Communion or the Lord’s Supper Explained in Its Hebraic Context


 
The Importance of Memorials and Symbols

Obedient and truth-seeking disciples of Yeshua will want to love him by keeping his commandments (John 14:12), and by teaching and doing everything he commanded (Matt 28:20). They will be following Paul’s example to imitate Yeshua (1 Cor 11:1) as well heeding John’s admonition “to walk just as [Yeshua] walked” (1 John 2:6).

With regard to obeying YHVH’s commands, symbols and memorializations figure prominently in YHVH Elohim’s spiritual economy. Why is this? They are teaching aids. Physical humans need physical things to help them to comprehend spiritual truths and ideals. Using symbols, commemorations and memorializations is a method of teaching and relates to pedagogy, which is “the method and practice of teaching, especially as an academic subject or theoretical concept.” A effective teacher endeavors to build bridges of understanding between what the student knows and what the teacher wants to teach the student— between the known and the unknown, between what the student understands now and what the teacher wants his students to learn. A successful teacher learns the skill of building bridges of understanding with his students to bring them to a higher level of understanding. The same is true of YHVH Elohim as we works with humans to teach them about spiritual things.

On a spiritual level, YHVH Elohim, our Heavenly Teacher, employes similar pedagogic or teaching techniques as he endeavors to bring men to a higher level of understanding heaven’s spiritual truths and realities. The use of symbols and memorials as teaching tools is essential to this process of teaching and learning.

The Bible is full of symbols and memorials that represent or point to something else and act as teaching aids to assist humans in learning about Elohim and what he requires of us. For example, the very name of the Creator, YHVH (Yehovah), is a memorial, symbol or remembrance (Heb. zeker from zakar) of who Elohim really is (Exod 3:15). His name is a way for humans to connect with him. The same is true of each of our names. Our name is a label, a pointer, a symbol of who we are, but it’s not really us. Similarly, eating unleavened bread during the Feast of Unleavened Bread is a memorial (Heb. zikrown from zakar) of coming out of Egypt and putting sin out of one’s life (Exod 13:9). The twelve stones on the high priest’s breastplate were memorials (Heb. zikrown from zakar) of the twelve tribes of Israel (Exod 28:12). The grain offering that was made on the altar of sacrifice in the Tabernacle of Moses was a memorial (Heb. azkarah from zakar) or remembrance that prophetically pointed to Yeshua the Messiah’s death on the cross and the fact that he is the bread of life (Lev 2:2). Blowing shofars on the Day of Trumpets is a memorial (Heb. zikrown from zakar) of many things past, present and prophetically including the second coming of Yeshua and the firstfruits resurrection (Lev 23:24). In fact, the whole Tabernacle of Moses, the Levitical priesthood, the sacrificial system, the Sabbath and biblical feasts is a complex system of memorials, remembrances and symbols to point humanity to the higher, upward spiritual path, which eventually brings him to Yeshua the Messiah. This is so abundantly clear in the Bible. Why don’t more people see this? Why do so many Christians and their leaders have such an apathy, even antipathy for these things? It’s mind boggling, especially in view of the fact that these teaching aid memorial and symbols were ordained of Elohim himself!

The overarching purpose and meaning of the Hebrew word zakar and its derivatives is something that “gets men to think about something, to meditate upon something, to pay attention to something, to remember something, to mention something, to declare or proclaim something or to commemorate something” (see The TWOT on the meaning of zakar).

Why do people need to remember something or to stop and think about something? Simply this. In the busyness of life, people forget a lot of things that they should remember, meditate on, ponder, be thankful for and learn from. The fact that people tend to forget important things is the whole reason we have national holidays, statues, gravestones, war medals, a national flag and anthem, birthdays and anniversaries, photo albums, traditions, a Torah scroll, the Bible, the Sabbath, the biblical feasts, the cross as a symbol of something, the ritual of baptism and Passover, which had embedded in its observance the Lord’s supper (1 Cor 11:20), communion (1 Cor 10:16) or the Lord’s table (1 Cor 10:21). All of these remembrances or memorials are designed to cause us to pause and stop and to reflect on something that is beyond us (in the past or future) or above us. The memorialization of past events should cause us to better appreciate those who have gone before us and be thankful for our present blessings.  Such reflections can help us not to repeat the mistakes of past generations and at the same time learn from their wisdom. Simultaneously, things that memorialize future events (like the Sabbath and the biblical feasts) should encourage us onward and upward in our spiritual journey. They strengthen our faith and give us hope for tomorrow. Symbolic rituals like baptism and communion can help us to connect to present realities that relate to our upward spiritual walk and our relationship to Yeshua the Messiah—our Master and Savior.

