The following is an illustration of the various points that support the observance of the Memorial supper on the 15th of Abib.
Chronology of Exodus 12:
Exodus 12:1- And Yahweh spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 – This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 – Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: 4 – And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. 5 – Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: 6 – And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
The Hebrew in verse 6 has “Ben ha Arbayim”, which means “Between the evenings”, rather than “in the evening”. The ISR translation is one of the very few that handles this correctly. The timing of “Between the evenings” is crucial to the understanding of when the Passover was to be eaten. If it was to be eaten on the 14th, then “between the evenings” would need to refer to some time between sundown and the next morning. Since there is seemingly only one evening, most 14th believers understand this to refer to the time between sundown and darkness, with sundown being the first evening and darkness being the second evening. Most 15th believers understand it to be between the ninth hour of the day and sundown. More on this later….
7 – And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 8 – And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
This is an important point also, the Passover was eaten at night and with unleavened bread.
9 – Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. 10 – vAnd ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 11 – And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is Yahweh’s passover.
Notice that they were to eat the Passover in haste, with “your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand”. This indicates an immediate departure from Egypt.
12 – For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am Yahweh. 13 – And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. 14 – And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to Yahweh throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. 15 – 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.
Notice that It says that “this day” was to be a feast forever and that it was a seven day feast. From the 15th of Abib until the 21st of Abib. The Passover was to be eaten with unleavened bread also. It ties in much better if eating of Passover with unleavened bread would occur on the first day of unleavened bread. Otherwise, it seems that one is eating unleavened bread 8 days rather than 7. The above scripture says there are only 7 days that we eat unleavened bread.
16 – 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. 17 – 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.
Here we see that “on this selfsame day” Yahweh brought the armies out of the land of Egypt. So the armies of Yahweh were brought out “on the selfsame day” as the feast of unleavened bread. This is confirmed by other sources which state:
Numbers 33:3- And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians.
Deuteronomy 16:-1 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto Yahweh thy Elohim: for in the month of Abib Yahweh thy Elohim brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.
Notice 2 things here. Firstly, the children of Israel departed from Rameses on the 15th of Abib. Secondly, it says that Yahweh brought forth the children of Israel out of Egypt by night. So the time of Israel’s departure was on the 15th of Abib and at night. We know also that the Passover was eaten at night in haste with their loins girded, shoes on their feet, and staff in their hand. This would indicate that the departure of the children of Israel was on the same night they ate the Passover. With this being the case, the children of Israel actually would have ate the Passover on the 15th of Abib after slaughtering it on the 14th. This would also mean that the death angel killed all the firstborn of Egypt on the 15th of Abib.
Continuing in Exodus 12:
18 – In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. 19 – Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. 20 – Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.
With Israel’s dwelling among the Egyptians, Yahweh had to specifically explain the exact timing of when unleavened bread was to be eaten. It started at the 14th day of the month “at even”. One might easily be confused by this statement, thinking that this is referring to the beginning of the 14th. But there is another scripture that uses an identical phrase to explain the timing of the Day of Atonement:
Leviticus 23:27- Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto Yahweh…… 32 – It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
Notice that Yahweh uses the phrase “ninth day of the month at even” to describe the time they are to begin the day of atonement, which is at the beginning of the 10th. The same is true in Yahweh’s description of the beginning of the Unleavened Bread feast. It was to begin on the “fourteenth day of the month at even”, meaning the beginning of the 15th day. It was to end on the 21st day of the month “at even” which would be the beginning of the 22nd day.
Continuing in Exodus:
Exodus 12:21- Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.
An important point to remember is that it is the Lamb that is called the “passover”. It was the “passover” that the children of Israel was killing. I believe that this is the reason the 14th day is actually called Passover.
22 – And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. 23 – For Yahweh will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, Yahweh will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
A potential contradiction to the understanding set forth up to this point (that the children of Israel ate the Passover on the same night they left Egypt on Abib 15) is where Moshe says in the above verse that they are to remain inside until morning. Those who hold the view that the Passover is eaten on the 14th say that they were unable to leave their homes on the same night they ate the Passover because Moshe had commanded them to stay in their houses until the morning of the 14th.
The problem is, this would mean they would have had to wait until the next morning and all day the next day and into the evening of the 15th of Abib before they actually left Egypt. This is due to the previous scriptures we discussed where the children of Israel left by night (Deuteronomy 16:1) and on the 15th of Abib (Numbers 33:3). All of this would seem contrary to the point of the Passover being eaten in haste with their loins girded, shoes on their feet, and staff in their hand. Did they stay up all night long and all the next day with their loins girded, shoes on their feet, and staff in their hand? That would have provided plenty of time to leaven bread.
