Memorial Timing [] Unleavened Bread

As a primer to this post, it is essential that if you haven't yet read it, that you read this post to prepare:

      (https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2024/02/2024-memorial-when.html)

The question below was left as a comment at the bottom of that link above.

Question received:

Good morning Perla, reading the post at the beginning I understand that the memorial takes place on the 13th Nisan and I agree but then you say that the whole thing takes place on the day of preparation, of the slaying which is parallel to the slaughter of the lambs and the beginning of the feast of unleavened bread then at sundown the Passover begins, but in the Bible I find only that the 14th is the day of preparation and at sundown that is the 15th the Passover "It was the day of preparation (i.e. the day before the Sabbath). So as the evening was drawing near," Mark 15:42 NIV.

In fact in a Scripture I added it says that the 15th begins the day of unleavening. "These are the feasts established by the Lord, the sacred assemblies that you are to proclaim at the appointed times: The Lord's Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. On the fifteenth day of that month begins the Lord's Feast of Unleavened Loaves; for seven days you are to eat bread made without leaven."

Leviticus 23:4-6 NIV

https://bible.com/bible/111/lev.23.6.NIV

If the memorial takes place on the 13th and it is not the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, couldn't the bread be an ordinary loaf that is dipped as it is written? In the Septuagint, in the string of code concerning it, I find no unleavened bread but only loaf of bread...

It is true that Jesus made negative references to leaven, but he was referring to that of the Pharisees, for in one area he compares the kingdom of heaven to the leaven hidden in the flour, where it increases.

Mat 13:33 - Another parable told them, "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until the whole was leavened." https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2220/kjv/tr/0-1/

Since I got confused, can you help me understand my mistake?

-- -- -- -- -- -- --

My Reply:

I will copy each of your questions and respond in sections.

First you say;

 "I understand that the memorial takes place on the 13th Nisan and I agree but then you say that the whole thing takes place on the day of preparation, of the slaying which is parallel to the slaughter of the lambs and the beginning of the feast of unleavened bread then at sundown the Passover begins, but in the Bible I find only that the 14th is the day of preparation and at sundown that is the 15th the Passover "It was the day of preparation (i.e. the day before the Sabbath). So as the evening was drawing near," Mark 15:42 NIV."

- - -

If it is the Day of Preparation and the evening is drawing near, then the Sabbath starts when the evening arrives. The Jewish day is from sundown to sundown. Evening drawing near is the end of the present day (Preparation), and start of the new day (Sabbath). The next verse tells us that Jesus is about to be buried at that time (Mark 15:42-43NIV ).

I am not clear on how Mark 15:42NIV causes you to conclude that the 14th is the day of preparation, and that the 15th is the Passover.

If we consult the Greek interlinear, Mark 15:42NIV reads;

"And (G2532) already (G2235) of-evening (G3798) of-becoming (G1096) since (G1893) it-was (G2258) preparation (G3904) which (G3739) is (2076) before Sabbath (G4315).

"Of-becoming" (G1096) is being used here to convey "to begin to be". This means it was toward evening or at the approach of evening which is the approach of twilight. It is just as your quote of Mark 15:42NIV reads; "as the evening was drawing near". This means that the day of preparation was about to end when Joseph of Arimathaea requested the corpse of Jesus. When darkness fully arrived, it would be the start of the Sabbath... the Passover.

At this point, please consider John 19:31NIV; John19:31NKJV. John tells us that the Sabbath day after the death of Jesus, was a high Sabbath/special Sabbath. That is because the Passover and the Sabbath occurred on the same day in that year. 

Going back to Mark 15:42-43NIV which tells us that Jesus was being buried the day before the Sabbath, confirms to us that he was buried before Passover Sabbath started. He was buried as the Day of Preparation was about to end.

Now we can look at your reference of Leviticus 23:4-6NKJV. First let's look at Leviticus 23:5NLT.

Note that it tells us clearly... 

"In the fourteenth [day] of the first month at evening [is] the LORD'S Passover."

Even though seven days were to be special and holy, the one day of the Passover week which commemorated the flight from Egypt, was to occur on the fourteenth day of Nisan.

If we compare this to Mark 15:42NIV it confirms to us that Jesus had the Memorial, was arrested, died, and was buried, the Day of Preparation and the day before the Passover. That would need to be Nisan 13.

[Remember that the Jewish 24 hour day is from sundown to sundown.]

Next you say;

"In fact in a Scripture I added it says that the 15th begins the day of unleavening. 

"These are the feasts established by the Lord, the sacred assemblies that you are to proclaim at the appointed times: The Lord's Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. On the fifteenth day of that month begins the Lord's Feast of Unleavened Loaves; for seven days you are to eat bread made without leaven."
Leviticus 23:4-6 NIV"

We must look more closely at Leviticus 23:6NKJV. You used the NIV version, which includes the word "begins". However, if you go to the Hebrew interlinear, the word "begins" does not exist. The translators of the NIV assumed that the fifteenth day of Nisan was when the week of unleavened bread began. Not true.