What Does Communion Memorialize?

So what does the Christian sacrament of communion or the Lord’s supper memorialize? To its credit, the mainstream Christian church understands the basic meaning of communion quite well. But let’s review this basic understanding, while, at the same time, adding some Hebraic or whole Bible background information. This will hopefully help us to appreciate more fully this glorious sacrament, which, sadly, due to its frequent occurrence in many churches, can become banal ritual that is easily taken for granted.

Paul refers to the taking of the bread and fruit of the vine (wine or grape juice) as the Lord’s supper (1 Cor 11:20) or communion (1 Cor 10:16). The words supper is the Greek word deipnon meaning “a formal meal usually eaten in the evening.” Communion is the Greek word koinonia meaning “fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse, the share which one has in anything, participation, intimacy, the right hand as a sign and pledge of fellowship.” From these definitions we see that the Lord’s supper is a serious, formal and an intimate meal involving the pledge of intimate fellowship or friendship. This meal is not open to the public, but only to Yeshua’s disciples who are those who have an intimate spiritual relationship with him and have accepted him as their Lord and Savior, and who are actively and obediently living out their faith. By way of a quick overview (each of these points could be expanded into a whole teaching), the Lord’s supper symbolizes the following spiritual realities in the saint’s life. During communion the saint should…

  • Reflect on what Yeshua did for them when he died on the cross (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor 11:24–25), for which they should be eternally grateful.
  • Realize that even as Passover commemorated YHVH delivering the children of Israel from enslavement to Egypt (a biblical metaphor for enslavement to sin through the deleterious influences of the world, the flesh and the devil), communion pictures Yeshua delivering us from bondage to the sinful rudiments of the world, the flesh and devil and bringing us into his glorious, eternal and spiritual kingdom (1 Cor 5:6–8; Col 1:13–14).
  •  Pledges his or her unity with each other and their loyalty to Yeshua.
  • Renew their faith and participation in and loyalty to the New Covenant (Matt 26:27–28).
  • Appropriate the broken bread as a symbol of Yeshua’s body being broken for the healing of their spiritual and physical brokenness or sickness as a result of sin (Isa 53:5; 1 Pet 2:24).
  • Recognize that as physical bread nourishes the physical body, so Yeshua, who is the spiritual bread of life (through his Word and Spirit, Eph 5:26; Tit 3:5–6; John 14:26; ; 15:26; 16:8,13–14; Rom 8:9–11), nourishes their spiritual body (John 6:53–58).
  • Understand that the bread not only symbolizes the physical, broken body of Yeshua, but his resurrected, glorified body, as well, through which the saint has communion or intimate fellowship (1 Cor 10:16), and receives spiritual empowerment (John 11:25; Rom 5:10; Phil 3:10; 1 Pet 3:21).
  • Understand that the wine symbolizes the saint’s sins being atoned for by the shed blood of Yeshua, who took upon himself the wages of our sins, which is death, and died in our place. When we drink the wine, we are accepting and legally appropriating Yeshua’s vicarious atonement to cover our sins (1 John 1:7; Rev 1:5).
  • Take the time to exercise self-examination to ensure that one is in a right spiritual relationship with Yeshua (1 Cor 11:27–32). This we must continue to do “until he comes” (1 Cor 11:26).
  • Remember that communion symbolizes connecting with the body of Yeshua (1 Cor 10:14–17). The saint recognizes that the body of Yeshua is now a spiritual entity of which Yeshua is the head and the saints are members, and each part of the body edifies and strengthens the other. Therefore, the saints recognize their need to be a participatory part of and loyal to that spiritual body (Eph 1:18–23; 4:15–16; 1 Cor 12:12–31).
  • Know that the Lord’s supper is prophetic in that it points to Yeshua’s second coming and the marriage supper of the lamb that is yet to occur, and in which his wise virgin saints will participate (Matt 26:29; 25:1–13; Rev 19:7–8).

How Did Yeshua and the Disciples Celebrate Communion?

So if we’re going to memorialize Yeshua’s life, death and resurrection and our relationship to him by partaking of communion wouldn’t it behoove us to do it the way he did it? To follow his instructions on how and what to do?