But notice that Yahweh is speaking from Exodus 12:1-20, but it is Moshe speaking to the elders in verse 21 and 22. In my mind, It is possible that Yahweh had not actually informed Moshe as to when He was going to bring them out of the land, and he did not know that Pharaoh was going to call him in again that night. There were other times during the plagues that Moshe questioned what Yahweh was doing and didn’t seem to know the next step. In Exodus 10:29, Moshe thought he would not see Pharaoh’s face again. But we will see in Exodus 12:31 that Pharaoh called them in that night, and they actually would not have kept their own orders.
Either way, if he gave any time prior to that, there would have been the risk of their death from the plague. But the context of the following verses indicate the time of Israel’s departure to be the same night the death angel killed the firstborn of Egypt. And, in fact, it indicates that their departure was very quickly after death struck the Egyptians:
24 – And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. 25 – And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which Yahweh will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. 26 – And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? 27 – That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of Yahweh’s passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. 28 – And the children of Israel went away, and did as Yahweh had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. 29 – And it came to pass, that at midnight Yahweh smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. 30 – And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. 31 – And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve Yahweh, as ye have said….. 33 – And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men. 34 – And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.
All of this certainly indicates to me that it all happened in one night. The children of Israel ate the passover in haste, with their loins girded, shoes on their feet, and staff in their hand. The death angel killed the firstborn of Egypt, Pharaoh called for Moshe that night and sent them out in haste. They were in such a hurry, they had to take their dough before it was leavened, load up their kneadingtroughs and go. I don’t see where there was any waiting around all night long and all day long the following day. They were ready to go when they ate the Passover.
35 – And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: 36 – And Yahweh gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. 37 – And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. 38 – And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. 39 – And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual. 40 – Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. 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 Yahweh went out from the land of Egypt. 42 – It is a night to be much observed unto Yahweh for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of Yahweh to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.
What is the night to be much observed? It is the night that all the hosts of Yahweh went out from the land of Egypt, the night that Yahweh brought them out of Egypt. And what night did Yahweh bring them out of Egypt? It is the 15th day of Abib according to the verse we read earlier (Numbers 33:3). If the memorial were already on the night 14th, what is there to observe on the night of the 15th?
43 – And Yahweh 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. 467 – 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 Yahweh, 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. 49 – One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. 50 – Thus did all the children of Israel; as Yahweh commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. 51 – And it came to pass the selfsame day, that Yahweh did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.
Notice that this final verse says the Israel was brought out “on that selfsame day.” The selfsame day as what? Going back many verses we see that they are all speaking of the night they ate the Passover. And “on that selfsame day” they ate the Passover, “Yahweh did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.”
Between the evenings
The purpose of this section is to demonstrate the correct timing of “between the evenings”. Whether “between the evenings” means between sundown and dark on the 14th or at about the 9th hour of the day on the 14th is a key determining factor in whether one should eat the Passover on the 14th or the 15th.
First, lets demonstrate that it is Scripturally feasible that 2 evenings can exist within hours of one another:
Matthew 14:13- When Yahushua heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. 14 – And Yahushua went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. 15 – And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
Here is the first evening. Now look closely at all that takes place between this evening and the one to follow:
16 – But Yahushua said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. 17 – And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. 18 – He said, Bring them hither to me. 19 – And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 20 – And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. 21 – And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. 22 – And straightway Yahushua constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 – And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
According to the above verses, several things took place between the two evenings mentioned. First, Yahushua fed 5000 men (not including women and children), then He sent the disciples away into a ship, then He went up on a mountain to pray. Then evening came and He was there alone. The time it would take for these events would take to transpire is surely longer than a 30 minute time period. Thus, it is surely a scriptural possibility that “between the evenings” can mean a time before sundown.
Now let’s look to the time that the children of Israel had recently discovered the book of the law and how they kept the feast under the direction of Josiah:
2 Chronicles 35:6- So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the word of Yahweh by the hand of Moses.
Notice that this scripture says to kill the Passover, and prepare the brethren so that they may do according to the word of Yahweh by the hand of Moses. Josiah was clearly following the directives in his 100% pure copy of the Torah, the actual book of the law (which had recently been found). In the next verse, they are about to kill and skin the passover lambs, 30,000 of them..
7 – And Josiah gave to the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all for the passover offerings, for all that were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bullocks: these were of the king’s substance. 8 – And his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and to the Levites: Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of Elohim, gave unto the priests for the passover offerings two thousand and six hundred small cattle, and three hundred oxen. 9 – Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave unto the Levites for passover offerings five thousand small cattle, and five hundred oxen. 10 – So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king’s commandment. 11 – And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed them. 12 – And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto Yahweh, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen. 13 – And they roasted the passover with fire according to the ordinance: but the other holy offerings sod they in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and divided them speedily among all the people.
