Unleavened Bread - Messianic Hebraic Perspective
And when the tempter (hasatan) came to him, he said; if thou be the Son of G_D command that these stones be made bread. But he (Yeshua) answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of G_D. (Matthew 4:3-4)
And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. But Yeshua said unto them, they need not depart; give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, we have here but five loaves, and two fishes. He said, bring them hither to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. (Matthew 14:15-21)
Yeshua answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labor not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath G_D the Father sealed. … They said therefore unto him, what sign do thou show us then, that we may see, and believe there? What dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, he gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Yeshua said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of G_D is he (Yeshua) which comes down from heaven, and gives life unto the world. … And Yeshua said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst. … For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. … The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. … Yeshua said - Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believes on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eats of this bread he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world. … Then Yeshua said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood ye have no life in you. Whoso eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed. He that eats my flesh and drinks my blood dwells in me and I in him. (John 6:26-56)
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve G_D and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? … O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? Or what shall we drink? Or wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles (non-believers) seek … for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of G_D, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Matthew 6:24-34)
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And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the Passover. And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, with desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of G_D. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of G_D shall come. And he took bread and gave thanks and broke it and gave unto them, saying; this is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper saying; this cup is the new testament in my blood which is shed for you. (Luke 22:13-20)
And as they were eating, Yeshua took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. (Matthew 26:26)
But when they came to Yeshua, and saw that he was dead already, they broke not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knows that what he says is true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, a bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture says; they shall look on him whom they pierced. (John 19:33-37)
Be ye therefore followers of G_D, as dear children; and walk in love, as Mashiach also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to G_D for a sweet smelling savor. (1 Corinthians 5:1-2)
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We hear from Mashiach directly speaking on the symbolic meaning of leaven: Then Yeshua said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees…. How is it that ye do not understand that I spoke it not to you concerning bread … that you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. (Matthew 16:6-12)
Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Mashiach our Passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without G_D will judge. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Corinthians 5:6-13)
Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Mashiach? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Mashiach? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? What say I then? That the idol is anything, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything? But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to G_D: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the LORD, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the LORD’s table, and of the table of devils. (1 Corinthians 10:14-21)
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Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:1)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of G_D, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto G_D, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of G_D. (Romans 12:1-2)
And Yeshua knew their thoughts, and said unto them, every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if satan cast out satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of G_D, then the kingdom of G_D is come unto you. (Matthew 12:25-28)
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her (Babylon), my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven and G_D has remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. (Revelation 18:4-6)
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For the grace of G_D that brings salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and G_Dly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great G_D and our Savior Yeshua Mashiach; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus: 2:11-14)
Blessed be the G_D and Father of our Lord Yeshua Mashiach, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Mashiach: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Yeshua Mashiach to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; …
Be ye therefore followers of G_D, as dear children; and walk in love, as Mashiach also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to G_D for a sweet smelling savor. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not is once named among you, as become saints; neither filthiness nor foolish talking, nor jesting which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Mashiach and of G_D. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things comes the wrath of G_D upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the LORD: walk as children of light: For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth; Proving what is acceptable unto the LORD. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (Ephesians Chaps 1 & 5)
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of G_D, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians: 4:25-30)
