Feasts of the Lord for Christians
Passover and Easter Compared
In Leviticus chapter 23 in the Bible God continues to establish laws, statutes, and ordinances as He tells Moses and the children of Israel about feasts of the Lord to be celebrated for all generations. Specific reference is made to passover in Leviticus 23:5, and with Israel as "a type" in the Old Testament for Christians, some may be confused when Passover and Easter are compared.
In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's passover. Leviticus 23:5 (KJV)
Passover is the Jewish feast of sacrifice to be remembered for all generations as a memorial to the passover in Egypt. Christians are split on whether the passover should be celebrated because of our belief in Christ as our passover as stated in 1 Corinthians chapter 5.
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 1 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV)
Christians with belief in Christ as our Savior, Passover, and Sabbath believe the dispensation of grace has made void the law of the Old Testament. Evidence of rejection by God of statutes and ordinances of the Old Testament is documented in various places in the Bible, including these verses in Isaiah:
Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Isaiah 1:13 (KJV)
Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. Isaiah 1:14 (KJV)
Reference to law being void is a generalization. Certainly the 10 commandments are still the law and not intended to be made void. Works, as in being a good person or following the letter of the law, does not bring salvation. Salvation is freely given by grace to all who accept Christ as their Savior as written in John 3:16 where there are no additional conditions set. By their new nature, converts to Christianity will pursue doing good works, yet works are not a condition of salvation.
When we understand that the similar feasts of Easter and Passover celebrated each year around the same time are not the same, and that Easter was a mistranslation, Christians celebrating passover makes sense. For evidence, let's consider the comparison.
The word in Greek translated to "Easter" in the New Testament is pascha (PAS-khah), and occurs only once in Acts chapter 12. The person being put in prison in that verse is Peter, the Apostle.
Pascha in Greek originated from pesach (PEH-sakh) in Chaldee, one of the original languages of the Old Testament manuscripts which were written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Chaldee. Passover appears in the Old Testament 45 times and the meaning is literally the "passover feast" in each. Of 27 instances of pascha in the New Testament, it is always translated passover except the one tranlation as Easter in Acts 12:4.
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Acts 12:4 (KJV)
Compare the similarity of pascha in the New Testament to its root origin pesach (PEH-sakh) in the Old Testament, and you cannot help but wonder why the KJV translators chose the word "Easter". The translation error goes back to a celebration of a heathen goddess variously spelled Eostre, Eostare, Ostara, or Eastre that occurred in the spring at the time of passover. The pagan rituals of fertility, bunnies, and eggs continue today, yet "Easter" is pagan and not a Jewish or Christian feast.
I agree with the belief that Christians should celebrate Passover in remembrance of Christ as He instructed his disciples during the last supper on the eve in which He was betrayed. The body and blood symbolized in the bread and wine ritual of communion were taken as He commanded "This do in remembrance of me". Passover as observed by Christ, not Easter, is a feast of the Lord for Christians to celebrate.
Article Source: www.ultimateriddles.com/leviticus-bible-lesson-06.html.
About the Author: Jim Degerstrom is an author who works in a faith based business offering custom website design and graphic art services, and documents Bible studies at his Ultimate Riddles Spiritual Journey website and blogs about spiritual growth on his Ultimate Riddles Spiritual Study blog from Kissimmee, Florida USA.
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