The Literal Commandment

You shall not eat anything leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread. (Exodus 12:20)

 

The literal commandment is that we should not eat anything leavened (during the Feast of Unleavened Bread).

 

Messiah Says

Messiah implicitly affirmed this commandment when He spoke about the Law:

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19)

 

Pictures of Messiah

In Scripture, leaven provides a picture of sin: leaven causes bread to become "puffed up" (i.e., prideful and sinful). Seven is a symbol of perfection or completeness. Seven days of leavenless eating pictures Messiah's perfect sinlessness.

This commandment to not eat mixtures containing leaven all seven days of Passover provides us with an annual way to actively connect with the perfect sinlessness of our Messiah.

 

How Messiah Fulfilled

Messiah fulfilled this commandment by not eating anything leavened all seven days of Passover.

 

Traditional Observance

The traditional observance of this commandment involves removing the leaven from our homes on the 14th of Nisan and not eating anything leavened (whether by yeast or other leavening agents) for the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

 

Other Notes

We are able to fulfill this commandment and should not eat leaven during the seven days of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

 

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