what the levitical feasts and festivals teach us about christ and his church ( leviticus 16, 23, 25...

What the Levitical Feasts and Festivals

Teach Us About Christ and His Church

( Leviticus 16, 23, 25 )

Holy Days and Assemblies

OT Israelites were to assemble together at certain times throughout the year, and at a certain place (Lev. 23:1-2,4; Ex. 23:14-17; Deut. 16:16-17)

These feasts and festivals are “a shadow of things to come” (Col. 2:16-17)

What do they teach us about Christ and His church today?

Seven Holy DaysLeviticus 23

1. Sabbath Day: Rest (v. 3)

2. Passover: Deliverance (vv. 4-5)

3. Unleavened Bread: Separation (vv. 6-8)

4. First Fruits: Priority (vv. 9-22)

First fruits (vv. 9-14)

Feast of Weeks (vv. 15-22)

5. Trumpets: Calling (vv. 23-25)

6. Day of Atonement: Forgiveness (vv. 26-32)

7. Tabernacles: Remembrance (vv. 33-44)

The Seven Holy DaysLessons for Today

1. Sabbath Day: Rest

We have a sabbath rest awaiting us in heaven (Heb. 4:9-11)

2. Passover: Deliverance

Christ is our Passover sacrifice of deliverance from sin (Jn. 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:7; see also Lev. 16)


3. Unleavend Bread: Separation

We are to separate ourselves from the leaven of sin (1 Cor. 5:6-8; 2 Tim. 2:19)

4. Firstfruits: Priority

We are the first fruits dedicated to the Lord (Acts 2:1; Rom. 8:23; 16:5; 1 Cor. 15:20,23; Jas. 1:18; Rev. 14:4; Mt. 6:33)


5. Trumpets: Calling

The church, the “called out,” will be called home to heaven with a trumpet (1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:16; 2 Thess. 2:1)

6. Atonement: Forgiveness

Christ’s blood is our atonement (covering) for sin (Zech. 12:10 – 13:1; Heb. 9:14; 13:11-12)


7. Tabernacles: Remembrance

We must remember our divine deliverance from sin and provision through the wilderness of life (Zech. 14:16-21; Jn. 7:37-39; 8:12)

The Year of JubileeLeviticus 25

Year of Rest (25:1-7): every 7th year

Year of Release, Return, Restoration, and Redemption (25:8-55) : every 50th yearRepentance (25:9; see 16:29-34)Release (25:10,13)Rest (25:11-25)Restoration (25:13-17)Redemption (25:23-55)


Year of Release, Return, Restoration, and Redemption (25:8-55) : every 50th yearRedemption (25:23-55)

1. Land (25:23-28)

2. Houses (25:29-34

3. The Poor (25:35-55)

a) Bankrupt brother (25:35-38)

b) Slave of a Jew (25:39-46)

c) Slave of a Gentile (25:47-55)


Key Principles

God owned the land (25:2,23-24)

God owned the people (25:55)

God gave the increase of the land (25:21)

God expected the people to treat one another kindly and fairly (25:17,25,35-38)


Key Motivations

Appreciation of blessings (25:4,6,10,14)

Obedience to God (25:5)

Deliverance from bondage (25:38,55)


Key Lessons

Trust and obey (Rom. 10:17; Heb. 5:9)

God is our “land Lord” (1 Cor. 6:19-20; 1 Pet. 2:9)

Release follows repentance (Mt. 5:4; Lk. 24:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19)


Key Lessons

Liberty is in Christ (Isa. 61:1-3; Lk. 4:16ff; Gal. 5:1)

Jesus is our “Kinsman – Redeemer” (Heb. 2:5ff)

Care for your fellow-brethren (Acts 2:44ff; 4:34ff; 6:1ff; etc.)

Feasts and Festivals of Jehovah

We are not under the OT, but these feasts and festivals are “a shadow of things to come” (Col. 2:16-17)

The one feast we have, the Lord’s supper, contains many of same principles of the OT feasts: deliverance, separation, priority, calling, forgiveness, remembrance

We must be stirred to greater love for, and obedience to God

what the levitical feasts and festivals teach us about christ and his church ( leviticus 16, 23, 25...

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