DEUTERONOMY LESSON 18
We will begin this lesson in Deuteronomy 16:1 "Observe the month
of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month
of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night."
Abib is the first month of the Hebrew year. It is very similar in
time to our April. The Passover is a remembrance of the night that
death passed over the Hebrew homes with the blood on their doors. The
paschal lamb was to be prepared in memory of that night. The paschal
lamb had to be a yearling of the first year from the sheep, or goats.
It had to be a male without blemish. It had to be consumed by the
family, so the size the family could eat at one sitting had to be
taken into consideration when choosing it.
Deuteronomy 16:2 "Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover
unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which
the LORD shall choose to place his name there."
This had to be at the chosen place of the LORD.
Deuteronomy 16:3 "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."
This is speaking of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It overlapped
the time of the Passover. Unleavened bread symbolizes the sinless body
of our Lord Jesus Christ. They were to eat this bread without
leavening, and remember the bitter affliction of their stay in Egypt.
They came out of Egypt quickly, and there was no time for bread to
rise. The unleavened bread helps them remember for all generations.
Deuteronomy 16:4 "And there shall be no leavened bread seen with
thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there [any thing] of
the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all
night until the morning."
The number 7 means spiritually complete. We see that this feast
of unleavened bread lasted 7 days. The passover animal that was
sacrificed, shall all be eaten up in one night by the family that
offered it. Exodus 12:10 "And ye shall let nothing of it remain until
the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall
burn with fire." Exodus 12:15 "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."
Deuteronomy 16:5 "Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within
any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee:"
This sacrificial lamb was symbolic of the sacrifice that Jesus
made for us all at Calvary. He was crucified outside the city wall.
The sacrificial animal must, also, be sacrificed outside the gates.
Deuteronomy 16:6 "But at the place which the LORD thy God shall
choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover
at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest
forth out of Egypt."
The sacrificial lamb must not be sacrificed in the home, it must
be done outside the city of the LORD's choosing. The city of God is
Jerusalem.
Deuteronomy 16:7 "And thou shalt roast and eat [it] in the place
which the LORD thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the
morning, and go unto thy tents."
This really is speaking of all sorts of cooking. Many times the
meat was boiled. This offering was to be eaten at the place of
sacrifice. Then, they were to return home.
Deuteronomy 16:8 "Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and
on the seventh day [shall be] a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God:
thou shalt do no work [therein]."
The Unleavened Bread Feast overlapped the Passover. It appears at
the end of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, they had a holy convocation.
They came together and worshipped God.
Deuteronomy 16:9 "Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin
to number the seven weeks from [such time as] thou beginnest [to put]
the sickle to the corn."
This is called the Feast of Weeks. They begin counting from the
second day of the Passover. They counted it from the beginning of the
corn harvest. The 50th day of this feast winds up at Pentecost.
Pentecost occured 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus.
Deuteronomy 16:10 "And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto
the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand,
which thou shalt give [unto the LORD thy God], according as the LORD
thy God hath blessed thee:"
This freewill offering was an offering made of love and
appreciation, and not of obligation. These were voluntary offerings
from the people. They gave as the LORD had blessed them. These were
given in addition to the burnt, meat, and drink offerings.
Deuteronomy 16:11 "And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy
God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy
maidservant, and the Levite that [is] within thy gates, and the
stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that [are] among you, in
the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there."
This rejoicing had to do with praise and thanksgiving. This was,
possibly, done by songs and various other types of worship. It seemed,
they all entered into this worship. Their rejoicing was at the place
the LORD had chosen for worship and praise.
Deuteronomy 16:12 "And thou shalt remember that thou wast a
bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes."
Some of the thanks and praise should be directed to the fact that
they were now free. They must remember, they had been in bondage in
Egypt. Now, they are free, and should praise the LORD continually for
setting them free. They must obey the will of the LORD to stay free.
Deuteronomy 16:13 "Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles
seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:"
"Tabernacles" were the same as the booths, in this instance.
Feast of Tabernacles occurs after the Day of Atonement. This seven day
celebration is, sometimes, thought of as the time the Christians are
tabernacled in heaven with God, while the wrath of God falls upon the
earth. Others believe it to symbolize the Millenial reign of Jesus
Christ on the earth. Seven shows spiritual completeness. It is to last
seven days. This is a time of extreme rejoicing. This feast is,
sometimes, called the Feast of Ingathering.
