Leviticus 23: The Feasts Of YHWH

Passover (Pesach) - The First Feast Of YHWH

Leviticus 23:4-5

“These are the feasts of Yahwah, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is Yahwah's passover.”

Thoughts: In the Hebrew month of Abib (currently Nissan), on the fourteenth day falls around March or April on our calendar. This was the first month of their year in their original calendar. Exodus 12 details the first of the Feasts of YHWH, which is Passover. This is when Yahwah delivered Israel out of Egypt, which is a parallel of His blood covering us when we are saved. Then, He takes us out of sin and sets us apart from the world.

Numbers 9:13

“But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of Yahwah in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.”

Thoughts: Keeping Passover was and is not taken lightly in the sight of Yahwah. While the Mashiach covers the sacrificial system of bloodshed, we can honor Him in His great sacrifice for us during this time and remember that He did not have to die. This will be covered in more detail at the end of this study.

Mark 14:22-25

“And as they did eat, Yahwah took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of Elohim.”

Thoughts: Yahwah confirms we are now under a new blood covenant. He is our Passover sacrifice forever. Rather than sacrificial lambs, we should take unleavened bread to represent His body and wine to represent His blood. Mashiach did this with His disciples when they were gathered together.

1 Corinthians 11:24-29

“And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew Yahwah's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of Yahwah, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of Yahwah. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning Yahwah's body.”

Thoughts: During this time of partaking in His body and blood, we need to examine ourselves carefully. This is so that we do not disrespect His great sacrifice for us by our own ongoing sin. He deserves our complete surrender and obedience for the price He paid for us by giving Him our whole heart.

John 13:12-14

“So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Adonai: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Adonai and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.”

Thoughts: We ought to wash the feet of our brethren as this was done during Passover (Verse 1). Humbling ourselves is part of getting leaven or sin out of us so His blood could cleanse us completely.

Unleavened Bread (Hag Ha Matzot) - The Second Feast

Leviticus 23:6-8

“And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto Yahwah: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Yahwah seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.”

Thoughts: In the Hebrew month of Abib (currently Nissan), on the fifteenth day, it falls around March or April on our calendar. This was the first month of their year in their original calendar. This follows immediately after Passover. We are commanded to eat unleavened bread and to have a Holy Convocation on the first day (after Passover) and on the seventh day. The first and seventh days are like Sabbaths because Yahwah commands us not to work on these days and to assemble together.

Exodus 12:15

“Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.”

Thoughts: Keeping the Feast YHWH and of Unleavened Bread was taken seriously, and likewise, today should be a day of getting sin out of our lives once Yahwah saves us.

1 Corinthians 5:6-8

“Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth 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.”

Thoughts: It's good to honor the Word of Yahwah by cleansing our houses of actual leaven, but it does no good if we do not do the same in our lives daily before Him. We ask for His blood in forgiveness, then we live Holy, abstaining from sin and anything that would separate us from Him. Out of love, I abstain from eating leaven during this time, as a physical reminder to keep my spirit right with Him in every way.

Firstfruits (Yom Ha Bikkurim) - The Third Feast

Leviticus 23:9-14

“And Yahwah spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before Yahwah, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto Yahwah. And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto Yahwah for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin. And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your Elohim: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.”

Thoughts: In the Hebrew month of Abib (currently Nissan), around March or April on our calendar. This was the first month of their year in their original calendar. The Feast of Firstfruits occurs on the day after the Sabbath that falls on the Feast of Unleavened Bread, as described in Scripture.

Romans 8:22-23

“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. ”

Thoughts: Once we are saved and have removed sin, we are to abide in Him. If we abide in Him, we bear fruit. The fruit of the Spirit. (John 15:4-8, Galatians 5:22-23).

Proverbs 3:9-10

“Honour Yahwah with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”

Thoughts: This Feast is in their first month of their year after Passover and Unleavened Bread. They were required to give their first to Yahwah without knowing the outcome of their harvest for the upcoming year. It was an act of faith required by them that Yahwah would provide. Giving their best to the King of kings. To recap, Yahwah saves us. We then remove sin and continue to give our lives to Him out of love for the sacrifice He made first for us.

Pentecost (Shavuot) - The Fourth Feast Of YHWH

Leviticus 23:15-22

“And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto Yahwah. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto Yahwah. And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto Yahwah, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto Yahwah. Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings. And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before Yahwah, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to Yahwah for the priest. And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations. And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am Yahwah your Elohim.”

Thoughts: I was conflicted about the timing of this special day. On the morrow after the Sabbath, we are currently taking it as the Sunday after the one weekly Sabbath that occurs on the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Since it would always be a Sunday, we ought to start counting 7 Sabbaths from there and a total of 50 days, including the day of Firstfruits. Verse 15 states explicitly to count from there. This would mean Shavuot would always fall on a Sunday as well, since we start counting the days after the one weekly Sabbath on Unleavened Bread. Verse 16 also states the morrow after the 7th Sabbath to number 50 days. It does not say to offer the meat offering for the morrow after on any other day that week. We are commanded to have a Holy Convocation on Shavuot, just as the apostles were in Acts 2.

Acts 2:1

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”

Thoughts: This is the fulfillment of the Feast Day of Pentecost. Once Yahwah saves us, we seek the baptism of His Holy Spirit, as it was given on the Day of Pentecost. His Spirit within us will give us strength to live a Holy life, get sin out, overcome the enemy, and be a comforter to us in times of affliction.

