Over the last few Sabbaths, a number of people have asked “how to keep” the soon coming Passover and Feast of Unleavened. Understandably, it’s a hard question to answer, due to different and cherished viewpoints. But in an attempt to direct you towards your own answers, I’ll do my best in providing some information if you care to peek.
Passover/Unleavened season is a familiar Biblical festival that most people can at least recognize. Whether Hebrew, Jewish, Christian, or Muslim, the Passover is viewed as a Holy Event. But is there more to recognize. Some of the main questions people have asked include:
- Is Seder a formal event to attend or should I keep it in my home?
- If I don’t support a formal Seder, would I be termed anti-Jewish?
- Didn’t Jesus perform Seder with his disciples?
- Is Passover and the Feast of Unleavened different from each other.
After giving you a short summary to these questions, I’ll direct you to a few sources that might help you. Since Passover and Unleavened Feast Days are typically considered Jewish, the few non-Biblical sources I used are Jewish. Though personally, I don’t see these days as Jewish in that Yahweh termed these days as His days and were given to all the Sons of Israel and not just to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
- Yes, the Passover itself is rooted in Torah, but the formal seders of today were not developed until rabbinic instructions were written in the Mishnah around 200 CE. The traditions and customs developed were meant to include Roman & Greek culture. It was also a direct alternative to the Christian observance of the Lord’s Supper.
- It is not anti-Jewish to have a seder in the home. In fact, Jewish tradition promotes families to meet in their homes. A few synagogues do have community events for those without homes, but the majority of Jewish people stay with their family.
- You will not find a description of a formal seder ceremony in Scripture. Yeshua kept the “Passover meal” with his disciples. His example is not of Greek, Roman or Rabbinical influence. It was a serious occasion, similar to the Exodus story. Except, this time the bread and the Lamb was in their midst as a person. A traditional Jewish seder will often have four cups to drink from and plates filled with representative food that describes a story. Though in the gospels, written before the Mishnah instructions, the writers only talk about 1 cup to drink from and bread to be dipped. They do not include what was or wasn’t on the dining plate.
- Feast of Unleavened unlike the Passover is regarded as a Holy Day for which all work should stop. It calls for a convocational meeting. In a way, it celebrates the freedom found in worshipping and following Yahweh’s Kingdom and not man’s Kingdom.
Should we ignore the story of freedom from physical bondage found in Exodus? No. It is told to remind us of Yah’s mighty hand against man-made governments.
Should we ignore the story of freedom from spiritual bondage given to us by Yeshua our Messiah? No. It is through Him we are saved from earthly kingdoms to YHWH’s Kingdom.
In short: We are called to worship, recall, and get ready to move forward in both physical and spiritual battle. So, my challenge to you is to determine how you want to share the story of Messiah with those you love, rather than just following an activity.
In just a quick study you can easily find answers. I’m listing a few that I have read, there are many more.
Biblical instructions and examples of how to keep Passover and how to keep the Feast of Unleavened are written for us in Exodus 12:1-11, Leviticus 23: 4-9, I Corinthians 5:6-8, Matthew 26:20-29, I Corinthians 11:23-26, John 6:35.
Other sources for you benefit can include:
www.Jstor.org “The Origins of Sedar: The Passover Rite and Early Rabbinic Judaism,” by Baruch Bokser. Edition 1, 1984, University of California Press
Mishnah Peshahim 10
https://schechteredu The Origins of the Seder-The Schechter Institutes
www.myjewishlearning.com Rabbinic Development of Passover-My Jewish Learning
Be blessed with wisdom,
Rollyn