Communion or the Lord’s supper has been one of the most revered sacraments of the Christian church for nearly 2000 years. So why does the mainstream church not follow the clear teachings and example of Yeshua with regard to when and how to observe it? How is it that many millions of Christians regularly partake of communion and never ask themselves, “What did Jesus do?” and “What did he actually command us to do?”

This is such a glaringly simple question, yet few seem to ask it, instead preferring to go along with their church traditions of men.

So what did Yeshua do? He instituted the sacrament of communion on the Passover—the first of the seven annual biblical holidays that YHVH commanded the children of Israel to observe back in Exodus 12 and again in Leviticus 23. The Lord’s supper as it was subsequently called (1 Cor 11:20) was an embedded part of the Passover seder. The Passover was something that Yeshua did, and who Paul and John commanded us to imitate (1 Cor 11:1; 1 John 2:6). Passover was also connected to the Feast of Unleavened Bread—the second of the annual biblical holidays, and a festival that Paul linked to Passover and diplomatically commanded the primarily non-Jewish members of the Corinthian church to celebrate (1 Cor 5:6–8).

When initiating the sacraments of the Lord’s supper while celebrating the Passover seder with his disciples, Yeshua said, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor 11:25). This was Yeshua’s imperative command to his disciples. Communion was part of the whole Passover seder along with the foot washing service, which he also commanded his disciples to do (John 13:14). How many modern churches do communion and a foot washing service while celebrating Passover as Yeshua commanded? If not, why not? What are their excuses? There are no good reasons for disobeying our Lord and Master if we claim to follow him.

So why doesn’t the Christian church keep Passover (of which communion was an integral part) along with the Feast of Unleavened Bread? Good question. Ask your Sunday Christian pastor this question and then watch him squirm and cough up some mumbo-jumbo, nonsensical, unbiblical, traditions-of-men answer that makes of none effect the word of Elohim just like the religionist Pharisees of old did, and for which Yeshua roundly condemned them (Matt 15:6–9 and Mark 7:6–9). On the judgment day at his second coming, he will severely judge, if not condemn, those religionists who claimed to be his disciples, but who failed to obey his clearly delineated laws and commands (Matt 7:21–23).

Yeshua and his apostles taught that communion is to be done at Passover. However, can communion be done at other times in addition to Passover? Yeshua commanded it to be done at Passover “in remembrance of me.” This commandment is definitive and immutable. Those who don’t do so are disobeying Yeshua! Plain and simple. Obeying him by taking communion during Passover is no different than obeying his commands to love your enemies, turn the other cheek, don’t hate, don’t look lustfully on a woman, and so on. Eating the Lord’s supper or taking communion at the appointed time during the spring season on Passover is the minimum requirement and fulfillment of this command of Yeshua. This, however, in no way prohibits one from taking communion at other times, as long as one isn’t neglecting Yeshua’s basic command to do it at Passover. The Bible contains basic requirements for serving and obeying Elohim, but if one, out of zeal and passion, wants to exceed the basic requirements of obedience, this is acceptable and pleasing to Elohim.

Paul implies that communion can be taken more often than Passover in his instructions to the disciples in Corinth when he uses the phrase “as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup…” (1 Cor 11:25). This seems to express Yeshua’s sentiments as well (1 Cor 11:24). “As often” can refer to the annual Passover celebration, but Paul and Yeshua don’t seem to limit how often it can be done, so neither should we.

Scriptures Relating to the Lord’s Supper or Communion

The following Scriptures speak of the Lord’s supper, which Yeshua did at his last Passover with his disciples just prior to his arrest and crucifixion.

  • Matt 26:26–30
  • Mark 14:22–26
  • Luke 22:14–23
  • John 13:1–17:26
  • 1 Cor 11:20–26 (also vv. 27–34)
  • 1 Cor 10:16, 21
  • 1 Cor 5:7

Furthermore, Yeshua in his sermon on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee teaches about the symbolisms of what would later become known as the Lord’s supper or communion:

 Then Yeshua said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. (John 6:53–58)

The Order of the Communion Service

So how does one actually partake of communion as Yeshua did? It’s actually a very simple service.

