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Leviticus 23 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
There are several of these celebrations that were brought into modern-day by Christianity. Passover = Good Friday. Unleavened Bread = Easter. And finally, the Festival of the Weeks = Pentecost. Most of us know about Good Friday and Easter. “Pentecost” is actually a Greek name for The Festival of Weeks and celebrates the beginning of the church when the Holy Spirit descended upon believers. This occurred 50 days after Easter. Just as the Festival of Weeks celebrated in joy and thanksgiving there was so much to be thankful for when the Holy Spirit arrived.
The Last Supper was most likely a Passover meal so there is some crossover between the OT and NT in that sense. Ironically, the final Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ, instituted that meal.
The added context of the OT provides depth and insight into the practiced traditions of our current age. For example, many who have participated in our own church’s Passover meal have been enlightened to the Exodus account which freed Israel from Egypt. It ties beautifully into Jesus being our final exodus from sin.
It’s important to remember that traditions were not created for us to go through the motions. They have a purpose and always provide the setting for new spiritual growth to take place.