Therefore my people shall know my name; therefore they shall know in that day that I, even he that spoke, behold, here I am. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger of good tidings, that announce peace, the harbinger of good tidings, that announce salvation; that says unto Zion: 'Thy G_D reigns!' Hark, thy watchmen! They lift up the voice, together do they sing; for they shall see, eye to eye, the LORD returning to Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem; for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our G_D. Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, ye that bear the vessels of the LORD. For ye shall not go out in haste, neither shall ye go by flight; for the LORD will go before you, and the G_D of Israel will be your rearward. (Isaiah 52:6-12)
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the LORD is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of G_D, and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to G_D by Yeshua Mashiach. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of G_D: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (1Peter 2:1-10)
Forasmuch then as Mashiach hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of G_D. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, reveling, banqueting, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to G_D in the spirit. ((1Peter 4:1-6)
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience G_Dliness; and to G_Dliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Yeshua Mashiach. But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Yeshua Mashiach. (2 Peter 1:5-11)
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that G_D is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Yeshua Mashiach his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. …
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Yeshua Mashiach the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that says, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keeps his word, in him verily is the love of G_D perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that says he abides in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (1 John 1:5-2:5)
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Husbands, love your wives, even as Mashiach also loved the community, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25-27)
Submit yourselves therefore to G_D. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to G_D, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:7-8)
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: (Matthew 3:7-8)
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. (John 1:4)
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yeshua Mashiach for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:37-38)
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Hopefully these relevant B’rit Chadasha inspired writings provide us with much to think about in terms of how Chag HaMatzot is integral to Mashiach and his perfect fulfillment of the Mo’ed. It would appear that the B’rit Chadasha inspired writings minimally reveal the following:
Yeshua is indeed the true bread of life. The sustaining bread that is essentially his perfect and incorrupt body … that is the unleavened Word of G_D Most HIGH;
The bread of life serves as the “food of the kingdom” which Mashiach is setting up;
G_D is the provider of the food for both the soul and the body … he sustains us and is the source of our “daily bread”;
Yeshua offered up his body so that we cannot only be redeemed but so that we can partake of this body through knowledge of and immersion into this Word.
Yeshua suffered and was afflicted … he paid our just due strokes for our rebellion and unrighteousness … the sacrifice of his precious life was the price not only for redemption but also the penalty for our rebellion and unrighteousness which was bondage and sore affliction;
Yeshua has paid the price so that we can be separated from the darkness/blindness of this temporal world … separated from the Kingdom of hasatan … separated from Babylon (a.k.a. confusion);
Yeshua has paid the price so that we might be spared the inheritance of Babylon which is ultimately the plagues and judgments of rebellion and unrighteousness;
Separation from this temporal world, olam hazeh, responsive to our redemption … represents a fundamental shift in perspective putting us in opposition to the desires and machinations of the rebellious … separation from the “wisdom” of this temporal world;
Separation from this temporal world frees us from the bondage of sin enabling us to combat sin with a heart that is pliable and desirous of obedience and not rebellion;
Separation from this temporal world gives us the authority as “freed people” to resist the power of this world;
Leaven represents sin and decay and as such needs to be systematically purged so that it does not ferment and spread like cancer within a person or community;
Leaven comes in many forms … personal weakness, ignorance and most assuredly through unorthodox doctrine … leaven therefore needs to be sought out and identified;
Leaven is something that is prevalent not just in olam hazeh … but it is something that consistently seeks to enter into and defile the kingdom. Leaven, therefore must be put out from within the body of Mashiach … put outside the community … put outside the camp … when it is found;
Yeshua’s sacrifice represents a cleansing of a believer’s past sins! Upon redemption the leaven is “put out” and escape from slavery enables us to cleanly leave this old life behind without the corruption of our past rebellion and transgression;
G_D’s Word is the purging mechanism of leaven/sin. Immersion into the Word results in the cleansing/washing that consistently takes place over time;
Chag HaMatzot has been commanded to be kept as a permanent memorial to Yeshua’s awesome sacrifice and our separation from olam hazeh … the kingdom of devils and rebels.
Before we conclude this specific discourse let us once again revisit the traditional Hebraic perspective regarding the Chag HaMatzot Festival:
A permanent memorial to escape from a thoroughly corrupt and abominable place of sheer squalor;
A permanent memorial to the separation of Egypt and its way of life … the separation from leaven/decay;
A permanent memorial to the hardships that were endured under slavery;
A permanent memorial to how G_D broke the back of Egypt and ripped apart their power;
A permanent memorial to G_D’s faithfulness in fulfilling the promises made within the auspices of the Everlasting Covenant;
A permanent memorial to unblemished nature of the redemption lamb … the sacrifice;
A permanent memorial to the sanctification process of Israel begun by G_D;
A permanent memorial to joy in spite of the uncertainty of the future;
A permanent memorial to how G_D sustains Israel
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