So here they started to roast the Passover lambs after killing and skinning them.. then afterward:
14 – And afterward they made ready for themselves, and for the priests: because the priests the sons of Aaron were busied in offering of burnt offerings and the fat until night; therefore the Levites prepared for themselves, and for the priests the sons of Aaron.
Notice that night had not yet fallen and that the priests could not make the necessary passover preparations for themselves because they were busy offering burnt offerings and fat until night. It seems unreasonable to believe that everything from verse 7 to verse 14 occurred in the short half hour span of time from sunset to dark, early on Abib 14. Why wouldn’t scripture say to slay the lamb after sundown or at evening if that is what Yahweh wanted? Yahweh said “between the evenings” and the above scripture demonstrates how difficult it would be to slay and skin so many lambs in a 30 minute span of time.
Another scripture that would indicate the proper timing of “between the evenings” would be in Numbers 28. When speaking of the evening offering, it is written:
Numbers 28:1- And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, 2 – Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season. 3 – And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto Yahweh; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day (Hebrew: in a day), for a continual burnt offering. 4 – The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;
What is written in the Hebrew in verse 4 is “between the evenings”, not just “even”. This is an important point to note because not only is the Passover offering to be done “between the evenings”, but also the evening offering which was offered every day. Notice in the above scripture that “in a day” the morning offering is mentioned first, then the evening offering. If “between the evenings” were actually between sunset and dark, then “in a day” the evening offering would be mentioned first since Yahweh’s days begin in the evening.
Let’s now examine events that took place at the time of the evening offering. If we can find scriptures that would give us clues as to the right timing of the evening offering, we can find out when “between the evenings” actually is.
One indicator will be the significance of prayer at the time of the evening offering. It is true that our prayers are likened unto offerings:
Psalms 119:108- Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O YAHWEH, and teach me thy judgments.
Hebrews 13:15- Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to YAHWEH, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Proverbs 15:8- The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to YAHWEH: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
The time of the evening offering was a time set aside for prayer. Consider EliYah’s example:
1 Kings 18:36- And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that EliYah the prophet came near, and said, YAHWEH Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art Elohim in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
Daniel’s custom was to pray 3 times a day:
Daniel 6:10- Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his Elohim, as he did aforetime.
Daniel the prophet received a visit from an angel, with words predicting the Messiah at this time:
Daniel 9:21- Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
Ezra made a prayer of repentance at this time:
Ezra 9:4- Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the Elohim of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice. 5 – And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto YAHWEH my Elohim.
Consider also the example of Kepha and Yahuchanan (Peter and John):
Acts 3:1- Now Kepha and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
Notice that this hour of prayer is “the ninth hour”. When reading the context of this chapter, we find a significant event taking place as a result. Namely, the healing of a lame man and Kepha and John’s ministry to the Jews in the temple area.
Consider also the example of Cornelius:
Acts 10:1- There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2 – A devout man, and one that feared Elohim with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to Elohim alway. 3 – He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of YAHWEH coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
Here again, we see a significant event taking place with his prayer at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer and time of the evening sacrifice. A visit by an angel and events that began Kepha’s (Peter’s) ministry to the Gentiles. Further examination of the events in Acts 10 show that Cornelius and Kepha actually met at the ninth hour:
Acts 10:30- And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
So again, we see significant events (in the so called “new testament”) also taking place at the time of the evening offering. It seems to me that the Spirit of Yahweh is bearing witness to the correctness of this. But there is yet more…
In this next scripture, all the people were praying at the time of incense:
Luke 1:10- And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 11 – And there appeared unto him an angel of YAHWEH standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
The time of incense (if this was in the evening) was also:
Exodus 30:7- And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. 8 – And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before Yahweh throughout your generations.
The Hebrew behind the word “Even” here is again ‘between the evenings’. Now, let’s consider what scripture says about this man Zacharias:
Luke 1:5- There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before Elohim, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of Yahweh blameless.
Considering that scripture says Zacharias was a righteous man, “walking in all the commandments and ordinances of Yahweh blameless,” surely he would have offered incense at the proper time.
There is another that offered prayer at the time of the ninth hour, (the hour of prayer) and His name is Yahushua:
Luke 23:44- And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 – And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46 – And when Yahushua had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the Spirit.
