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Feasts and Festivals Of Jehovah What the Levitical Feasts and Festivals Teach Us About Christ and His Church ( Leviticus 16, 23, 25 ) Fredericktown church of Christ Gospel Meeting * August 11, 2009 * Prepared by Chris Reeves

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 Days Leviticus 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 Days Lessons for Today 1. Sabbath Day: Rest (23:3) We have a sabbath rest awaiting us in heaven (Heb. 4:9-11) 2. Passover: Deliverance (23:4-5) Christ is our Passover sacrifice of deliverance from sin (1 Cor. 5:7)

The Seven Holy Days Lessons for Today 3. Unleavend Bread: Separation (23:6-8) We are to separate ourselves from the leaven of sin (1 Cor. 5:6-8; 2 Tim. 2:19) 4. Firstfruits: Priority (23:9-22) 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)

The Seven Holy Days Lessons for Today 5. Trumpets: Calling (23:23-25) 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 (23:26-32) Christ’s blood is our atonement (covering) for sin (Zech. 12:10 – 13:1; Heb. 9:14; 13:11-12)

The Seven Holy Days Lessons for Today 6. Atonement: Forgiveness – cont. (Lev. 16) An appointed time (16:1-2; Gal. 4:4-5) An assigned procedure (16:3-28; Jn. 1:29) An afflicted people (16:29-31; Jas. 4:8-10) An announced purpose (16:32-34; Mt. 26:28)

The Seven Holy Days Lessons for Today 7. Tabernacles: Remembrance (23:33-44) 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 Jubilee Leviticus 25 Year of Rest (25:1-7): every 7th year Year of Release, Return, Restoration, and Redemption (25:8-55) : every 50th year Repentance (25:9; see 16:29-34) Release (25:10,13) Rest (25:11-25) Restoration (25:13-17) Redemption (25:23-55)

The Year of Jubilee Leviticus 25 Year of Release, Return, Restoration, and Redemption (25:8-55) : every 50th year Redemption (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)

The Year of Jubilee Leviticus 25 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)

The Year of Jubilee Leviticus 25 Key Motivations Appreciation of blessings (25:4,6,10,14) Obedience to God (25:5) Deliverance from bondage (25:38,55)

The Year of Jubilee Leviticus 25 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)

The Year of Jubilee Leviticus 25 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