Unleavened food for thought
concerning the elements
of the Passover Season

The death, burial, resurrection and ascension of YAHshua the Messiah to the FATHER took place almost 2,000 years ago. Each of those things happened during the Passover season which includes the Passover and the Feasts of unleavened Bread. Even though basically unknown to the nation of Israel, the major theme of the Passover season was Salvation. (YAHshua’s becoming the ultimate sacrifice for sin and His resurrection from the dead are all a part of YAHWEH’S unique plan to save the human race from eternal death so that HE can give us eternal life through YAHshua the Messiah.) The unleavened bread spiritually relates to being unleavened by false doctrines and sin as YAHshua, the Bread of life, had no sin. Our lives are the ones that were leavened by sin and not His!

John 6 (35) And YAHshua said unto them, I am the Bread of Life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.

I Peter 2 (21) For even hereunto were ye called: because Messiah also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: (22) Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (23) Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously: (24) Who His Own Self bare our sins in His Own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

The same significance of the Passover and the Feasts of unleavened Bread are echoed in baptism. There, I wish to remind you at this time that Baptism also directly relates to salvation, the death, burial and resurrection of YAHshua the Messiah and to our lives which have been and can still be leavened with sin.

Acts 2 (38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of YAHshua Messiah for the remission of sins [leavening], and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 6 (3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into YAHshua Messiah were baptized into His death? (4) Therefore we are buried [symbolically in the watery grave as we were being immersed into the water] with Him by baptism into death: that like as Messiah was raised up from the dead by the glory of the FATHER, even so we also should walk in newness of life [new life without being leavened with sin]. (5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death [symbolically], we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection [symbolically]: (6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified [symbolically] with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (7) For he that is dead is freed from sin. (8) Now if we be dead with Messiah, we believe that we shall also live with Him: (9) Knowing that Messiah being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him. (10) For in that He died, He died unto sin [ours] once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto YAHWEH. (11) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto YAHWEH through YAHshua Messiah our Sovereign. (12) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

In II Peter, the apostle Peter told those of the true Faith to add with all diligence to their faith seven different items. So when we check for leavening in our lives this Passover season and also at times when we reflect on our baptisms, let us examine ourselves to see if we have been replacing the "old leavening" in our lives with the same seven items that should be added to our faith. They are:

VIRTUE (moral excellence and righteousness; goodness): Are we exhibiting Messiah-like moral excellence and righteousness or goodness that is proper for a follower of the Messiah in the presence of YAHWEH, in the presence of the Body of the Messiah and in the presence of the world by our words and deeds?

KNOWLEDGE: Are we actively seeking more knowledge of YAHWEH, our Heavenly FATHER, and HIS will which HE is accomplishing through HIS Son, the Sovereign YAHshua Messiah?

SELF-CONTROL: Are we exhibiting Messiah-like self-control that is proper for a follower of the Messiah in the presence of YAHWEH, in the presence of the Body of the Messiah and in the presence of the world by our words and deeds?

PATIENCE: Are we exhibiting Messiah-like patience that is proper for a follower of the Messiah in the presence of YAHWEH, in the presence of the Body of the Messiah and in the presence of the world by our words and deeds?

HOLINESS: Are we exhibiting Messiah-like holiness that is proper for a follower of the Messiah in the presence of YAHWEH, in the presence of the Body of the Messiah and in the presence of the world by our words and deeds?

BROTHERLY KINDNESS: Are we exhibiting Messiah-like brotherly kindness (#5360-fraternal affection) that is proper for a follower of the Messiah in the presence of YAHWEH, to our brethren in the Body of the Messiah and to the world by our words and deeds?

BROTHERLY LOVE: Are we exhibiting Messiah-like brotherly love that is proper for a follower of the Messiah in the presence of YAHWEH to the brethren in the Body of the Messiah and to the world by our words and deeds?

In conclusion, the apostle peter very eloquently summed it up concerning these items.

II peter I (8) For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Sovereign YAHshua Messiah. (9) But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged [which took place     at his baptism] from his old sins. (10) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and Election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: (11) For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Sovereign and Saviour YAHshua Messiah.

Brethren, may YAHWEH richly bless you during the next Passover season and for all time to come.

T.A.H.