  • Before the communion elements are consumed, the leader explains that drinking the cup of wine (or grape juice) symbolizes entering into a new covenant relationship with Yeshua. The new covenant is a legally binding agreement and a blood covenant. In ancient times, when a person violated a blood covenant, that person brought the curse of death upon himself.  Similarly, Paul says that if a person partakes of the communion elements in an unworthy (i.e. a careless or indifferent) manner, then he brings the curse of sickness and death upon himself (1 Cor 11:27–32). In fact, Paul accused some believers in Corinth of doing that, and for this reason, these saints had become sick and some had even died. This is why Paul admonishes each partaker of the communion elements to examine himself before hand. If one isn’t walking with Yeshua as they should be, has sin in their life, then let that person repent of it (see 1 John 1:9) before partaking of the Lord’s supper, so as not to bring the curse of sickness or death upon themselves.
  • Only those who are disciples of Yeshua—those who have repented of their sins, accepted Yeshua as their Master and Savior and have made a public profession of their faith in Yeshua—can take communion. Those who have not done so and who partake of the communion elements will be doing so in an unworthy manner and potentially bring divine judgment upon themselves (1 Cor 11:29).
  • The bread used in the communion service must be unleavened bread and contain no leavening agents (e.g. yeasts, baking soda, baking powder). This is because leavening is a biblical metaphor for sin, and since the bread of communion represents the body of Yeshua, and since Yeshua died sin-free, the bread must be unleavened. Eating communion bread that is leavened is a blasphemous portrayal of Yeshua’s body because it implies that he was a sinner. In the Levitical system, when the bread was baked in an oven (Lev 2:4) as an aspect of the grain or minchah offering, the bread contained only flour, oil seasoned with frankincense and salt (Lev 2:1, 4, 13), and it contained no leavening or sweetening (Lev 2:11). It contained no sweetening such as honey, since this would have violated the symbolism of the bread representing Yeshua’s death on the cross. His death was a painful and bitter affair, not a sweet one.
  • Next,the wine is poured out into a cup then passed out individually to each disciple, but not drunk (Luke 22:17). The bread can be broken first and the wine poured afterwards as well (Matt 26:26).
  • Next the bread is taken, a prayer of thanks is given, a blessing is made, then it is broken and passed out to each disciple of Yeshua and it is eaten (Matt 26:26; Luke 22:19).
  • The cup is then drunk (Luke 22:20).
  • After this, Yeshua and his disciples sang a hymn and they got up and left (Matt 26:30; Mark 14:26).
 

32 thoughts on “Communion or the Lord’s Supper Explained in Its Hebraic Context

  1. Hi Natan:<) I have a question……If you taught this previously I missed it. What can you say about the "Fast of the First Born?" I have heard some say that Yeshua WAS the Passover therefore could not have eaten the Passover and that the "Last Supper" He had with His disciples was actually the meal that broke the fast of the First Born…… and was therefore the time prior to the beginning of the feast and that leavened break could have been eaten. Interesting thoughts that could explain some of what seems like disconnect when trying to establish the details and timing of the meal …… As always, thanks:<)

    • Never heard this before. Am not aware of any scriptures that even remotely make reference to this idea. Seems like an extra-biblical tradition to me.

      The Gospels call what Yeshua was doing “the Passover.” Passover means Passover. For me, that should end the discussion and lay all other debates about whether it was a Passover seder or not to rest.

      It amazes me how people have such a hard time accepting the plain and simple meaning and the truth of the Scriptures. They have to come up with other explanations that are out of the mind of man instead a just believing the clear and simple truth from the Word of Elohim.

      Yeshua said that even a child could understand what he was teaching. It seems that when we become adults, we tend to like to make things too difficult. Oy vey! It keeps a person like me constantly busy trying to untie the theological knots that so many religious folks love to keep tying.

      • Absolutely…Is not a commandment or in Scripture, is just a tradition, but thought that since Yeshua was/is a Jew that He might have kept that tradition as First Born. Not unlike Hannukah not being a commandment or in Scripture, but more than likely since He was in the Temple at the time of Dedication, He probably kept Hannukah. Don’t know. As for “Passover,” I am not a great researcher and am prone to miss a translation and understanding at times, but do struggle with His having Passover meal before the Passover lambs were slain. I just cannot wrap my little pea brain around that!!! It has made me wonder if the translations or interpretations were off. Or that maybe the desire was to eat the Passover but that He could not because He became the Passover before the meal was eaten, and that MAYBE the meal that was eaten was the Feast of the First Born following the Fast of the First Born. Regardless….not necessary for me to understand it all, but thought I’d ask since it is something I have heard and actually seems to make sense…………..Shavua Tov!

