The Feast of Unleavened Bread, known in Hebrew as "Chag HaMatzot," is a significant biblical festival that follows immediately after the Passover. It is observed for seven days, beginning on the 15th 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 consumed throughout the festival.

Biblical Foundation

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is instituted in the Torah, with detailed instructions found in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. In Exodus 12:15-20, the Lord commands the Israelites to remove all leaven from their homes and to eat unleavened bread for seven days. The penalty for consuming leaven during this period is severe, as anyone who eats leavened bread is to be "cut off from Israel" (Exodus 12:15).

Leviticus 23:6-8 further outlines the observance of this feast: "On the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly; you are not to do any regular work. For seven days you are to present an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the seventh day there shall be a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work" .

Offerings and Sacrifices

The offerings during the Feast of Unleavened Bread are an integral part of its observance. Numbers 28:17-25 provides a detailed account of the offerings required during this feast. Each day, a burnt offering is to be made to the Lord, consisting of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. These are accompanied by grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil, and a drink offering. Additionally, a male goat is offered as a sin offering to make atonement for the people.

These offerings symbolize the Israelites' dedication and gratitude to God for their deliverance from bondage. The absence of leaven in the offerings underscores the purity and holiness required in worship, as leaven often symbolizes sin and corruption in biblical typology.

Spiritual Significance

The Feast of Unleavened Bread holds profound spiritual significance for believers. It serves as a reminder of God's mighty deliverance and His call to holiness. The removal of leaven from the home is symbolic of the believer's need to purge sin from their life, as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8: "Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" .

Historical Observance

Historically, the Feast of Unleavened Bread was one of the three pilgrimage festivals, during which Jewish males were required to appear before the Lord at the sanctuary (Exodus 23:14-17). It was a time of communal worship, reflection, and celebration of God's faithfulness. The feast also served to unite the community in shared remembrance and obedience to God's commandments.

In the New Testament, the Feast of Unleavened Bread is closely associated with the events of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. The Last Supper, which Jesus shared with His disciples, was a Passover meal, and His sacrifice is seen as the fulfillment of the Passover lamb, offering redemption and deliverance from sin for all who believe.

Contemporary Observance

Today, the Feast of Unleavened Bread is still observed by Jewish communities worldwide, often in conjunction with Passover. It is a time for families to gather, share meals, and recount the account of the Exodus. For Christians, the feast is a time to reflect on the sacrifice of Christ and the call to live a life free from sin, in sincerity and truth.