Messianic Connection to Unleavened Bread
By
Gary Primo
4/24/16
I have a confession to make. I never really understood the connection between the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Messiah before doing this study – especially the first and last (high) days. I also never took the time to find out. I simply figured that I would understand it someday. Well, “someday” is here. So here I go!
As always, I like to begin at the beginning. So, that is where I will start.
Deut. 16: 3 - You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shall you eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for you came forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that you may remember the day when you came forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life.
This should be a no-brainer. Leavened bread represents the puffed up attitude of the world. Unleavened bread represents humility and affliction. In Moses’ day the Israelites were to remember their own affliction at the hands of the Egyptians. When Moses brought them out of Egypt, they were purified by the waters of the Nile that they passed through as they exited Egypt (Egypt representing the world of sin).
The first day of Unleavened Bread represents this watery baptism, by which we all emerge as an entirely new creature dedicated to our Creator and His Way. The last day represents the millennial rule of Yahushua, after which the entire world will be purified. From the day we are baptized until the New Heaven and the New Earth arrive, we are to eat of the unleavened bread of purity and humility, and keep in remembrance the affliction of HaMashiyack that he suffered for us. Any affliction we incur from the world around us, pales in comparison to what Yahushua suffered. And, of course, His suffering had much more spiritual significance than any affliction we suffer.
I have no idea if the ancient Israelites had any idea of the Messianic connection to the Feast of Unleavened Bread. They may have been totally absorbed in their own affliction. They likely had no idea that it would be their own descendants that would afflict and kill the long awaited Messiah.
Believers, today, need to understand this connection.
Matt. 4:4 - But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of Elohim.
What did Yahushua mean by this statement?
The bread of preference of this world is leavened bread; therefore leavened bread represents the puffed up attitude of the world. This bread is not enough to sustain mankind, speaking in the spiritual sense. This bread can only sustain what is physical and worldly. In other words, it is the manna of HaSatan. It leads one in the opposite direction of the Way of Yahuwah.
Humility is the key to exiting this world and immersing oneself in the Way of Yahuwah. We must put away the leaven (puffed up attitude of resistance to Yahuwah) and take on the humility of Yahushua. In doing so, we allow Yahushua, from that point on, to guide us into all truth (via the Spirit of Truth) and knowledge (spiritual, not worldly). Spiritually speaking, worldly truth and knowledge is foolishness to Yahuwah. Why? Because HaSatan has deceived the whole world and has brainwashed us all into believing he is the source of all truth and knowledge. This deception has been HaSatan’s greatest victory. However, he is far from winning the war.
In the above verse, Yahushua is alluding to the fact that the leavened bread of the world can in no way save us from the death that awaits us. The word of Yahuwah is represented by unleavened bread. Therefore, it is only by becoming unleavened (by the bread from heaven or the Word of Yahuwah) can we be saved. It is symbolic of separating ourselves from the world.
All Believers should know and understand what separating ourselves from the world means by now. Some have lost friends, family and jobs because of this separation. Yet our devotion to Yahuwah has comforted us throughout it all. For we know that in the end we will receive the gift of eternal life, whereas, those who afflict us today, will bemoan that fact and wish that they had responded differently.
The fermenting process that leavened bread goes through actually represents dying. Yeast is actually a decaying substance, and it is the state of decay that causes the bread to rise. Leaven is actually an outside agent (sin) that must be added to cause the bread to rise (become puffed up). The basic ingredients are flour and water. They represent purity. This is the form into which we are born. After that, in following after the ways of this world (sin), leaven is added and our spiritual condition begins to decay and die.
No one can escape this condition unless he/she is called by Yahuwah. This is so that no one can boast that they did it by their own power. Such an accomplishment is impossible apart from Yahuwah investing us with His Spirit of Truth which leads us to all truth and knowledge.
Jn. 6:28 - Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of Elohim?
29 - Yahushua answered and said unto them, This is the work of Elohim, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
30 - They said therefore unto him, What sign show you then, that we may see, and believe you? What do you work?
31 - Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
32 - Then Yahushua said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father gave you the true bread from heaven.
33 - For the bread of Elohim is he which cometh down from heaven, and gives life unto the world.
34 - Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread..
35 - And Yahushua said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Once again, leavened bread represents the word of HaSatan. Unleavened bread represents the true bread or word of Yahuwah from heaven. In this regard, Yahushua is the true (unleavened) bread of life that comes from heaven. The leavened bread of this world serves only to feed us while we are of the world. From that point on, it is the unleavened bread from heaven (Yahushua) that sustains us.
