Passover

The institution of the Passover

Ex 12:25–27 The Hebrew term “Passover” derives from a verb meaning “to pass over” with the sense of “to spare”.

Celebrating the Passover

Instructions concerning its observance

See also Ex 12:2–11; Ex 12:46–47; Nu 9:1–5; Dt 16:1–8

Combined with the Feast of Unleavened Bread

Exodus 34:25 ESV

25 “You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with anything leavened, or let the sacrifice of the Feast of the Passover remain until the morning.

The need for ritual cleansing

John 11:55 ESV

55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves.

Provision for ritual uncleanness

Numbers 9:6–13 ESV

6 And there were certain men who were unclean through touching a dead body, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day, and they came before Moses and Aaron on that day. 7 And those men said to him, “We are unclean through touching a dead body. Why are we kept from bringing the Lord’s offering at its appointed time among the people of Israel?” 8 And Moses said to them, “Wait, that I may hear what the Lord will command concerning you.” 9 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If any one of you or of your descendants is unclean through touching a dead body, or is on a long journey, he shall still keep the Passover to the Lord. 11 In the second month on the fourteenth day at twilight they shall keep it. They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 12 They shall leave none of it until the morning, nor break any of its bones; according to all the statute for the Passover they shall keep it. 13 But if anyone who is clean and is not on a journey fails to keep the Passover, that person shall be cut off from his people because he did not bring the Lord’s offering at its appointed time; that man shall bear his sin.

Provision for non-Jews

Ex 12:43–45; Ex 12:48–49; Nu 9:14

Its observance in the OT

These occasions are times of spiritual renewal, when the nation remembered how the Lord had saved them:

Jos 5:10; 2 Ki 23:21–23; 2 Ch 30:1–5; 2 Ch 30:13–20; Ezr 6:19–21

Ezekiel’s vision of the future observance of the Passover

Ezekiel 45:21–24 ESV

21 “In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall celebrate the Feast of the Passover, and for seven days unleavened bread shall be eaten. 22 On that day the prince shall provide for himself and all the people of the land a young bull for a sin offering. 23 And on the seven days of the festival he shall provide as a burnt offering to the Lord seven young bulls and seven rams without blemish, on each of the seven days; and a male goat daily for a sin offering. 24 And he shall provide as a grain offering an ephah for each bull, an ephah for each ram, and a hin of oil to each ephah.

The Passover in the NT

Its observance

Lk 2:41–42; Jn 6:4; Ac 12:4

It was celebrated by Jesus Christ

Lk 22:15 At Passover time Jesus Christ himself was sacrificed and he inaugurated the Lord’s Supper.

See also Mt 26:17–19; Jn 2:23 Jesus Christ observed the Passover like other Jews.

Jesus Christ identified with the Passover lamb

1 Corinthians 5:7 ESV

7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

See also Jn 1:29; Jn 1:36; Jn 19:36 This may refer to the Passover victim; Ex 12:46; Re 5:5–6