“Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover” (Matt. 26:17)? In the King James Version, notice that the words "day" and "feast of" are in italics. This indicates that these words do not appear in the original Greek. Italicized words were added by the translators either for clarity in English or because they thought the word was necessary. In actuality, Matthew 26:17 should read, “Now [on] the first [day] of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover” The addition of "day" is obligatory by the Greek; the addition of "feast of" is not required. The specific day referred to in this passage is the 14th of the month, Passover day. This conversation took place as that day began (Lev. 23:32). In other words, they talked at sunset at the beginning of the 14th day of the month. Later that evening, Jesus introduced the new symbols for Passover (Matt. 26:20). The day of the Passover is the final occasion on which all leavened bread is to be put out of the home in preparation for the seven Days of Unleavened Bread, which immediately follow sunset on the 14th day of the month (Ex. 12:18-19). The day of the Passover consequently came to be considered one of the days of Unleavened Bread.
The day referred to is thus the day before the 15th, when the Days of Unleavened Bread officially began. Because the translators were confused on this point, they wrongly inserted "feast of" in the Authorized Version. The first century Jewish historian Josephus confirms this. He tells us that the Passover was on the 14th day and preceded the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which lasted for seven days, that is, from the 15th day to the 21st day of the first month of the sacred year. In common speech, he says, the entire eight-day spring festival was called "the days of Unleavened Bread." (See "Antiquities of the Jews," Book 2-15-12; Book 3-10-5.) Luke 22:1shows the word "Passover" was also used to refer to the entire period. The two terms were then used interchangeably. Matthew 26:17 refers to the day immediately preceding the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Today, we refer to it as Passover day. All leaven was to be removed. But let’s ask, “Just what is leaven?” Which foods are to be avoided during the Days of Unleavened Bread and which are not?
We know from Paul’s writing in 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 that God uses leaven to typify sin. Sin puffs up just as physical leaven puffs up. Unleavened bread is a type of an unleavened life. To understand exactly what is included in the leaven we are to avoid during the days of Unleavened Bread, let’s first notice some of the Hebrew words translated “leaven” in the Old Testament.
Scripture commands that for the seven days of the Festival, we are to avoid leavening and are to consume unleavened bread. What exactly is leavening? The Hebrew word is mechametz, which refers to the fermentation process in bread dough that causes it to rise. Yeast spores give off carbon dioxide in the fermentation process, and tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide cause the bread to puff up. The leavened bread made in ancient times was like what we now call sourdough bread. Today, many make bread using packaged dry yeast, rather than starter dough from their last batch of bread. Yet in either case, the same process occurs—yeast spores digest sugar and give off carbon dioxide. Today, baking powder and baking soda are also used to leaven breads. As a result of a chemical reaction, they also give off carbon dioxide causing the dough to rise, replicating the action of the yeast spores. Another word rendered “leaven” is seh-ore' (07603); barm or yeast-cake (as swelling by fermentation):--leaven. This literally means “sourdough,” a naturally fermenting yeasty batter which was the most common leaven among the Israelites. It is still often used to cause baked goods to rise and become light in texture. These leavening agents cause foods to become chamets (02556): to be pungent; i.e. in taste (sour, i.e. literally fermented, or figuratively, harsh), in color (dazzling):--cruel (man), dyed, be grieved, leavened. We find this usage in Exodus 12:19: “For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses, since whoever eats what is leavened <chamets>, that same person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger or a native of the land. It is also translated “leavened bread” in a number of places. It refers to all foods that leaven has caused to rise, including bread, cake, some crackers, certain cookies, some prepared cereals and pies. A few candies and other foods also make use of leavening agents. If you are in doubt about any product, check the list of ingredients on the wrapper.
It is imperative to also note the positive command to eat unleavened bread for seven days (Ex. 13:6). We may also eat unleavened pies and cereals together with all the meats, drinks, fruits and vegetables we normally consume. You can bake your own unleavened bread or some stores carry a variety of unleavened bread and products. These include Jewish and whole-wheat Matzoth, Rye Krisp, hard tack and a number of flat breads. Always check the ingredients on the label to be sure.
Some have asked about the use of egg whites in baking. Egg whites should not be used as a substitute for leaven, in a deliberate attempt to circumvent the spirit of the law. On the other hand, beaten egg whites used in meringue on pie and other desserts do not constitute a leavening agent. They have not been used to puff up any product baked of flour or meal.
Others have notice the term “yeast extracts” on the labels of certain foods and have wondered if they should be avoided. These are derivatives of yeast that cannot be used as leavening agents—one example is that of different store bought soups. It would therefore be permissible to use a product containing yeast extracts provided, of course, that it does not contain any actual leavening agent. It should also be mentioned that cream of tartar by itself, is not a leavening agent either. It may enhance the leavening action, but does not actually leaven on its own.
