Bible Questions and Answers

Passover is a commemoration of the Exodus of Israel from Egypt. Its ceremonial observance is part of the Old Covenant made at Sinai.

Exodus 12:41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.

43 And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: 44 But every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. 45 A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof. 46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

Male circumcision and animal sacrifice are necessary for its observance.

Numbers 28:16 And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD. 17 And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten. 18 In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein: 19 But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish: 20 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram; 21 A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs: 22 And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you. 23 Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering. 24 After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering. 25 And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.

From the above we can see that the Jews today cannot keep the Passover according to God’s commandments, much less Christians.

Christians are under the New Covenant in Christ, the Old Covenant does not apply to them.

There is no instruction in the New Testament for Christians to celebrate Passover.

The Christian Church, in its slide into apostasy, decided to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus and appropriated a pagan fertility festival (hence eggs and rabbits) which became known as Easter.

Easter was moved away from the Jewish Passover due to differences between the Jewish and Roman calendars.

The day of its observance was a source of contention in the ‘Christian’ church for centuries.

There is no instruction in the New Testament to celebrate Easter.

The only observation enjoined on those who believe and obey the gospel is to share bread and wine regularly in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice.

Paul explains:

1 Corinthians 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

No day or time is specified, but this commemoration of the Lord’s death and resurrection is to be done ‘often’, not just once a year.

It is usually done weekly, on the first day of the week (Sunday).

Special celebrations for Easter (and Christmas) are man-made traditions and have no place in the New Covenant in Christ.

I hope you find this helpful.

God bless, Glenn