Book of Leviticus
Chapter 23
The Holy Days of the Lord
The Book of Leviticus tells us holy people, holy places, and holy things. In this chapter God gives His people instruction about holy times.
The Jewish calendar was organized around a series of sevens. The 7th day of the week was the Sabbath. They celebrated seven annual feasts (festivals). Three of these feasts took place in the 7th month of the year. Two of the feasts lasted for seven days. The 7th year was a Sabbatical year, and after 49 years (7 times 7), they celebrated the year of Jubilee (see Leviticus 25).
Spring Feasts:
The “feasts” were set times, appointed times, or holy seasons of the Lord. The “holy convocations” were gatherings of the people for holy and sacred purposes. These seven feasts were intended to keep the people unified when they settled in the Promised Land.
1. Passover (vs. 4-5) – First mentioned in Exodus 12, this was a one-day feast on the 14th day of the first month of the Jewish year. It symbolized the Jews’ deliverance from Egyptian bondage.
2. Unleavened Bread (vs. 6-8) – Also mentioned in Exodus 12 in connection with Passover, this was a 7-day celebration beginning the day after Passover (15th to the 21st day of the month). It symbolized the Jews’ separation from sin and readiness to go out of Egypt.
3. First Fruits (vs. 9-14) – This was to be on the first day of the week after the Sabbath following Passover. It could not be observed until the Jews were in the Promised Land. This is one of several feasts built around the times of harvest. Their worship was tied to their work. The sweat of their brow was a sacred thing. Most importantly, they were reminded that only God could give the harvest! It symbolized God’s blessing on the first part of the harvest. Worshipers brought the first sheaf of the barley harvest and the priest waved it before the Lord.
4. Pentecost (vs. 15-21) – This was also known as the “feast of weeks.” It was a further celebration of harvest (50 days after first fruits and the waving of the sheaves). It was on the first day of the week
Fall Feasts:
5. Trumpets (vs. 23-25) – This was in the 7th month and symbolized the gathering of God’s people.
6. Day of Atonement (vs. 26-32) – This was the holiest day in the year and reminded Israel of their need of forgiveness (see Leviticus 16 for details). This was the one day in the year when God covered their sin and took away their guilt (the scapegoat).
7. Tabernacles (vs. 33-44) – Also known as the feast of ingathering or the feast of booths, this celebrated God’s provision in the wilderness. After the final harvest was in, the Jews lived in tents (booths) for 7 days. It was a great time of joy and celebration. The males were required to appear at the sanctuary three times in the year (Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles).
The Seven Feasts & God’s Plan of Salvation:
The four spring feasts pictured the work of Jesus when He came to earth the first time. These first four feasts were fulfilled literally on the exact day of the feast. In the same way, the last three feasts will be fulfilled literally in the nation of Israel during the last days. There is a long gap of time between the fourth feast and the fifth feast.
1) Passover – Christ is the Lamb of God
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 19:14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! 1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
2) Unleavened Bread – Christ died to separate us from sin
1 Corinthians 5:7-8 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
3) First Fruits – Christ is the first one raised from the dead
1 Corinthians 15:20-23 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
4) Pentecost – Christ sent the Holy Spirit to unify believers
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
5) Trumpets – Christ will gather His people
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
6) Day of Atonement – Christ will cleanse Israel’s sin
Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. Zechariah 13:1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. Romans 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
7) Tabernacles – Christ will reign in His future kingdom
Zechariah 14:16-17 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.
Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Book of Leviticus
Chapter 23
The Holy Days of the Lord
Spring Feasts:
1. ______(vs. 4-5)
2. ______(vs. 6-8)
3. ______(vs. 9-14)
4. ______(vs. 15-21)
Fall Feasts:
5. ______(vs. 23-25)
6. ______(vs. 26-32)
7. ______(vs. 33-44)
The Seven Feasts & God’s Plan of Salvation:
1) Passover - ______Jn. 1:29; 19:14; 1 Cor. 5:7
2) Unleavened Bread - ______
1 Cor. 5:7-8
3) First Fruits - ______1 Cor. 15:20-23
4) Pentecost - ______Acts 2:1
5) Trumpets - ______1 Thess. 4:16; 1 Cor. 15:51-52
6) Day of Atonement - ______Joel 2:32; Zech. 13:1
7) Tabernacles - ______Zech. 14:16-17; Rev. 21:3