captivity. In the first context, as introduced in Exodus 13, we eat unleavened bread because of what the Lord did, not because of our own actions. This memorial underscores that it is God who initiates and accomplishes our deliverance. The Days of Unleavened Bread, along with the eating of unleavened bread for seven days, are intended to remind us of God's work in freeing us. While there is a connection to coming out of sin, the primary focus is on God's role in overcoming the world and our bondage, rather than our personal efforts. The eating of unleavened bread symbolizes following God's lead, as the Israelites did when they walked away from Egypt, obeying Him by following the pillar of fire and the cloud. Eating unleavened bread represents a positive act of obedience and righteousness, rather than merely avoiding sin. It reflects a commitment to follow God's pure Word with sincerity and wholeheartedness. God's command to eat unleavened bread for seven days emphasizes a continuous dedication to righteousness, mirroring our constant call to walk in His way without deviation. This practice during the Days of Unleavened Bread highlights both God's overwhelming role in our salvation and our responsibility to follow Him in righteousness.

Unleavened Bread and the Holy Spirit (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Brethren, the Days of Unleavened Bread and the eating of unleavened bread must be understood within the context of God's work in our lives. This observance is not merely about our efforts to overcome sin, but rather it serves as a reminder of what the Father has done to bring us to where we are right now. It marks the divine initiative in drawing us out of bondage, just as He did with Israel, emphasizing that it is His power and purpose that lead us to the Son for our salvation and preparation for His Family. We must conduct our lives believing and acting on this reality, recognizing that both the Father and the Son are actively involved in shaping us according to His will.

Unleavened Bread and the Holy Spirit (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Brethren, as we consider the Days of Unleavened Bread, we must focus on the profound significance of eating unleavened bread as it relates to our spiritual journey. While it is important and indirectly connected to coming out of sin with regard to Israel leaving Egypt, the eating of unleavened bread serves a deeper, often overlooked purpose. It is intended by God to be a direct reminder of something vital to our salvation, a truth that must never be forgotten. God Himself clearly states the reason for eating unleavened bread during these days, as found in Exodus 13. It is not hidden; He commands us to remember the day He brought Israel out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, by the strength of His hand. We are to eat unleavened bread because the Lord brought us out. The Israelites did almost nothing to secure their freedom except walk; it was God who accomplished their deliverance. This lesson applies to us as well—our spiritual progress is due to what God does, not our own efforts. The eating of unleavened bread is a tool of reinforcement, an exercise to ensure we never forget that we do what we do spiritually only because of what God did. He is the Creator, alongside His Son, handpicking us for His purpose. As Ephesians 1 shows, we were chosen by God, just as the Israelites were, despite their weaknesses. It is what He does that frees us, and it is what Christ does that produces fruit in our lives. Furthermore, in Exodus 13:7-10, the eating of unleavened bread is directly tied to what God has done, especially on the first day of Unleavened Bread when we have not yet overcome much in our conversion. The emphasis remains not on our overcoming, but on God's continuous creative labor in our lives. He must not be forgotten as the primary force in this process. God also instructs us to teach our children the reason for eating unleavened bread, emphasizing that it is because of what He did, not what we do in overcoming. The Days of Unleavened Bread are indeed about overcoming, but primarily about God overcoming Satan, the world, and sin, not about our personal efforts. Eating unleavened bread must be understood in this context to grasp the real point God the Father makes. We must conduct our lives knowing fully that God is the Creator, ensuring He remains at the forefront of our minds as the Head of the Family, driving His purpose at His pace.

