What are the “Days of Unleavened Bread”?

God’s Holy days are ALL listed in Leviticus 23 which includes the verse …

Lev 23:6  And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; seven days you must eat unleavened bread.

Why would God want us to eat bread without yeast or baking powder or other leavening agents?!?  For 7 days!

Hmmn … Its all “well & good” that this is referenced at the beginning of the Bible … in the Old Testament …

What about the New Testament?  Is there just one obscure reference??

Actually, there are 9 New Testament verses referencing the Days of Unleavened Bread … Scripture clearly shows Jesus & the disciples observed these days… and the Apostle Paul was teaching the observance to gentile churches – this was not just “for the Jews”!  And their observance by Jesus & the early Church is an example for us today.

Here are the 9 verses:

Mat_26:17  Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

Mar_14:1  After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death.

Mar_14:12  Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?”

Luk_22:1  Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.

Luk_22:7  Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.

Act_12:3  And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.

Act_20:6  But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

1Co_5:7  Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

1Co_5:8  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

According to Paul, this annual Holy Day reminder of eating unleavened bread (for 7 days) is about getting malice & wickedness OUT of our lives.  It is also about “being unleavened” which he defines as being truthful & sincere (genuine & not deceitful).

In 2022, the Days of Unleavened bread are from April 16 – 22. 

Some hold…  it is a noble thing to read something in your Bible & answer God with a “Yes Sir!” by DOING what is asked!  Seven days is a good start to focus on eliminating wickedness & practicing sincerity & truth … Why not give it a try?!  And if you like it, there are churches (such as the Church of God International) that keep God’s Holy days … because God says to!

For more scriptures & insight about the Days of Unleavened Bread … we have an awesome Bible lesson titled “Understanding the Feast of Unleavened Bread”.