W. Austin Gardner
The Jewish Calendar

Leviticus 23
The Passover, Christ died for our sins 23:4-5
Israel’s feast of deliverance Exodus 12
An innocent lamb died for the firstborn
The blood was applied by faith in God’s Word and the firstborn was delivered
To reject the Lamb and His blood was to accept judgment and death
The lamb was a picture of Jesus
Behold the Lamb John 1:29
Christ is our Passover I Corinthians 5:7, I Peter 1:19-20
He knew no sin II Corinthians 5:21
Did no sin I Peter 2:22
In Him is no sin I John 3:5
We aren't saved by admiring, loving, or caring for the Lamb but by His death as our substitute
No outsider could take part in the Passover Exodus 12:43-51
Unleavened bread, separation from sin 23:6-8
They cleansed their homes of leaven Exodus 12:15-20
Leaven is often the picture of sin and so getting rid leaven would be a picture of separating yourself from sin II Corinthians 6:14-7:1
We want to get rid of the old life I Corinthians 5:7
We want to walk differently than we did in the time past I Peter 4:1-5
Get rid of the leaven
Of malice and wickedness I Corinthians 5:8, Ephesians 4:31-32
Of hypocrisy Luke 12:1
Of false doctrine Galatians 5:7-9
Of Herod-pride and worldliness Mark 8:15
Of Sadducees, unbelief Matthew 16:6
We are not saved by getting rid of leaven but by the blood, but a desire is produce to live a holy life now II Timothy 2:19
Firstfruits, the resurrected Jesus 23:9-14
The first and the best had to be given to God Exodus 23:19, Nehemiah 10:34-37, Proverbs 3:9
They were not to eat of the harvest until after the firstfruits were given to God 23:14
This reminded them that all that they had came from God
Jesus is our firstfruits
Of the dead or in the resurrection I Corinthians 15:20
His death and burial were like planting a seed John 12:23
The resurrection is like a harvest I Corinthians 15:35-49
Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit in power over His church
This comes 7 weeks after firstfruits
It is the 50th day
The power of the Holy Spirit comes to take the gospel to the world Acts 1:8
Trumpets, the calling together of God’s people 23:23-25
Refers to God calling Israel together, maybe when He made them a country again, May 14, 1948
Secondary reference to us when He will sound the trumpet and His church will arise to meet Him II Thessalonians 4:13-17
Day of Atonement, forgiveness for sin 23:20-32
Tabernacles, the joy of the Lord 23:33-44
A time of rejoicing for a suffering people
No one has suffered as a people historically more than the Jews