James and Unleavened Bread (Part One)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Days of Unleavened Bread, lasting seven days, symbolize our journey out of sin and this world to follow God. This process, unlike other holy days that span a single day, represents a lifetime of cooperation with God to build the character necessary for eternal life. During this week each year, God reminds us of our responsibilities on our Christian pilgrimage, encouraging us to see the sin, remove it, and live a life that pleases Him. The emphasis in the instructions for this festival is on eating unleavened bread, mentioned twelve times compared to four mentions of removing leaven, suggesting that focusing on consuming the good prevents the presence of the bad. If we are eating unleavened bread, we should not have the capacity to partake in leavened bread, meaning if we are doing good, there is no need to remove sin because it will not be there. This unleavened bread is defined as the Word of God, full of sincerity, truth, grace, faith, purity, and spirit. We must ingest every word, leaving no crumb uneaten, as Christ embodies this Word. We are called to eat His flesh and drink His blood symbolically through the Passover service, taking in His nature to become clean and rededicate ourselves to this purpose. However, this act alone is insufficient; we must study, digest, and live the written Word of God. Eating this unleavened bread, which is pure, faithful, spiritual, and full of grace, is vital to our salvation, compelling us not just to be clean but to do God's will and finish the work He has given us. Christ's example shows that ingesting unleavened bread of sincerity and truth drove Him to action, not merely to avoid sin but to do good continually. He did not simply know the Bible or God's will; He acted upon it, spending His ministry doing good. The principle is clear: if we are busy doing good, we will not have time or desire to do wrong. Thus, a Christian must not only remove leaven, which is sin, but also eat unleavened bread, filling ourselves with God's Word and living it out through action.

Freedom and Unleavened Bread

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Days of Unleavened Bread carry profound significance in the journey of spiritual freedom, emphasizing the necessity of consuming the pure and unadulterated word of God. From the moment one accepts the blood of Christ and receives God's grace, there must be a lifelong commitment to partake of this spiritual sustenance. As commanded, for seven days—symbolizing perfect completion—one must eat unleavened bread, representing the continuous intake of God's word without ever fasting from it. This is not a one-time act but a perpetual obligation, reiterated multiple times in scripture, underscoring its importance. Eating unleavened bread symbolizes imbibing the word of God, which is spirit and truth, untainted by worldly corruption. This act is vital for spiritual vitality and growth, much like physical food sustains the body. The word of God, exemplified by Jesus Christ—the living Word who lived a completely unleavened life—provides the foundation for thinking within new, God-centered parameters. It is refined and pure, offering protection from the bondage of sin and the lies of the world. By consistently taking in this spiritual food, one is strengthened to remain free, avoiding the slide back into spiritual slavery. The command to eat unleavened bread for seven days reflects a complete and unending dedication to God's truth, ensuring that the mind is fed with what is genuine and real, as opposed to the sullied experiences of the world. This practice results in sincere and pure conduct, mirroring the nature of God's grace. As strength and vitality follow proper physical nourishment, so does the life of God grow within through the intake of His word, enabling one to pursue the ultimate goal of the Kingdom of God with the highest standards.

James and Unleavened Bread (Part Three)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Days of Unleavened Bread, lasting seven days, symbolize our journey out of sin and this world to follow God. During this week each year, God reminds us of our responsibilities on our Christian pilgrimage, offering hope, confidence, and encouragement to endure. God's instructions in Exodus emphasize eating unleavened bread, repeating the command twelve times across various passages, while mentioning the removal of leaven only four times, suggesting a greater focus on consuming what is pure. If we are busy eating unleavened bread, we have no time or desire for the leavened kind. Spiritually, this act of eating unleavened bread represents ingesting God's Word, which is pure, unalloyed, and true. As Jesus Christ declared, man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Christ Himself is the embodiment of this unleavened bread, the Word full of grace and truth, and we must consume His character and way of life to attain eternal life. This ingestion goes beyond ritual; it requires studying the Bible, digesting it, and living it, turning belief into action. Christ's life exemplified this principle, as He not only knew the Word but lived it, allowing it to energize and compel Him to do God's will. We are called to follow His example, using the Word not just to avoid sin but to actively do good works. James reinforces this by linking pure and undefiled religion with both doing good, such as visiting widows and orphans, and keeping oneself unspotted from the world. Eating unleavened bread, or doing good, takes precedence, as filling our lives with right actions minimizes the opportunity for sin. Thus, our commission is two-fold: to do good and to avoid sin. By prioritizing the consumption of unleavened bread—living out God's Word—we maintain a proper relationship with Him. James' practical guidance, including being patient, establishing our hearts, avoiding complaints against brethren, and standing firm in truth, reflects the proactive works that accompany faith, embodying the unleavened bread we must eat during these seven days.

Days of Truth

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

We must be diligence to keep ourselves free of leavening, ingesting God's truth by means of reading the Scriptures, inculcating it deeply into our character.