A better word-for-word translation is found in the Hebrew interlinear, which reads;

"And on the fifteenth day

of the same month [is] the

feast of unleavened bread

unto the LORD: seven days

ye must eat unleavened

bread."

The end of Leviticus 23:6 tells us that there are seven days of unleavened bread. 

Are we to assume that unfermented bread starts on the fifteenth day of the month? 

If it does, then this means that on the Passover (fourteenth day of the month) it is permissible to have and eat leaven. Agreed?

Now we should consult Exodus chapters (12&13).

In reference to the Passover meal on the fourteenth day (Lev.23:5NLT), ...Exodus 12:8 reads; "Then they shall eat the lamb on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it."

(see Exodus 12:17-18)

No leaven on the fourteenth day either.

So even though Leviticus 23:6 tells us that the fifteenth day of the month is part of the feast of unleavened bread (and part of the 7 days), it does not tell us that it starts on the fifteenth day.

It merely tells us that the fifteenth day is a part of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which lasts for seven days.

So let's return to Leviticus 23:6.

"And on the fifteenth day

of the same month [is] the

feast of unleavened bread

unto the LORD: seven days

you must eat unleavened

bread."

Please keep in mind that the requirement of no leaven, lasted for a week (Ex.12:15).

The Hebrew of Leviticus 23:6 never told us that the fifteenth day of the month was the beginning of the week of unleavened bread, which is proven by Exodus 12:8. 

Leviticus 23:6 only told us that after the Passover... after the fourteenth day of the month; The week of unleavened bread includes the fifteenth day of the month... and then God reminds them that the requirement to eat unleavened bread, continues for a week.

 

This reminder about the fifteenth day is understandable. Having just completed the central day of Passover on the fourteenth day (which is the most important day of the holy week), they may have been inclined to feel that the requirement to continue to keep their houses clean from leaven is not as important. God emphasizes that it must be upheld for seven days (Exodus 12:15) including and continuing into the day after the Passover.

What about the thirteenth day... the Day of Preparation?

Exodus 12:15 reads; "Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel."

Preparations to purge and clean the dwelling could not comfortably take place after the start of the Passover on the fourteenth, because on that day, no work could be performed (Exodus 12:16). 

No mention is made in the Hebrew scriptures, about the Day of Preparation practiced by the Jews of Jesus' day. Through the years, the Jews added additional regulations, in order to comfortably assure the full compliance to God's own decrees. The Day of Preparation was instituted to accomplish all preparations ahead of the Sabbath, including the cleaning out of leaven and the slaughtering of the Passover Lamb. In the time of Jesus, that day also required that there be no leaven, in preparation for the Sabbath.

Luke 22:7-13 helps us...

7 Then the Day of Unleavened Bread came (sunset to sunset) when the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed (before the sunset of the next day). 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

9 “Where do you want us to prepare it?” they asked him. (Day of Preparation)

10 “Listen,” he said to them, “when you’ve entered the city, a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters. 11 Tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover (the week begins) with my disciples?”’ 12 Then he will show you a large, furnished room upstairs. Make the preparations there.”

13 So they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover." 

[In the first century, The Passover week of unfermented bread begins with the Day of Preparation.]

Please notice that "on the first day" of the week, "you shall remove leaven from your houses" (Ex.12:15).

The leaven was removed, to prepare for the week of no leaven. Removing the leaven was like cleaning the house to prepare for the holy week. "On the first day" when all Israel must remove the leaven, that is the Preparation for the Sabbath. In the first century... on the Day of Preparation, the leaven is removed and not eaten.

Then notice that Exodus 12:15 continues... "For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel." 

The Jews were very meticulous about these laws, even going beyond them to be sure there was no violation. If preparing for the Sabbath included removing leaven; we can be sure that the meal which is eaten on the Day of Preparation after the day began at sunset, contained No Leaven.

The Lamb's were slaughtered just before the Sabbath started at dusk (Ex.12:6). The Jews formalized and titled the day before the Sabbath began, to complete all preparations, including the decrees of leaven and the slaughter of the Passover lambs.

Next you write:

"If the memorial takes place on the 13th and it is not the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, couldn't the bread be an ordinary loaf that is dipped as it is written? In the Septuagint, in the string of code concerning it, I find no unleavened bread but only loaf of bread."

-  -  -

The "first day" must have No Leaven. The first century Jews removed the leaven beforehand to be certain that it was gone before the first day. The Day of Preparation (which arose in addition to the commands in the Hebrew scriptures) was the customary time to prepare the home to be without leaven. The Day of Preparation for the Passover includes removing all leaven.

Now what about the bread that Jesus offered his disciples as the symbol for his body, which occasion occurred on the Day of Preparation (Matthew 26:26; Luke 22:7-8)? Did it contain leaven, even though the preparations called only for the removal of leaven?

Matt.26:17 reads; "Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

    [Note: Although this verse already establishes that the requirement of no leaven was in place 

              for the Memorial; This verse speaks also of eating the Passover. To avoid confusion, 

              we must once again remember that to the Jesus and his followers, and all the Jews 

              of his day; the full Passover was understood to last a week. Their words "to prepare" is an

              apt reference, to the Day of Preparation (which is not mentioned in the Hebrew scriptures). 