      • Darlene,

        Here are my commentary notes on Exod 12:6 about when the Torah commands the Passover lamb to be slain and eaten. It has to do with the phrase “”at twilight” (NKJV) which also means in Hebrew “between the evenings” as I explain below. With this understanding, we can see that even though Yeshua kept an early Passover, it was still on the 14th day of the first month and fell “between the evenings.” I hope this helps clear up the confusion.

        Exodus 12:6, At twilight [Heb. beyn erev, or between the evenings]. This phrase can have several meanings. Loosely speaking, according to first century Jewish tradition, this would have been the time from high noon when the sun is at its zenith when it starts to descend toward the horizon until approximately 6 PM when it disappears behind the horizon (The Life Time of Jesus, by Alfred Edersheim, p. 813; Hednrickson, 2002). From 12 noon onward is not the literal meaning of the Hebrew word erev though. According to The TWOT, erev means “dark or evening and refers to sunset or evening” and applies to the actual darkening of the skies at twilight as the sun is beginning to sink behind the horizon. Therefore, between the evenings can also mean “between the evening of the 13th day of the first month going into the 14th day of the first month and the 14th day going into the 15th day.” That is to say, the entire daylight portion of the 14th day or Passover day could be the period between the two evenings. With this understanding, it is not difficult to see how Yeshua and his disciples keeping the Passover or Lord’s Supper at the beginning of the 14th day is still called “the Passover” in the Gospels, even though the majority of the Jews traditionally ate the Passover meal at the end of the 14th going into the 15th.

      • I was reading in the CJB and it is worded quite differently there……..making the time more seemingly specific. I will be SO glad when YHVH Himself reveals exactly what He meant and wishes .in ALL areas!!! At any rate, I guess I have a difficulty in comprehending how Yeshua could have eaten the Passover lamb and then later…become the Passover lamb. Seems backwards…………….Seems like there’s something missing……… Mostly just grateful for it though:<)

  2. Interesting about the breaking of the “fast of the first-born”. Jews did and still do keep this. So when Y’shua was in the Garden of Getsemane praying, He must of been fasting if He indeed this keep this tradition?

    I know you don’t want to go into this Natan but what I really wanted to ask you was about “Pesach Sheni” (The second Pesach), which you know takes place a month later. I know that this was for people who were deemed ‘ritually unclean and were “far way” from Jerusalem’, which I always interpreted as being, “far away from Torah”. What were the disciples and Y’shua doing one month after that original Pesach? What was going on on that day in the gospel accounts? Are there any clues given? Because this mitzvah was the 613th and final mitzvah instituted in the Torah and was instigated by the People of Israel themselves when they complained to the Creator ‘that they had no way for ritually unclean people to partake in the Passover or for people who were far away’. Do you have any thoughts or knowledge on this Natan? Because it seems to me that the Last Supper became a sort of “Pesach Sheni” for the world. Best regards,

    • I don’t know if there’s any way to know what the disciples were doing one month after Passover during what would have been Pesach Sheni. I don’t think the Gospels give us any clue, and I’m not sure it really matters anyway. I can’t see what spiritual significance it would have to know that fact—unless I’m missing something. I remain open to being taught and to learn.

      Also, I’m finding it hard to believe that Yeshua’s early Passover meal—i.e. at the beginning of the 14th instead of at the end of the 14th as was customary—would have been a sort of Pesach Sheni. How can something that comes early be representative of something that was to come much later?

    • jerome….no, as I see it, the fast was broken before going to the garden, at that “Last Supper”…..

  3. Hi Natan. Really enjoy your blog. I did want to point out that the bread being broken in Matthew, Mark and Luke was “Artos”, leavened bread or loaf of bread not matzah. What do you make of this? I checked the Greek and this is now a mystery that I have been studying. John also indicates that it was “before the Passover”. Look forward to your reply. Shalom!

