Topical Bible: The Feast of the Passover: Called The: Passover

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Introduction:
The Feast of the Passover, commonly referred to simply as "Passover," is one of the most significant and ancient festivals in the Jewish calendar. It commemorates the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt, as recorded in the Book of Exodus. This event is foundational to Jewish identity and is also significant in Christian theology, symbolizing redemption and foreshadowing the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.

Biblical Origin:
The institution of Passover is detailed in Exodus 12. God commands Moses and Aaron to instruct the Israelites to take a lamb without blemish, slaughter it, and apply its blood to the doorposts and lintels of their homes. This act would protect them from the plague of the firstborn, which God would bring upon Egypt. Exodus 12:13 states, "The blood on the houses where you are staying will distinguish them; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt."

Observance:
Passover is observed on the 14th day of the first month, Nisan, in the Hebrew calendar. The festival lasts for seven days, during which no leavened bread is to be eaten. Exodus 12:15 instructs, "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."

Rituals and Traditions:
The central ritual of Passover is the Seder meal, which includes the retelling of the Exodus account, the eating of matzah (unleavened bread), and the consumption of symbolic foods such as bitter herbs. The Seder is a time for families to gather and remember God's deliverance. The Haggadah, a text that sets forth the order of the Passover Seder, is recited during this meal.

Theological Significance:
For the Jewish people, Passover is a time of remembrance and gratitude for God's deliverance and faithfulness. It is a celebration of freedom and a reminder of the covenant between God and Israel. In Christian theology, Passover holds additional significance as it prefigures the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the "Lamb of God." The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 5:7 , "Get rid of the old leaven, so that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed."

New Testament Context:
The New Testament records that Jesus celebrated Passover with His disciples, an event known as the Last Supper. This meal is seen as the institution of the Lord's Supper or Communion, where Jesus identifies the bread and wine as His body and blood, establishing a new covenant. Luke 22:19-20 recounts, "And He took the bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.'"

Historical Observance:
Throughout history, Passover has been a time of pilgrimage for the Jewish people, with many traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate the festival. The destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD altered the way Passover was observed, shifting the focus from temple sacrifices to home and synagogue-based rituals.

Conclusion:
The Feast of the Passover remains a vital observance in Judaism and holds profound theological implications in Christianity. It is a testament to God's power, faithfulness, and the promise of redemption.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Numbers 9:5
And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 2:23
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Passover: an Expiation and a Feast, a Memorial and a Prophecy
... We have called the Passover a sacrifice ... was sprinkled with hyssop"a peculiarly
sacrificial usage; the treatment of the remainder after the feast; the very ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the passover an expiation and.htm

Of the Question Whether There is any Contradiction Between Matthew ...
... of unleavened bread." And Luke likewise gives this as his own affirmation: "Now
the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the passover;" that is ...
/.../the harmony of the gospels/chapter lxxviii of the question whether.htm

Jesus Predicts, the Rulers Plot For, and Judas Bargains for his ...
... A Matthew 26:1-5, 14-16; ^B Mark 14:1, 2, 10, 11; ^C Luke 22:1-6. ^c 1 Now the feast
of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxvi jesus predicts the rulers.htm

Climbing Towards the Climax.
... There's another feast, not called a Passover, but commonly and probably
correctly so reckoned, another crowd-gathering Passover. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/climbing towards the climax.htm

Preparation for Passover. Disciples Contend for Precedence.
... Hence the day could be very fittingly called "the first day of ... for thee to eat {
^b that thou mayest eat} the passover? ... 12:8), and a room for the feast must be ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxvii preparation for passover disciples.htm

The Rod that Troubled Egypt.
... They were to roast the lamb and eat of it, and be ready for the journey they were
to make, and it should be to them forever the feast called the Passover. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xi the rod that.htm

Concerning Theudas and the Sons of Judas the Galilean; as Also ...
... When that feast which is called the passover was at hand, at which time our custom
is to use unleavened bread, and a great multitude was gathered together from ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 5 concerning theudas and.htm

The Passover visit
... On completing this year a Hebrew boy was called a son of the ... There were three annual
feasts, the Passover, the Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 8 the passover visit.htm

Another Heresy, that of the Sabbatians, is Originated by the ...
... The Montanists, who are called Pepuzites and Phrygians, celebrate the Passover
according to ... those who regulate the time of observing the feast according to ...
/.../chapter xviii another heresy that of.htm

The Last Supper
... could not have been the day after the Passover; that is ... the feast day, which would
be unlawful; that the feast day would not be called simply Preparation ...
/.../rhees/the life of jesus of nazareth/vii the last supper.htm