Deuteronomy 16:14 "And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and
thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant,
and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that
[are] within thy gates."
We find this special time of rejoicing is for everyone. It is
even specifically mentioned that the Levites should rejoice, too. This
is everyone who lives in the gates.
Deuteronomy 16:15 "Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto
the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the
LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the
works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice."
It seems, there is no time for anything, but rejoicing, during
this time. If this is the time of the rapture of the church, this
would certainly be reason for rejoicing. If it symbolizes the reign of
Jesus on the earth, there would be tremendous reason to rejoice.
Deuteronomy 16:16 "Three times in a year shall all thy males
appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in
the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the
feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD
empty:"
Some of the times of worship are optional. It appears, the three
times, mentioned in the verse above, are the times very important to
practice feast and sacrifices. Unleavened Bread Feast overlaps the
Feast of Tabernacles. There were really three harvests. The first of
the harvest was at Passover, or Unleavened Bread. The second harvest
was at Pentecost, or Feast of weeks. The fall harvest was Tabernacles.
These three must be kept, to remain in good standing with God. We,
Christians, will be on that wilderness journey until we find our
eternal home in heaven with God.
Deuteronomy 16:17 "Every man [shall give] as he is able,
according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given
thee."
The poor give less and the rich give more, but they all give.
Deuteronomy 16:18 "Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in
all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy
tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment."
These judges and officers are to decide in civil matters. They
must be chosen carefully, and must judge justly among the people. On
spiritual matters, the priests and the high priest decide.
Deuteronomy 16:19 "Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not
respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes
of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous."
They must judge with no outside persuasion. They must be of high
character, so they cannot be bribed. They must not give advantage to
anyone, because of their station in life. They must judge righteously,
because they have a judge in heaven that will judge them someday. They
are greatly honored to be made judges. With greatness, goes great
responsibility.
Deuteronomy 16:20 "That which is altogether just shalt thou
follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy
God giveth thee."
God wants His people to live righteous lives. They are to live by
the law He gave them. If they are to be His then they must be honest
and just in all they do. They must set an example for the heathen
world around them.
Deuteronomy 16:21 "Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any
trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make
thee."
Much worship of false gods took place in groves. The altar of God
is never to be associated with anything like that. The groves must not
be near the holy altar. The fire of God is near the altar. God would
even burn the trees up, if they were near. They must not be near,
because they are evil.
Deuteronomy 16:22 "Neither shalt thou set thee up [any] image;
which the LORD thy God hateth."
Images are things made with hands. God is Spirit. Things you can
see with physical eyes, or touch with physical hands, are forbidden.
They are not God. God is the Creator of everything and everyone.
Deuteronomy 18 Questions
1. Observe the month of __________, and keep the Passover unto the
LORD God.
2. What month is this on the Hebrew calendar?
3. What is Passover remembering?
4. Describe the paschal lamb.
5. Where will the Passover be sacrificed?
6. What kind of bread is to be eaten with it?
7. How many days is unleavened bread to be eaten?
8. What is this in remembrance of?
9. What does the unleavened bread symbolize?
10. What does the number 7 mean?
11. Quote Exodus chapter 12 verse 10.
12. What happens to those who eat leavend bread during this time?
13. Why must they not sacrifice the passover inside the gate?
14. The city of God is __________.
15. What type of cooking is spoken of in verse 7?
16. On the seventh day of Unleavened Bread, what do they do?
17. What are the seven weeks, in verse 9, called?
18. When do they begin counting the weeks?
19. The 50th day of this feast winds up at _____________.
20. The freewill offering is not of ____________, but love and
appreciation.
21. Who is to rejoice before the LORD God?
22. What must they do to stay free?
23. "Tabernacles", in verse 13, were the same as __________.
24. Feast of Tabernacles occurs after the ________ __ __________.
25. How long is the Feast of Tabernacles to last?
26. How many times a year must all males appear before the LORD God?
27. How much shall each person give?
28. How must the judges and officers judge?
29. How does God want His people to live?
30. Why are groves forbidden to be near the altar?
31. God is _________.
Home