The Feast of Unleavened Bread, also known as Chag HaMatzot, is a significant biblical festival that immediately follows the Passover. It is observed from the 15th to the 21st day of the first month, Nisan, in the Hebrew calendar. This feast commemorates the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and their hasty departure, which did not allow time for their bread to rise. As a result, unleavened bread, or matzah, is eaten throughout the seven days of the feast.

The biblical mandate for this feast is found in several passages, including Exodus 12:15-20, which states, "For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day, you are to remove the leaven from your houses. Whoever eats anything leavened from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel." The removal of leaven symbolizes the purging of sin and corruption, as leaven often represents sin in Scripture.

During this feast, the first and seventh days are observed as holy convocations, with no regular work permitted (Leviticus 23:6-8). The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a time of reflection on God's deliverance and faithfulness, as well as a call to holiness and purity in the lives of believers.

Feast of Weeks

The Feast of Weeks, also known as Shavuot or Pentecost, is celebrated seven weeks or fifty days after the Feast of Firstfruits. It marks the conclusion of the grain harvest and is a time of thanksgiving for God's provision. The biblical instructions for this feast are found in Leviticus 23:15-21: "From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, you are to count seven full weeks. You shall count fifty days until the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD."

This feast is also associated with the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, which is traditionally believed to have occurred on this day. In the New Testament, the Feast of Weeks is significant for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, as recorded in Acts 2:1-4, marking the birth of the Church.

The Feast of Weeks is a time of joy and gratitude, emphasizing the importance of God's law and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit for believers. It is a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and His people and the call to live according to His statutes.

Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast of Tabernacles, also known as Sukkot or the Feast of Booths, is a joyful celebration that occurs from the 15th to the 21st day of the seventh month, Tishrei. It commemorates the Israelites' forty years of wandering in the wilderness and their reliance on God's provision. During this feast, the Israelites were commanded to dwell in temporary shelters, or sukkot, as a reminder of their ancestors' journey (Leviticus 23:33-43).

The Feast of Tabernacles is characterized by its emphasis on rejoicing and thanksgiving for the harvest. Deuteronomy 16:13-15 instructs, "You are to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress. And you shall rejoice in your feast... for the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, and you will be altogether joyful."

In the New Testament, the Feast of Tabernacles holds eschatological significance, symbolizing the future gathering of God's people and the establishment of His kingdom. It is a time to reflect on God's faithfulness, provision, and the hope of eternal dwelling with Him. The feast serves as a reminder of the transient nature of earthly life and the promise of a permanent home with God.