Day Of Atonement (Yom Kippur) - The Fifth Feast

Leviticus 23:26-32

“And Yahwah spake unto Moses, saying, Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto Yahwah. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before Yahwah your Elohim. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.”

Thoughts: In the Hebrew month of Ethanim (currently Tishrei), around September or October on our calendar. This was the seventh month of their year in their original calendar. The Day of Atonement occurs on the tenth day of Ethanim, but begins on the ninth day at even. From dusk to dusk, like Sabbath. We are commanded to have a Holy Convocation on the tenth day and not to work at all. The afflicting of our souls is universally done by fasting from all food and drink. This is commonly referred to as the most Sacred Day of the year on the Hebrew calendar.

Leviticus 23:29-30

“For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.”

Thoughts: Not every Feast says we would be cut off, but this one does. We are more than capable of fasting and abstaining from work. Many believe this is a shadow of the Day of Judgement. It seems He set this day apart just so that we have a day to be sure we are pure and cleansed before Him, so we are not cut off. This day is about totally crucifying our flesh. This is not categorized as a “Feast” of Yahwah, but a “Fast” unto Him. This is a great time to remove every distraction from our lives and set our eyes and hearts completely on Him.

Romans 5:11

“And not only so, but we also joy in Elohim through our Adonai Yahwah Mashiac, by whom we have now received the atonement.”

Thoughts: A reminder, Mashiach is our sacrifice and our offering. Atonement only comes by His blood. Whether it’s the Day of Atonement or the Day of Judgement, if we find our atonement through Him, and continually crucify our flesh, there is no need to fear death because there is eternal life by the blood of Yahwah.

Feast Of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) - The Sixth Feast

Leviticus 23:23-25

“And Yahwah spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Yahwah.”

Matthew 24:31-36

“And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”

Thoughts: Does the second coming of Yahwah have anything to do with Yom Teruah? It is plain to see that the first coming of Mashiach fulfilled the first four Feasts of YHWH. Therefore, many assume that these last three feasts will significantly involve the timing of His second coming. Since Yom Teruah is a singular day, it seems unlikely Yahwah will come back on this specific day. While it makes sense that He would, verse 36 should serve as a warning not to hold Yahwah to a specific day of His glorious appearing.

Matthew 25:1-6

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.”

Thoughts: The blowing of the Shofar should remind us that Yahwah will come back. The sound should awaken our spirit, making us ready for His coming. These verses in Matthew 25 follow the end-time message of Matthew 24. Yom Teruah should be a day to get right with Yahwah and to make ourselves ready by being renewed and full of His Holy Spirit. He is coming back for a bride without spot or wrinkle, who has a close relationship with Him.

Feast Of Tabernacles (Sukkot) - The Last Feast Of YHWH

Leviticus 23:33-44

“And Yahwah spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto Yahwah. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Yahwah: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Yahwah: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein. These are the feasts of Yahwah, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto Yahwah, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day: Beside the sabbaths of Yahwah, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto Yahwah. Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto Yahwah seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before Yahwah your Elohim seven days. And ye shall keep it a feast unto Yahwah seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am Yahwah your Elohim. And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of Yahwah.”

Thoughts: In the Hebrew month of Ethanim (currently Tishrei), around September or October on our calendar. This was the seventh month of their year in their original calendar. The Feast of Tabernacles occurs on the fifteenth day of Ethanim, for seven days for the feast, but eight in total. We are commanded to have a Holy Convocation on the first and the eighth days and not to work our jobs on those days. We ought to praise and rejoice in Him according to verse 40 for the entire duration. Lastly, we are commanded to dwell in booths, commonly referred to as tents today.

John 1:14

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Thoughts: Some think Mashiach’s birth was on Sukkot. Some chronological study in Luke 1 and 2 may prove this. It would make sense as Yahwah made His booth with us when He became flesh to dwell with us. His flesh was the Tabernacle of Yahwah Himself. If people want to celebrate Mashiach’s birth so severely, they will do well to celebrate it here rather than that pagan holiday. This could also be a shadow of the millennial reign of Yahwah after the blowing of the trumpet. This is when He tabernacles Himself again with us for a thousand years to reign as King of kings. The dwelling in “booths” is a reminder of where Israel came from, Egypt, which is symbolic of us coming out of the world. This is a Feast to rejoice in Yahwah and look forward to the day He dwells with us again.

Zechariah 14:16-17

“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, Yahwah of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, Yahwah of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.”

Thoughts: When Yahwah does reign as King of kings, this Feast day would be fulfilled entirely. Yet, this time would still be a celebration for all those who live in true peace and righteousness under His Kingdom.

The Sacrifical System

Hebrews 10:10-22

“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Yahwah Ha Mashiach once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of Elohim; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith Yahwah, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Yahwah, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of Elohim; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

Thoughts: The entire sacrificial and offering system that requires blood in the Old Blood Covenant has been replaced by the blood of Yahwah Ha Mashiach. This has been fulfilled by the sacrifice of Mashiach and the offering of His undefiled body. To think we need any other sacrifices or offerings of blood for the Feasts of YHWH, or for any other reason, besides Mashiach Himself, is blasphemous.

Hebrews 7:25-27

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto Elohim by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.”

Thoughts: Has the sacrificial part of the law been done away with? No! We still need blood to cover us. We are under a New Blood Covenant now. Instead, it is the blood of Yahwah our Mashiach. The Law is under new blood; it was not abolished. Mashiach makes intercession for us as our sacrifice/offering if we confess our sins to Him.

Thank you for reading this teaching about the "Feasts Of YHWH."

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