Yahushua not only made an offering of prayer at the ninth hour, saying “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit,” He also became the evening offering when He died at that time. So in His offering of prayer, He was an offering for us. To me, this is the ultimate verification as to the correct timing of “between the evenings” and leaves absolutely no doubt as to the correctness of the ninth hour offerings during the second temple period. Yahushua endured 6 hours on the tree, waiting for that ninth hour. Perhaps more than any time of day, Yahweh did mighty works at this time.
Yahushua was killed at the ninth hour, which was the exact hour the passover lambs were being killed in Jerusalem:
“So these high priests, upon the coming of their feast which is called Passover, when they slay their sacrifices from the ninth hour to the eleventh…” Josephus Wars of the Jews, 6:9:3.
If we are going to call the Messiah our Passover Lamb, and to keep Passover with Him being the Lamb, how can the Passover be eaten unless it is killed first?
Scripture predicted that Yahweh would provide an offering for His people. We are talking about the most important event in the history of mankind. The saving of mankind, Yahushua’s death. In His death we have our life. Surely, if the Jews were wrong, then this was the time to correct them. Instead, Yahweh’s actions vindicated their interpretation. If it is wrong to eat the Passover on the 15th of Abib, then it is wrong to sacrifice it at the ninth hour. If it is wrong to kill the lambs on the ninth hour of the 14th, then it was wrong for Yahweh to sacrifice His Lamb at that time. Surely Yahweh did not disobey His own commandment. Yahweh has always set the example for us. He kept the Sabbath day at creation and nobody questions His timing.
So then, what should we make of the verses that seem to say that Yahushua was going to eat/keep the Passover with His disciples? I have always believed that the Passover Yahushua was referring to was His body. When they gathered in the room to have a meal, Yahushua told them:
Matthew 26:26- And as they were eating, Yahushua took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
Other scripture clearly says that the Messiah is our Passover:
1 Corinthians 5:7- Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Messiah our passover is sacrificed for us:
He is the Lamb of Yahweh, who takes away the sins of the world. He is our Passover. With this being true, how could Yahushua be the Passover and still partake of it? It obviously couldn’t happen if He was going to be the Passover Himself. First He would have had to die, then within hours of his death, be resurrected to keep the Passover with His disciples. But we all know that did not happen. Let’s examine the four accounts which describe what Yahushua and His disciples did on the night of his betrayal:
Matthew 26:17- Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Yahushua, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? 18 – And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. 19 – And the disciples did as Yahushua had appointed them; and they made ready the passover. 20 – Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. 21 – And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22 – And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Master, is it I? 23 – And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. 24 – The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. 25 – Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. 26 – And as they were eating, Yahushua took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 – And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 – For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 – But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. 30 – And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
Luke 22:7- Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. 8 – And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. 9 – And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? 10 – And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. 11 – And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? 12 – And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. 13 – And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. 14 – And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 15 – And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 16 – For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of Elohim. 17 – And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 – For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of Elohim shall come. 19 – And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 – Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. 21 -But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.
Mark 14:12- And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover? 13 – And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. 14 – And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? 15 – And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us. 16 – And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. 17 – And in the evening he cometh with the twelve. 18 – And as they sat and did eat, Yahushua said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. 19 – And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I? 20 – And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. 21 – The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born. 22 – And as they did eat, Yahushua took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. 23 – And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. 24 – And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. 25 – Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of Elohim. 26 – And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
1 Corinthians 11:23- For I have received of the Master that which also I delivered unto you, That the Master Yahushua 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 Master’s death till he come.
We see nothing in the above verses that would indicate they had a literal lamb that night. We do see them partaking in Yahweh’s lamb in the form of Yahushua’s body, our Passover. And if Yahushua was to be the Passover Lamb, surely the disciples would understand that they would need to partake of the Lamb after it was killed, not before. I believe this is most likely the reason why Yahushua said to do this “in remembrance of me”. Yahushua said the same thing when He washed the feet of His disciples:
John 13:14- If I then, your Master and Teacher, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Also, look again at the verses in 1Corinthians 11:23-26 that we quoted. The scripture says that as often as we do this, we “do shew the Master’s death until He come”. How can it “shew the Master’s death” if we partake in it at a time before His actual death? One does not eat the Passover while it is still alive, but when it is dead. The whole event is a memorial of Yahushua’s death.
If the disciples already understood that they were to eat the Passover on the following night, then that would explain the lack of an explicit explanation such as “do this tomorrow night in remembrance of me” or “ye should do this tomorrow night as I have done to you”. Every indication we have seen up to this point declares that Passover was to be eaten on the 15th. The Torah indicates it, historical data indicates it was eaten at that time, and the “new testament” also declares it when we see the proper time of “between the evenings” and when we see the time Yahushua was slain. To me, these evidences are more than convincing enough for me to eat the Passover on the 15th of Abib.