In Exodus 23: 14-17 the LORD God commands three annual mandatory Feasts [(1) Unleavened Bread {“Passover”}, (2) Feast of Harvest [“Pentecost”}, (3) Feast of Ingathering at year’s end], and that all Jewish males are to appear before Him to offer sacrifices. Since that time of the Wilderness of Mount Sinai when Moses received these statutes from the LORD, it is interesting to see how these specific solemn feasts were kept since that time onward.
NOTE: Exodus 34: 22-23 includes the ‘firstfruits’ as part of the Feast of [Wheat] Harvest.
Joshua 5: 10-11
Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits [when the Children first enter and settle in the land of Canaan].
2 Kings 23: 21
Passover [and Unleavened Bread]
2 Chronicles 2: 4b
Sabbaths, New Moons (Cp. Numbers 28: 11-15; Psalms 81: 3), appointed Feasts (Cp. 2 Chronicles 8: 13; Exodus 23: 14-19; Unleavened Bread, Feast of Harvest, Feast of Ingathering).
2 Chronicles 30: 1, 5, 13-23 (esp. 26).
Passover, Unleavened Bread.
2 Chronicles 31: 3-4
Sabbaths, appointed Feasts (Cp. 2 Chronicles 8: 13; Exodus 23: 14-19; Unleavened Bread, Feast of Harvest, Feast of Ingathering), New Moons (Cp. Numbers 28: 11-15; Psalms 81: 3).
2 Chronicles 35: 1 (esp. 18).
Passover [Unleavened Bread].
2 Chronicles 36: 21
Sabbaths
Ezra 3: 4-5
Feast of Tabernacles (Cp. Leviticus 23: 34, 40, 42; Deuteronomy 16: 13), New Moons (Cp. Numbers 28: 11-15; Psalms 81: 3).
Ezra 5: 16, 19-22
The Dedication of the Temple (Cp. 1 Kings 8: 63; 2 Chronicles 7: 5), Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Nehemiah 8: 13-18
Feast of Tabernacles (Cp. Leviticus 23: 34, 40, 42; Deuteronomy 16: 13; “Booths”).
Nehemiah 10: 33
Sabbaths, New Moons (Cp. Numbers 28: 11-15; Psalms 81: 3), appointed Feasts (Cp. 2 Chronicles 8: 13; Exodus 23: 14-19; Unleavened Bread, Feast of Harvest, Feast of Ingathering).
Esther 8: 17-19, 26-28, 31-33
Feast of Purim
Ezekiel 45: 17-25; 46: 1, 3, 6, 11
Sabbaths, New Moons (Cp. Numbers 28: 11-15; Psalms 81: 3), Feasts, Passover, Unleavened Bread.
Isaiah 1: 13-15
Sabbaths, New Moons (Cp. Numbers 28: 11-15; Psalms 81: 3).
Matthew 26: 17
Feast of Unleavened Bread, Passover.
Mark 14: 1, 12
Feast of Unleavened Bread, Passover.
Luke 22: 1, 7
Feast of Unleavened Bread, Passover.
John 2: 13
Passover [and Unleavened Bread] of the Jews.
John 3:23
A dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification (??).
John 7: 2
The Jew’s Feast of Tabernacles (Cp. Leviticus 23: 33-36; Numbers 29: 12-38; Deuteronomy 16: 13-15).
John 10: 22
Feast of Dedication (Cp. 1 Kings 8: 63; 2 Chronicles 7: 5).
John 11: 55
The Passover [and Unleavened Bread] of the Jews and purification (Cp. 3: 23??).
John 12: 20
Greeks coming to the Passover Feast [and Unleavened Bread].
John 13: 1, 29
Feast of the Passover [and Unleavened Bread].
Acts 2: 1
Day of Pentecost (Cp. Exodus 23: 16; 34: 22-23; Leviticus 23: 15-21; Numbers 28: 26-31; Deuteronomy 16: 9-12).
Acts 12: 3
Days of Unleavened Bread, [and Passover??].
Acts 18: 21
The Apostle Paul wanted to keep the coming Feast (Day of Pentecost; 20: 16??) in Jerusalem.
Acts 20: 6
The Days of Unleavened Bread [and Passover??].
Acts 20: 16
The Apostle Paul was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost (Cp. Acts 2: 1; 18: 21; Exodus 23: 16; 34: 22-23; Leviticus 23: 15-21; Numbers 28: 26-31; Deuteronomy 16: 9-12).
I Corinthians 5: 8
Therefore let us keep the ‘Feast,’ [“Unleavened Bread/Passover;” Cp. Exodus 12: 15-20; 13: 3-10; Leviticus 23: 5; Numbers 9: 1-14; 28: 16; Deuteronomy 16: 1-7] not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
I Corinthians 16: 8
But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost (Cp. Acts 18: 21; 19: 21a, 22b; 20: 1-2??).
Colossians 2: 16
So let no one judge you in food or drink, or regarding a festival [Feast??], or a New Moon or Sabbaths. . .
It seems that from the times of Jewish antiquity (the Wilderness of Sinai), the Feasts of Unleavened Bread/Passover was observed up until Jesus’ Day and beyond. The Sabbaths and New Moons were kept during the Babylonian Captivity (Cp. Isaiah 1: 13-15) and after the seventy years prophesized by Jeremiah, the returning exiles settling back again to Judea/Jerusalem observed the Feast of Tabernacles. After the Second Temple was built, it was dedicated like in the Days of Solomon, along with celebrating again, New Moons and the appointed feasts [probably Unleavened Bread/Passover, Feast of Harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering.
Curiously, the ‘Synoptic Gospels’ (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) only mention the Feast of Unleavened Bread/Passover. The Gospel of John mentions these in addition to the Feast of Tabernacles (“Booths”) and the Feast of Dedication (Second Temple). In the book of Acts, the author includes the Day of Pentecost (Harvest/Weeks: Cp. Exodus 23: 16; 34: 22-23; Leviticus 23: 15-21; Numbers 28: 26-31; Deuteronomy 16: 9-12) several times.
NOTE: Again to reiterate from the beginning of the article, Exodus 34: 22-23 includes the ‘firstfruits’ as part of the Feast of [Wheat] Harvest.
In the book of I Corinthians the Apostle Paul alludes to Passover/Unleavened Bread as well as mentioning again about [the Day of] Pentecost. Since Pentecost/Weeks is included along with the Feast of Harvest/Ingathering and Passover from ancient times, its importance could very well have Eschatological significance as symbolizing the gathering up of the 'firstfruits' or saints at the "End of the World." Finally, one of the last Feasts to be mentioned in the New Testament are Sabbaths and the New Moons in the book of Colossians (Cp. 2: 16).
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
October 13, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com
