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. These days remind us yearly to fight free of the bondage to satan's world and our carnal nature, striving to escape slavery with determination. The Night To Be Much Observed connects with the Days of Unleavened Bread by memorializing our freedom from spiritual bondage, marking the beginning of our journey toward God's Kingdom with great hope and zeal, just as Israel left Egypt with a high hand. God instructed the Israelites to eat unleavened bread and remove leaven from their homes due to the urgency of their Exodus, leaving no time for bread to rise. Leaven represents sin, and we must diligently rid ourselves of it to live God's pure way of life, fleeing from sin lest it pursue and destroy us. Leaven illustrates the effect of sin in our lives, as a small amount spreads through the dough, just as one sin affects our whole being, leading to more unless broken through repentance. Sin puffs us up, causing us to glory in wrongdoing rather than recognizing the slavery it imposes, while true liberty comes from keeping God's law. Leaven also represents false doctrine, which causes us to think too highly of ourselves, whereas true doctrine promotes sincerity, humility, and obedience to the Sovereign of the Universe, a key lesson of this festival. We keep the Days of Unleavened Bread as a memorial to God's law and His powerful deliverance from Egypt and bondage, realizing that overcoming sin is hard work and requires us to cease sinning with urgency. The seven days of this festival, compared to single days for other observances, emphasize the time and attention needed 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 the world has lost a vital step in salvation—sanctification. God sets us aside for a lifetime of overcoming sin to enter His Kingdom, a process that is essential for pursuing holiness and securing eternal life.

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 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.

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.