Feasts(banquet, festivals, supper, holiday)
“Appointed time or assembly”
Summary
Appointed sacred assemblies in Israel's religious calendar commemorating God's mighty acts, marking agricultural seasons, and foreshadowing great events in the gospel kingdom.
☩The Seven Feasts
The yearly feasts are listed in Leviticus 23, forming a complete cycle from Passover to Tabernacles. The Sabbath, though weekly, is foundational to all others. The three pilgrimage festivals required all males to appear before the Lord: Passover (Unleavened Bread), Pentecost (Feast of Weeks), and Tabernacles (Ingathering). Added to these were the Feast of Trumpets and Day of Atonement in the seventh month.
☩Agricultural and Historical Significance
Each feast marked both an agricultural season and a historical deliverance. Passover connected barley harvest with the Exodus from Egypt. Pentecost marked the wheat harvest and traditionally commemorated the giving of the Law at Sinai. Tabernacles celebrated the final harvest ingathering and Israel's wilderness wanderings. These dual meanings enriched the worship of God's people.
☩Typological Fulfillment
The seven feasts typify God's ways of blessing from the cross to the millennium. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. The Resurrection corresponds to First Fruits. Pentecost finds fulfillment in the descent of the Holy Spirit and formation of the Church. The autumn feasts—Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles—point to Israel's future awakening, reception of Messiah, and millennial blessing.
☩Observance in Jesus' Time
The three pilgrimage feasts drew Jews from all quarters of the world to Jerusalem, with Josephus estimating 2,700,000 present at some festivals. Jesus regularly attended the feasts, with John's Gospel recording three Passovers during His ministry. Women often attended though not required, and boys accompanied their parents from age twelve. The feasts provided Jesus opportunities for public teaching and miraculous works.
Related Verses127 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.George Morrish, "Feasts," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 2.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Feasts," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 3.James Orr (ed.), "Feasts and Fasts," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 4.John McClintock and James Strong, "Feasts, Or Festivals," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. III (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 5.James Hastings (ed.), "Feasts," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).