    • I have dealt with that subject in my article on Passover available at https://www.hoshanarabbah.org/pdfs/psvr_dy.pdf. In that article this is what I write in answer to your question:

      Unleavened Bread Versus Leavened Bread
      At this point, many questions arise for the honest Bible student. Whatever Yeshua was doing with his disciples Passover-wise, it was before he was to suffer, as Luke 22:15 states. Was he eating an actual Passover lamb? Or just eating bread that was now to become an emblem of his body, a picture of the sacrificial lamb itself? If he was eating bread, and not lamb itself, then why is the term for the bread that he ate with his disciples that night a reference to generic bread (see Matt. 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:9; 24:30; 24:35; John 13:18), and not unleavened bread, which is a totally different word in the Greek language? To be sure, unleavened bread, not leavened bread, was eaten during the Passover meal in accordance with the Hebrew Scriptures (Num. 9:10-11; Josh. 5:11).
      Could this reference to generic (leavened) bread, to which the Gospel writers make unanimous reference in all of their accounts, have been referring to Yeshua as “the bread of life?” Yeshua refers to himself as the “bread of life” (the same Greek word [artos, Strong’s G740] for generic, leavened bread is used in Yeshua’s “Last Supper” accounts as well as in his references to his being the bread of life) in several places in the Gospel of John (6:31, 33, 34, 35, 41, 48, 50, 51, 58). If Yeshua was keeping an early Passover meal with his disciples, that is, early on the fourteenth of Abib instead of late on the fourteenth, which is when the Jews kept it and when the Passover lamb was sacrificed in the temple, which corresponded to when Yeshua was hanging on the cross, then it would have been permissible to eat leavened bread. Torah commands that only unleavened bread be eaten during the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread between the fifteenth and the twenty-first days of the first month (Exod. 12:15; 13:6-7; 23:15; 34:18; Lev. 23:5-6; Num. 28:17; Deut. 16:3, 8). Leavened bread is not prohibited from being eaten on the fourteenth (although the Hebrew Scriptures or Tanakh does forbid its being eaten during the actual Passover ceremony itself [Num. 9:10-11; Josh. 5:11], which would have started at the end of the fourteenth and overlapped into the fifteenth, which was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread), though it is safe to say, that most Israelite homes had already been de-leavened by then. The Jews kept Passover (and still do to this day) at the end of the fourteenth and ate their Passover meal actually at the beginning of the fifteenth, which is the beginning of the time when Torah forbids the eating of unleavened bread for seven days.
      So Yeshua could have eaten leavened bread at the beginning of the Passover day as an object lesson to his disciples (and to us) that he was the bread of life, to which the Passover lamb pointed, and he would not have violated Torah.
      That Yeshua ate leavened bread is one line of reasoning that some students of Scripture use to attempt to disprove that his last supper was a Passover Seder. However, to counter this point, some will refer to the Scripture passage in 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, which is a reference to the last meal that Yeshua had with his disciples. There is no mention specifically here of a Passover Seder, but only a meal and the term for bread here is artos­, the Greek word for generic, leavened bread. Does this, passage therefore prove that what Yeshua did with his disciples was not a Seder, even though Yeshua himself referred to it as such? If so, why the usage of the word artos and not the Greek word azumos (Strong’s G106) for unleavened bread? Furthermore, some find it unimaginable that Yeshua would be partaking of leavened bread and likening it to his body, when leavened bread contains yeast or sour dough, a type of sin, and we know that Yeshua had no sin in him. Others say that it was appropriate for him to eat leavened bread, since he took our sins upon himself and that he went to the cross with leaven (a picture of our sins) in him. It might also be added that using the generic term for bread (in reference to the last supper) does not prove conclusively that it was indeed leavened bread. It could have been unleavened. Unleavened bread is still bread. It’s simply a flat bread. But why doesn’t Scripture say so then? If we believe that every detail of Scripture is divinely inspired, we have reason to be confused when certain things do not seem to add up.
      We take the position that Yeshua did not eat leavened bread during his Paschal meal, and for a very good reason. In the levitical sacrificial system, YHVH forbad the offering of leavened bread with the sacrifices on all occasions except on the Feast of Pentecost when two leavened loaves were lifted up representing Israel. Even the twelve loaves of bread on the Table of Showbread in the Tabernacle (representing Israel in a purified or sin-free state) were unleavened. Leaving is clearly a picture of sin. Yeshua, the perfect sacrificial Lamb of Elohim fulfilled the sacrificial system types perfectly. It seems unthinkable that the Lamb of Elohim, slain from the foundation of the world, who was sin-free, could have eaten leavened bread and had leavening, a picture of sin, in him when he went to the cross. For this reason, we believe Yeshua ate unleavened bread.

  4. If passover was instituted under the old covenant, and Christs death begins a new covenant. Then where in the new covenant does it encourage us to keep the passover?

    • I have two questions for you:

      As my first grade teacher used to tell us, “Students, it’s time to put on your thinking caps.”

      First, what is a Christian? It is one who imitates Christ’s example.

