Unleavened Bread (Chag HaMatzot) – The Feast of Purity
Opening Scripture
Leviticus 23:6–8 (KJV)
“And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.”
1. Introduction – A Feast of Purity
The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Chag HaMatzot) begins the day after Passover and lasts seven days.
It is the second feast in God’s prophetic calendar and follows directly after redemption—symbolizing sanctification.
If Passover is salvation by the blood, then Unleavened Bread is walking in holiness after redemption.
2. Historical Foundation
Exodus Command
Exodus 12:15–17 (KJV)
“Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.”
Key Observances:
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No Leaven (Chametz) to be found in homes.
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Seven Days eating only unleavened bread (Matzah).
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Begins on 15th of Nisan, immediately after Passover night.
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First and seventh days are holy convocations (sacred assemblies).
3. Hebrew Mindset – Leaven as a Picture of Sin
In Scripture, leaven often symbolizes corruption, pride, and sin because of its permeating and puffing-up nature.
1 Corinthians 5:6–8 (KJV)
“Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
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:
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
In the Hebrew household, removing leaven before this feast became a symbolic cleansing—sweeping every corner to ensure no trace remained. Spiritually, it speaks of removing all known sin once we have been redeemed.
4. Historical and Agricultural Context
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This feast coincided with the barley harvest—the first grain to ripen in Israel.
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In Temple times, pilgrims would bring offerings of unleavened bread along with sacrifices.
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Eating unleavened bread recalled the haste of leaving Egypt—no time for dough to rise (Deuteronomy 16:3).
Deuteronomy 16:3 (KJV)
“Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.”
5. Prophetic Fulfillment in Christ
The Feast of Unleavened Bread prophetically points to the sinless body of Jesus lying in the tomb.
After shedding His blood on Passover, the Lamb rested in death, fulfilling the picture of unleavened purity.
1 Peter 2:22 (KJV)
“Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.”
Isaiah 53:9 (KJV)
“And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.”
Just as leaven was absent from the bread, sin was absent from Christ—making Him the only perfect sacrifice.
6. Parallels Between the Feast and Christ’s Burial
| Unleavened Bread | Jesus Christ |
|---|---|
| No leaven allowed – purity | Sinless Son of God (2 Corinthians 5:21) |
| Eaten for 7 days – completeness | Christ’s complete obedience and purity |
| Bread of affliction – haste from Egypt | Christ’s suffering and the urgency of redemption |
| Begins after Passover | Burial immediately follows crucifixion |
7. Spiritual Application for Believers Today
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Cleansing After Redemption – Salvation is the beginning; sanctification must follow.
Romans 6:22 (KJV)“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”
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Remove Sin’s Leaven – Sin must be confronted and expelled, not tolerated.
Ephesians 4:22–24 (KJV)“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” -
Live in Sincerity and Truth – Our worship must be free from hypocrisy.
Psalm 51:6 (KJV)“Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.”
8. A New Testament Command to “Keep the Feast”
Paul’s instruction in 1 Corinthians 5:8 is striking—not to literally perform the old ritual, but to spiritually keep the feast by living a life free from the “leaven of malice and wickedness.”
This means:
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Continually purging our hearts from sin.
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Feeding daily on Christ, the Bread of Life (John 6:35).
9. Devotional Reflection
The removal of leaven is an act of diligence. It requires searching, sweeping, and cleansing every corner. Spiritually, God calls us to the same in our hearts.
Christ has redeemed us at Passover; now we must walk in the purity of Unleavened Bread—so that His holiness is reflected in our daily life.
10. Key Takeaways (SOPHIARCH Style)
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Passover redeems; Unleavened Bread purifies.
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Leaven pictures sin—subtle, pervasive, corrupting.
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Christ’s burial fulfills the Feast—His body was pure, without leaven.
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Believers are called to “keep the feast” spiritually through holiness and sincerity.
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Sanctification is not optional—it is the next step after redemption.
Closing Verse
2 Corinthians 7:1 (KJV)
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
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