The leavened bread of this world brings only death. The spiritual (unleavened) bread from heaven (Yahushua) brings eternal life. Therefore, the 1st day of Unleavened Bread represents the beginning of our walk with Yahushua. We are to put away all things that cause our hope for eternal life to decay and die. We are to live every day from that time forth as a new lump, or a new man/woman in Yahushua.
The Seventh day of the feast is also a high day. This represents the millennial rule of Yahushua. During that 1,000 years Yahushua will rule over the entire earth and all people will eat of the unleavened bread from heaven (the Word of Elohim). However, at the end of that 1,000 year period, leaven will once again be introduced to the “lump”; in that HaSatan will once more be unleashed to tempt the world with his lies. Oddly enough, a very great multitude will follow after HaSatan.
One might wonder (as I have) how a people that has been under the rule of Yahushua for 1,000 years could ever again return to HaSatan? It will be because, in their hearts, they never left off following after him.
How long after the Israelites left Egypt did they begin to rebel? Not long! It began with the golden calf incident. Then the Israelites refused to hear what Yahuwah had to say at Mt. Sinai and asked Moses to listen for them. Following that, they asked for a human king over them in place of Yahushua. Then they abandoned following after Yahuwah, and instead sought after the pagan deities of the neighbouring nations. Then finally they denied the Messiah and killed him. These all preferred the leavened bread of this world to the unleavened bread from heaven. This was the carnal heart at work. It can neither know Yahuwah nor follow after Him. They are like retarded children with barely any understanding at all.
Not all who have been called of Yahuwah have continued in the Way.
Matt. 13:3 - And he spoke many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4 - And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5 - Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 - And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 - And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8 - But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9 - Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
We likely all have examples of these seeds we can call upon – people who were so enthusiastic for the truth at one time, but for one reason or another fell away and returned to the world.
The seeds that fell by the wayside and were eaten up by birds are those upon whom the seed (word of Elohim) never had a chance to take root. They heard the word, did not understand it and passively dismissed it. They loved the world more than the hope of eternal life, or they simply did not believe.
Matt. 13:19 - When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
The seed that fell upon stony places are those who found little soil to take root in. They were not firmly rooted in the truth. Perhaps they could not handle separating themselves from family and friends to follow Yahushua. Perhaps they faced job losses due to their keeping the Sabbath. Perhaps they simply missed the ways, customs and traditions of the world and wished to return to their comfort zone. They loved the leavened bread over the unleavened.
Matt. 13:20 - But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heard the word, and anon (for a short time) with joy receives it;
21 - Yet has he not root in himself, but endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by he is offended.
The seed that fell amongst the thorns bring to me an image of what occurred afterword with the Christian religion. The founding fathers of that religion are the thorns that sprang up and choked off the Word of Elohim. They created a complete counterfeit that obscured the Word and changed it to suite themselves. They are dead trees producing no fruit; and they teach others to become dead and fruitless.
Matt. 13: 22 - He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
The last seed is the one that is pleasing to Yahuwah. These are the ones who faithfully sought after the truth (fertile ground) in which they could grow and produce fruit. The more fruit we produce, the more pleasing we are to Yahuwah and the greater our reward will be. Remember the parable of the talents.
Matt. 13:23 - But he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the word, and understands it; which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Yahushua spoke in parables so that only those called of Yahuwah would understand. I am sure that Yahuwah has His reason for calling some and not others. Yahushua never questioned the actions of the Father and neither should we.
We might often wonder why we were called. Was there something special about us? For that matter, why were the apostles called? There was nothing special about them either. Except for Shaul (Paul), none had any specific training of a religious nature. They were common working men (mostly fishermen) and yet they did more to promote and do the work of Yahuwah than any of the Levitical priesthood. Not one of them was of the tribe of Levi. And yet they accomplished so much more than any who were born into that priestly order.
As we know, Yahuwah looks upon the heart more than anything else. He chooses whom He will, introduces them to the truth and it is up to the individual what he does with that truth. Yahuwah is an equal opportunity employer. We all start off with an equal measure of the truth. Then our free choice takes over. Some freely chose to dedicate their lives to Yahuwah and some freely chose to return to the leaven world of our adversary.
Once again we have the option of the two trees. We can eat the leavened bread (fruit) of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, or we can eat of the unleavened bread (fruit) of the Tree of Life. The choice is ours (individually) to make.
So, let us all remember this lesson throughout this season and eat the unleavened manna from heaven with joy and much celebration; for we are the ones who fell on the fertile ground and are producing fruit worthy of salvation.
Yahuwah Bless
G.P.
References:
http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Spring_Holidays/Unleavened_Bread/Anavah/anavah.html
https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Hebrew_Roots/Holy_Days/Week_of_Unleavened_Bread