Reading Leviticus 21 -23 today.
In the 23rd chapter of Leviticus we read about the seven feasts of Israel. There have been some more feasts added to Hebrew living up through today; one of which is the “Feasts of Lights” also known as Hanukkah, and this one seems to be a feast which was celebrated in the time of Jesus Himself.
Let me correct myself on something I stated in a previous post. I wrote that I believed the day of atonement was the final feast of the Jewish year. In that I was wrong. In this list that is given the “Feast of Tabernacles or booths” is the final one.
Something we need to understand in getting started is that Saturday was the Sabbath in any week; however, there were special sabbaths they were to remember, and these fell sometimes in the middle of a week. These sabbaths were to be treated just as the Saturday (seventh day) Sabbath. I mention this because there are a few sabbaths mentioned in chapter 23.
The first is the Passover which was to celebrated on the fourteenth day of the first month – Abib or Nisan (Exodus 12:2; 13:4; Deuteronomy16:1). This, of course, was in remembrance of God’s deliverance from Egypt by the blood of the lamb which was slain for every household and the blood placed on the door posts and lintels of every home. This was the redemption for all the first born who was under the blood. This blood is a type, a shadow, or a picture of the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Then in verse six on the fifteenth day was the feast of unleavened bread. This bread was made in haste and with great expectation of deliverance. With no yeast it was not necessary for it to rise, to puff up, but was immediately ready following the baking of it to leave. Yeast represents haughtiness, pride, or even the arrogance of believing one has plenty of time. When God delivers; it is on His time, not of our own making. The great picture for us to see is the life of Christ without sin or spot or blemish.
The next feast is the “Firstfruits”. This was in celebration of the harvest. It speaks of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus three days following His death
“Pentecost” was to come on the fiftieth day following the sabbath of firstfruits. We know from the New Testament that on this day the Holy Spirit came upon the followers of Christ who were fearful, waiting in the upper room as the Lord had given them commandment (Acts 2). This was the day the Holy Spirit came upon those believers and filled them with the Spirit of Jesus Christ. They had no more fear of what they had previously experienced. They had the power of God within them. They were ready to worship, preach, and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ; no matter what would happen to their physical lives. They loved Jesus as they never had before; with their lives.
The next feast was that of the Trumpets. This took place on the first day of the seventh month. The trumpets were often used to gather the people together; and this feast speaks of a great day coming when the Lord Jesus will call “all Israel” unto Himself (Romans 11:26).
The day of atonement is the day of the offering of the “scapegoat” written about in chapter 16. There is much more to it than the goats; one was to die, and the other was to live and be let go in the wilderness. It is a glorious picture, shadow of the substitutionary death of Christ Jesus. He took our place for sin on the cross; becoming sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21) and making us “Just as just as He is just” [speaking of our justification through Christ Jesus].
The final feast mentioned in this chapter is the “Feast of Tabernacles”; it is also called “Feast of Booths”; it was called the “feast of ingathering (Exodus 23:16. As the children of Israel wandered through the wilderness they would build “booths” and such to be protected from the heat or any cold they might experience at night. This feast was a reminder of the wanderings; to be done for seven days. The first day was one of these sabbath days, and the eighth day the one following the feasts was to be a sabbath day; no work was to be done. This day foreshadows the day when there will be rest and reunion with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Be ready for that Great Reunion day when all who love our Lord will be with Him forever and forever. “Whosoever will call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
Read Leviticus 21 – 23
-Tim A. Blankenship
Broken Pieces 
My observation is that the OT ceremonial system does not reveal what the purpose of Jesus’ crucifixion was to accomplish for God’s set purpose. In 1 Cor. 2:8 Paul says that if it would have been possible to understand why Jesus’ was to be crucified he would not have ever been crucified. The crucifixion of Jesus has not perfected the OT system of sacrifices. Instead it is only by his crucifixion, resurrection from among the dead and ascension back to his Father to be installed in the order of Melchizedek that the law was changed. “For there being a change of the priesthood, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.” and without this change having been made your salvation is not possible. “For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.” Rom 2:13 This idea you pontificate that the crucifixion of Jesus was the same as an OT sacrifice, i. e substitute, is entirely false. A man’s salvation from the penalty of eternal death is predicated upon hearing that the law has been changed and obeying the requirement of the change relative to God’s set purpose for each man. But for the man who refuses to obey God this Way he disobeys a law that has been added to the law, Rom. 5:20, which is not forgivable. And God is justified not to save such a person from his wrath. Therefore my observation is that the small narrow gate into to God’s kingdom is a law that that has been added by Jesus’ crucifixion. And he says make every effort to use it or there is no escape from the wrath of God for the man who refuses. According to Jesus there are only a few who ever find the gate and in my opinion that might be slightly understated.
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Theodore, If you will read the verses before and after v. 8 of 1 Cor. 2 you will see Paul is clearly dealing with those who crucified Jesus. They did not recognize Jesus, called Him a blasphemer, and crucified Him. If they would have known Him they would not have crucified Him, but would have worshipped Him.
It is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ that we are saved. We keep the law, by following Jesus. I have not said that the crucifixion of Jesus was the same as the O. T. sacrifice. I have said they were shadows, types, or pictures of the genuine article which is Jesus Christ.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that no of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:8-9 and verse ten tells us that these are seen in the work that is accomplished by this grace… “For we are His workmanship, created in Christi Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Jesus is the only “substitute for our sin”. It is portrayed in the OT, and revealed in the NT. Jesus is also our mediator, because of His blood. In 1 Timothy we read – “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5).
If you are attempting to please God by your “good deeds and works” or obeying the law, then you will find that you cannot please God. The only pleasing of God is done through the blood of Jesus. In His Son He is well pleased.
Thanks for your comments.
T.A.
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