      Yeshua observed the Passover with is disciples. Yeshua’s disciples are those who follow his example and do the same.

      Paul tells us to, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Cor 11:1).

      Second, where in the “New Covenant” does it tell us not to have sex with animals? Because there’s no such command in the NT, does it mean that we can now have sex with animals?

      Just because a particular commandment does or doesn’t exist in the NT has no bearing on anything, much less what determines truth. For most of the first century, the only Bible the early believers had was the OT. There was no NT yet per se to tell them what or what not to do. The OT is the immutable word and truth of Elohim. He and his truth have never changed. Therefore, the OT and NT stand as YHVH’s indivisible and unchanging standard of truth and righteousness for all people for all time.

      The idea that YHVH has one standard of righteousness for one group of people in one era and that his standard of righteousness changed during another era for another group of people is one of the most grandiose and satanic lies that the mainstream Christian has foisted upon Christians. It’s time to disengage from the monstrous church lies that have made of non-effect the Word of Elohim and that, in effect, have turned Elohim into a schizophrenic Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

      • If I am not mistaken regarding terminology, I believe that the term “NEW Covenant” is sort of a translation issue. I don’t think the original wording meant “new” as in replacing the old, rather , “new” as in MADE new again or RE-newed. Perhaps that thought will help SMESH. Also…decades AFTER Yeshua’s time on earth, the disciples were still keeping Passover and the other feasts as well as the 7th day Shabbat. Surely those who walked with Yeshua would know if they were to have stopped that!! I trust all are having a joyful and peaceful Sabbath:<)

      • Correct about the meaning of the word “new” as in “new” covenant. The Greek word for new is kainos, which means “renewed.” Similarly, the Hebrew word for new in Jeremiah’s new covenant prophecy of Jer 31:31–33 is the word chadashah meaning “renewed.” There is much more to this discussion and the meaning of these words that could be given, but which we don’t have time to go into now. Suffice it to say, the mainstream Christian concept of a “new” covenant that replaces and terminates and invalidates the “old” covenant is a very skewed one and doesn’t reflect biblical truth in its entirety.

        This is a big discussion, and when Christians come to this blog with their questions and comments about things they know little or nothing about except what they’ve been propagandized to believe from the pulpits, it’s sometimes hard to know who answer them. So much needs to be said, so much background info needs to be presented, but time and space limit this activity, so we have to give short, to-the-point answers in hopes this will pique their curiosity to dig deeper in search of the full truth.

  5. 1 Corinthians 5:7 says that Yeshua is the Passover lamb. John 6:53 recounts that Yeshua said whoever does not eat his flesh (body) and drink his blood has no part of Him. And Luke 22:19-20 says that the bread broken by Yeshua and the wine drunk at the Last Supper represented His body and blood.

    Thus, we can conclude that the Communion (Eucharist) IS the Passover (or Covenant with God) Meal today.

    • I can see that line of thinking, but have also read that the word “eat” in this context can be a Jewish idiom for embracing it all or completely….? Thoughts?

      • Eat is both literal and symbolic. When we literally eat the communion elements, we’re also embracing all that it represents as relating to the redemptive work and word of Yeshua. For example, when the Israelites ate the manna, Yeshua makes the point in John 6 that they were symbolically eating the Word of Elohim of which he was the incarnate expression and representation. Throughout the Bible, Elohim command his people to perform physical activities, which in turn represent and symbolize spiritual realities. It’s a teaching tool Elohim uses to teach physical humans about spiritual truths and realities that otherwise we would be hard-pressed to wrap our limited pea brains around.

  6. I was not trying to stir up trouble with my question. I came across this site and am looking for answers. I read what you are saying, but when you read the book of Hebrews Especially 10:9- if one is taken away, being the old covenant and a new is established. How then if one is taken away can it be made better. To take something away means to abolish it, doesn’t exist. So if a new law came after the death of Christ, the old law was done away. Meaning a new law was created.
    So again I will ask you, where under the new law, meaning after the death of Christ and the temple veil was rent signifying the doing away with the old, and establishing a new, where then after that does it instruct us to keep the passover?
    The old is a schoolmaster for us to learn from. But our instructions are given in this new covenant, established after the death of Christ.
    Thank you for your time.

    • The questions that you ask are appropriate and normal for those who are seeking more information (and truth) in light of what they’ve been taught in their mainstream churches. I have answered these questions in many of my writtings and video teachings. I will now provide you links to some of these, where you can find answers to your questions.