              The disciples expected that Jesus would be with them for the Passover Sabbath. He was not.

Luke 22:7 associates the Day of Unleavened Bread...

              (meaning the first of multiple days, since it lasted a week -Acts 12:3) 

...with the day that the Lamb's are slaughtered. We know that is the Day of Preparation (Mark 14:12). 

That was Nisan 13 which spanned from sundown (Memorial) through the next day...

       (during which Jesus was betrayed, arrested, crucified, buried -John19:13-14,31,42) 

...to the next sundown, which started the Passover Sabbath, Nisan 14.

There are many verses in addition to Mark 14:12 which confirm that the bread Jesus used to symbolize his sinless body, was unleavened. It would not only symbolize his own sinless sacrifice, but also it came to represent the Body members belonging to Jesus (1Cor.10:17).

Leaven represents hypocritical teachings that are not from a sincere heart containing a love of truth (Luke 12:1; Matt.23:3; 15:14). It is associated with malice, wickedness, and sin. 

In contrast, Jesus is a king of truth (John 6:55; 18:37). Sincerity and truth are represented by bread that is free of leaven (1Cor.5:7-8; 1Pet.2:22; Heb.4:15; 2Cor.5:21). 

The unleavened bread represented Christ's Body. Those who become one in spirit with Jesus (1Cor.6:17; John17:21,23), become Christ's spiritual Body (1Cor.12:12,27). They must also become free of the leaven of hypocrisy, malice and wickedness (Col.1:22; 2:11; 1Thess.5:23; Heb.10:10; 1Cor.10:16-17; 1Pet.2:24). 

Then you write:

"It is true that Jesus made negative references to leaven, but he was referring to that of the Pharisees, for in one area he compares the kingdom of heaven to the leaven hidden in the flour, where it increases.

Matt. 13:33 - Another parable told them, "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until the whole was leavened."

-  -  -

In this parable at Matt.13:33, it is not the kingdom that increases, but the hidden leaven that works its way throughout the three measures, until the puffed-up appearance becomes evident.

Not all references and parables about the kingdom of heaven were positive (Matt.13:24-25,40,47-48,49-50). The kingdom can be taken from those who become unfaithful, as the consequence to the unfaithful can also be shown in kingdom parables (Matt.21:43; 5:20; 7:21).

Consider that Matt.13:33 can have a consistent meaning for leaven.

Just as an unleavened loaf represented the sinless body of Christ; a loaf can represent other bodies. They can start out sincere, but become corrupted (1Cor.5:6; 1Tim.4:1-2; 2Cor.11:3-4; Col.2:8; Heb.3:12; 2Pet.2:21). Like leaven, the corruption and hypocrisy within them can increase, until it permeates the whole being. 

In prophecy, we do see 3 separate measures of the same lump. A "woman" hides leaven in them (Rev.17:5), until the hypocrisy, malice, and wickedness comes to fully bloom (Heb.10:26-27; Rev.20:10; 16:13; Heb.6:4). 

It is true that the kingdom will begin as a single stone, and spread to fill the earth (Dan.2:35).

But I think it is wise to take heed that the parable contains leaven, and what leaven does symbolize throughout the scriptures.

We have learned that:

*Nisan 14 is The Passover Day amid a Passover week (Leviticus 23:5).

*Nisan 14 is a part of the week of unfermented bread (Exodus 12:8).

*Nisan 15 is not the first day of unfermented bread, but is a part of the week of unfermented bread

  (Ex.12:19; Leviticus 23:6).

*Leaven had to be removed from the house in preparation for the Passover, before it began.

*The Day of Preparation (when the lambs would be slaughtered) was also free of leaven 

  in the time of Jesus Christ (Mark 14:12; Luke 22:7). 

      [Keep in mind that the Day of Preparation started at sundown right before the memorial, 

       and continued until the next sundown. During that 24 hour Jewish day, 

       the lambs were slaughtered, and Jesus also died and was buried.]

*The bread that represented the sinless body of Christ, was without leaven 

  (Mark 14:12;  1Cor.5:7-8; John 6:55)

My last thought for you is that we no longer are under the Law Covenant that God had with the Jewish nation. Jesus fulfilled the law (John 1:17; Rom.7:4; 4:16). In the first century, Jewish tradition had developed buffer practices that assured that God's regulations would not be violated. The Day of Preparation is not mentioned in the Hebrew scriptures, but was practiced by first century Jews, the apostles, and Jesus. As such, it afforded Jesus the perfect timing for the Memorial, and his sacrifice on the Day of Preparation to coincide with when the Passover lambs were being sacrificed (1Cor.5:7; John 1:29; Rev.5:6,12).

As Christians, our primary guidance comes from Jesus Christ and the words of the apostles. Our observance of the Memorial is not the Jewish observance of the Passover. We rightly observe the occasion according to the timing and example that Jesus provided us.

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