Some people also buy brewers yeast from health food stores and etc. This form of yeast is totally dead and should not be considered as leaven. Occasionally a question comes up about beer or other fermented drinks. There is nothing in the entirety of Scripture to indicate any restriction on the kind of beverages we consume during the Days of Unleavened Bread—no mention of it being the days of Unleavened Beverages. The only restriction would be on how much we drink—as we are abundantly warned against drunkenness (Prov.20:1; 23:19-31; 31:1-6).
This is not the days of unleavened tooth paste or unleavened fire extinguishers. If someone is using a box of baking soda to brush his teeth he should throw it out, because he could also use it to leaven products. But if the baking soda is an ingredient in toothpaste you are not going to be leavening breads with the toothpaste. Neither are you going to break open your fire-extinguisher to leaven a cake. The fact is that in all cases where the Days of Unleavened Bread are mentioned, the reference is always to the example set by the children of Israel when they came out of Egypt without any leaven in their dough (Ex. 12:39-41). There is no reference to the invisible yeast, in the air, or result of it in either beer, wine or other beverages. Naturally fermented wine was customarily consumed by the Israelites at God’s Festivals. If God had intended a ban on fermented beverages during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, it would undoubtedly have been mentioned. In fact, such mention would have been necessary. Yet the command adds no more than what is found in Exodus 13:6-7: “Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord. Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days. And no leavened bread shall be seen among you, nor shall leaven be seen among you in all your quarters.” If you are unsure about any particular food and unable to find an answer—what should you do—you should refrain from eating or drinking it—“for whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Rom. 14:23)?
The first Passover was to have been a very hasty meal, eaten in trepidation or "fear," looking apprehensively toward the time on the very next evening when they would flee out from the land of Egypt and the scene of their abject slavery! Christ did not come to abolish the Passover, the Holy Days, nor the Laws of God! Rather, Jesus changed the symbols of the Passover from the killing of the lamb, and the eating of its flesh, to the unleavened bread and the wine symbolizing His broken body and shed blood! If this deceived world understood the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread—by themselves—without knowing of any of the other Holy Days—they would automatically know their counterfeit "plan of salvation" is in rank error! Today, the world teaches all you must do is "accept"! Or, "receive" Christ as your Saviour! Then—there is nothing more you must do! Christ has done it all for you! After you receive Christ, you stand still! But the Israelites didn’t stand still!
“It is a night of solemn observance to the Lord for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that night of the Lord, a solemn observance for all the children of Israel throughout their generations” (Ex. 12:42). We don’t stand still and that’s where the Days of Unleavened Bread comes in! After we observe the Passover, showing our acceptance of the blood and body of Jesus Christ—there is something more to perform! God intended we should understand that just “accepting" Christ is not enough! Christ died for us—that is something we cannot do! But Christ did not observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread for us—He left something we must do! We cannot stand still after repentance, and after receiving the sacrifice of Christ, but we, too, must come out of Egypt! We are told to be not conformed to rotten, filthy, foul, evil world, (Romans 12:1-2). This defiant world wants to claim Christ as its saviour—to "receive" Christ, to appropriate His name, but they will not obey Christ! The whole picture of the Days of Unleavened Bread show our coming out of sin, putting the human vanity and carnality out of our lives—growing in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18).
Just as our forefathers were told to eat their Passover with their loins girded, with their staff in their hand—looking apprehensively at the world around them—preparatory to fleeing from Egypt, so we are to go on after the Passover, to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread! We should all see to it that we do eat some unleavened bread during the seven days of the Feast. Remember it is a positive command. By eating the bread of affliction we are reminded of our having been in bondage to sin, from which we are now delivered. If it occurs, as in all probability it will, that partway through the Feast you find some leavened product that had somehow escaped your scrutiny, put it off your property immediately. This is a type of those hidden sins that we don’t always discover upon conversion. We must keep on putting out sin (leaven) until the process is complete, as is signified by the very fact that there are seven—number of completion—Days of Unleavened Bread.
All leavening should be discarded and, although, we shouldn’t be careless, this Feast is not meant as a convenient time to do our spring cleaning. God intended the Days of Unleavened Bread to be a type to remind us that we are to be unleavening our lives spiritually by putting out the spiritual leaven of sin—not for seven days only, but throughout our entire lives (Gal. 2:20). That is why God commands us to keep it! We are never to forget the plan He is working out here below, and our vital part in that plan!
Paul exhorts Christians, "Let us keep the Feast" (I Cor. 5:8). He showed how we are to keep it, and said, "Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup ..." (I Cor. 11:28). These commands mean us! God is offering us the priceless, matchless privilege of being born of Him—becoming His own children. The Passover and FUB show the beginning of the process of salvation. Brethren—let’s all be obedient to our God-let us keep the Feast!
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