      In the search engine on the main page of this blog, type in the phrase “under the law.” A number of teaching I have done on this subject will come up. Also type in”Galatians” and “Romans” where you will find video and written teachings on these epistles that will answer more of your questions. Also type in “Torah” and “New Covenant” and “school master” and “Hebrews.”

      If you are a diligent truth seeker, you’ll find these resources to be enlightening and will shed much light on the questions you are asking.

      Happy studying!

  7. Hi Sonya. I am no expert and certainly not Natan and not answering for him…rather responding to you just as a fellow believer who has a different understanding to share… Some points that I find helpful in understanding this…

    Remember that the Passover is a memorial. Father said it was forever. We keep it yearly to remember not only deliverance of the huge group at the mountain made up of the descendants of Israel as well as the mixed multitude that accompanied them out of Egypt, but also now in remembrance of our deliverance from sin via Yeshua. Heb 10:3 says it is a remembrance of sin yearly. We would do well to remember that we were/are (we still sin!) sinners in need of Yeshua!

    Vs 9 speaks of taking away the temporary for the eternal…the temporary cover for sin performed yearly has been taken away and Yeshua has taken away sin for eternity. It is sin that has been taken away, not the Passover!

    Vs 16 speaks of Father writing the law on our hearts….why would He do that if they were done away with?

    The current Passover is not a sacrifice….it is a memorial.

    I hope this helps and I sincerely hope that if I have misspoken or misrepresented Truth in any way, that Natan will correct that for the good of all!

    drb

    • Yes as long as you definitely do it on Passover as per Yeshua’s example and command and as per the Torah-law. If you want to do it more often than that, fine. There’s no prohibition to doing more than Scripture requires. But if one doesn’t do it at least on Passover on the 14th day of the first month of the biblical year, then one is not following Scriptural commands, Yeshua’s commands or example. To not to this is rebellion and sin as per biblical definition. What I’ve just said would not be a popular word with the Christian church, but oh well, I’m just the messenger. No one has to answer to me—just to YHVH Elohim as to whether they’re obeying his instructions in righteousness or not, or following their own ideas about it. Blessings and happy upcoming Passover.

  8. In one part you mentioned washing of the feet but in the end when you were giving instructions on how to do the communion it was not mentioned. Do we do this or not and if so when during the service?

    • Yes, we do a foot washing service during the Passover seder because Yeshua commanded us to do so. Period, end of discussion.

      So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. (John 12:12–17)

      It doesn’t matter when during the seder you do it. As the famous Nike slogan says, “Just do it.”

      • Why do you suppose that this is only recorded by John? You would think a command of Yeshua would be recorded by all of the Gospel writers…

      • I don’t know, and I don’t care. All I need is one command in one verse from the lips of Yeshua my Lord and Master, and that’s good enough for me. I would be walking on spiritual thin ice to not obey and follow Him.

        John’s Gospel fills in the details that the other three synoptic Gospels, for whatever reason, leave out.

        Blessings and happy Passover to all!

  9. When breaking bread is mentioned, wouldn’t that always refer to unleavened break? It breaks whereas leavened bread must be torn.

    • Unleavened bread was always used at Passover/the Lord’s Supper/Communion, since it’s a picture of the sinless body of Yeshua. Leavening is a biblical metaphor for sin, and Yeshua was sinless. The term “breaking bread” by itself apart from the Passover/communion is simply a Hebraic term for taking a meal and has no bearing on whether the bread being broken is leavened or unleavened.

  10. Im interested in your views on children taking part in communion. If they profess the Lord Jesus as their saviour but have yet to take the public step of baptism, would you think they are welcome to take it? I always thought so since the original context was the passover meal and you wouldn’t exclude anyone from that. Also, I couldn’t imagine Jesus turning the little ones away. But it seems other people have different views. I am interested to hear from someone with a messianic jewish outlook. Thanks.

    • Good question. Had to cross this bridge with my own four children. To my mind, there are two main considerations. First: children under the age of eleven or so have not reached the psychological state of development where they can understand abstract concepts like the communion, so it is purposeless for them to do it until they have some concept of its deep significance. This is especially important in light of my second point. Second: read 1 Cor 11:21-31 (especially v. 28) and 5:6-8. When they meat these qualifications then they are ready. By all means we need to explain these things to our children from the earliest ages and upward. Then when we feel they understand these concepts with both their heart and mind, then this will be the time they are ready to take communion. I hope this helps. Blessings!

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