Remaining Unleavened

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Our carnal natures must be displaced by God's Holy Spirit, motivating us to refrain from causing offense, but freely forgiving others as God has forgiven us.

Truly Unleavened

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God has imputed righteousness to us as His Children because we are in Christ. Our state before God is unleavened provided we maintain this relationship.

The Unleavened Life Is a Happy Life!

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Days of Unleavened Bread define our responsibility in God's plan to purge out habits, attitudes, and teachings that do not conform to God's way.

An Extraordinary Feast

'Ready Answer' by Mark Schindler

Are we merely performing a ritual or are we making sure the real point of deleavening and keeping these days does not get lost in the physical activity?

The Way, The Truth, and the Life

Sermonette by Clyde Finklea

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a remembrance of the release from bondage. We eat unleavened bread as a sign that the Lord's law may be in our mouths.

Feed on the Vine

Sermonette by Austin Del Castillo

Even though removing leaven from our homes has importance, the far greater spiritual emphasis is on the eating of unleavened bread, internalizing Christ.

A Little Leaven

Sermonette by John W. Ritenbaugh

Our individual sins (committed in our thoughts, words, and behaviors) are never isolated, but sadly influence every other member of the congregation.

Gratitude for Deliverance and God's Word

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

Even though we have heard that the Feast of Unleavened Bread signifies coming out of sin, the principal focus is that we remember God as our Deliverer.

Dynamic Living Stones!

Sermonette by Martin G. Collins

Our service and sacrifice should never be considered a burden, but a joy, declaring the excellency of God, witnessing what God in Christ has done for us.

Sincerity and Truth (Part One)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

We have been given the priceless gift of God's Word of sincerity and truth which has the power to sanctify. We must guard it as a life preserver.

The Signs of God (Part Three)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

God equates belittling His signs with rejecting Him. The signs of the weekly and annual Sabbaths are emphasized by God, but commonly cast aside by men.

Filling the Void

Sermonette by Austin Del Castillo

More important than putting out sin is the vital need to continually ingest unleavened bread, that is, the Bread of Life, namely the words of Jesus Christ.

A Subtle Yet Devastating Curse

'Prophecy Watch' by David C. Grabbe

Amos 8:11 speaks of 'a famine...of hearing the words of the LORD.' Such a famine is occurring today: The words of God are available, but few can hear.

Re-education (Part 1)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God mandates that we unlearn carnal processes (purging the leaven) and totally adopt new spiritual processes- eating unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Do You Recognize This Man? (Part Two)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The truer our conception of Christ, the truer our discernment will be in dealing with spiritual problems or conflicts. Modern Israel has cuddled up to sin.

Sincerity and Truth (Part Two)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In contrast to the world's embracing of fraud and deceit, God's called-out ones are obligated to eat the bread of sincerity and truth all our lives.

Saved By His Life

Sermonette by Austin Del Castillo

Contrary to the belief that most of the Christian professing world hold that we are saved by the death of Jesus Christ, in reality we are saved by His life.

Psalms: Book Five (Part Five): Psalm 119 (Part Two)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Even though keeping the law does not justify us, it does point out to us what sin is. The law is a guide keeping us within moral and ethical boundaries.

Sanctification and Holiness (Part 1)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

As God's priesthood, we must draw near to God, keep His commandments, and witness to the world that God is God. God is shaping and fashioning His new creation.

Leavening: The Types

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The holy days are reliable teaching tools, emphasizing spaced repetition to reinforce our faulty memories and drive the lesson deep into our thinking.

Psalms: Book Five (Part Six): Psalm 119 (Part Three)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The keeping of the law is a practical response to God, providing us with principles for our lives, establishing our character and implanting God's values.

The Wilderness Trek and Judgment Begins

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God's people must learn to trust Him for their survival, remembering that the eating of Unleavened Bread is a reminder that only God has the power to rescue.

Letters to Seven Churches (Part Seven): Repentance

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

As High Priest, Christ is putting His people through the paces, tailoring the trials and experiences needed for sanctification and ultimate glorification.

Themes of I Corinthians (Part 4)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

While most understand the sacrificial theme of Passover, they fail to grasp actively overcoming sin, largely because of the concept of 'free' grace.