Exodus 23:14-17 – Three times a year, the Israelites were to celebrate a feast to Yahweh.
The law was a shadow of the future promises. Hebrews 8:5; 10:1; Colossians 2:17
These festivals (KJV – holy days), were according to God’s appointed time (Hebrew mo’ed -Exodus 23:16). From the very start, God set things in motion for His appointed times – Genesis 1:14. These were not the “Feasts of Israel.” Rather, they are called the Feast of the LORD (Yahweh). These feasts were a celebration to Yahweh!
God also had a specific “place” where one was to celebrate the feasts. This place eventually became Jerusalem, where the Temple, the house of Yahweh was built. Deuteronomy 16:16
There were seven distinct feasts to be celebrated during three times of the year.(Leviticus 23:1ff; Exodus 23:14-17; 34:18-25; Numbers 28:16-31; 29:1-40; Deuteronomy 16:1-17)
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- The Feast of Passover – Lev. 23:4-5
- The Feast of Unleavened Bread – Lev. 23:6-8
- The Feast of the Sheaf of First fruits – Lev. 23:9-14
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- The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) – Lev. 23:15-22
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- The Feast of Trumpets – Lev 23:23-25
- The Feast Day of Atonement – Lev 23:26-32
- The Feast of Tabernacles – Lev 23:33-44
Jesus kept these feasts to Yahweh. The Gospel of John records the times when Jesus went to Jerusalem during the appointed feasts (John 2:13; John 5:5; John 7:2; 9-10; John 10:22-23; John 12:1).
The feasts were to be a time of rest (Lev 23:3, 7, 8, 21, 24-25, 28, 31, 35, 36, 39); a time of remembrance (Ex 12:25-27; Lev 23:24, 42-43; Deut 16:3, 12); a time of rejoicing before Yahweh (Lev 23:41; Deut 16:10-11, 13-15).
Additionally, the feasts are a shadow of what has been and will be accomplished in Christ Jesus.
- Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. (1 Cor 5:7)
- Let us celebrate the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Cor 5:8)
- Christ the first fruits from the dead (1 Cor 15:20, 23)
- Pentecost (Acts 2:1) – the ministry of the spirit (2 Cor 3:3-18)
- Jesus is the High Priest who entered the holy of holies, making atonement for us (Heb chapters 8, 9, & 10).
- There is a day coming, a blowing of trumpets, a solemn assembly, a gathering. (Mat 24:31; 1 Cor 15:52; 1 The 4:16)
- We groan in this tent, tabernacle, waiting for our permanent home with Christ (2 Cor 5:1-9). A day is coming when the tabernacle of God will be among men and He will permanently dwell with His people. (Revelation 21:3).
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