Intro: The Lord’s appointed times are festivals and holy days that commemorate significant times and events in Israel’s history. The holy days tell and show the great truths of God’s salvation, His love, and His plans. They contain things to hear, see, taste, build, and do, and they appeal to everybody. They are “holy days,” but that really means that they are holidays. These holidays look back, in time, to miracles that God performed for the world and for the Israelites. They also look forward, in time, to the work of Jesus Christ. Occurring during the spring and fall harvests, they speak of God’s continuous provisions. Together they promise God’s eternal care for His people. 
1. Whose appointed times are these? vs. 1,2Leviticus Chapter 23
2. They were to work for six days each week, but what were they to do on the seventh day of every week in all of their dwellings? vs. 3
3. In the 1st month ... on the 14th day of the month ... at twilight ... what was to be celebrated each year? vs. 5
Passover (Leviticus 23:5) – Pointed to the Messiah as our Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7) whose blood would be shed for our sins. Jesus was crucified on the day of preparation for the Passover at the same hour that the lambs were being slaughtered for the Passover meal that evening.4. What were they to celebrate in the same month on the 15th day of the month? vs. 6
1 Corinthians 5:7 -
5. What were they to eat for seven days? vs. 6
Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6) – Pointed to the Messiah's sinless life (as leaven is a picture of sin in the Bible), making Him the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus' body was in the grave during the first days of this feast, like a kernel of wheat planted and waiting to burst forth as the bread of life.6. During this festival, they would rest on the first day (vs.7), but what would they do for the next 7 days? vs. 8
7. When they entered the land of Promise the Lord was going to give them, what would they do when it was time to reap the harvest? vs. 10
First Fruits (Leviticus 23:10) – Pointed to the Messiah's resurrection as the first fruits of the righteous. Jesus was resurrected on this very day, which is one of the reasons that Paul refers to him in I Corinthians 15:20 as the "first fruits from the dead."8. What would the priest do with what had been brought to him? vs. 11
9. What were they to offer that same day for a burnt offering to the Lord? vs. 12
10. What do you remember about a burnt offering? Share it here.
11. Next, there was to be a grain offering with the burnt offering. How does this minister to the Lord? vs. 13
12. During that time, what were they not to eat as a perpetual statute throughout their generations in all their dwelling places during this celebration? vs. 14 - Name 3 things not to be eaten.
13. From the day of the wave offering of the sheaf of "first fruit", they were to count 7 complete sabbaths (weeks). This would be 49 additional days (7 days to a week) .. and then on the 50th day, they were to celebrate what came to be Pentecost. Pente is 50. When you hear "Pentecost" as a Christian, what do you think of? Let's look at what happened in church history on the day the Jews were celebrating "Pentecost".
Weeks or Pentecost (Leviticus 23:16) – Occurred fifty days after the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and pointed to the great harvest of souls and the gift of the Holy Spirit for both Jew and Gentile, who would be brought into the kingdom of God during the Church Age (see Acts 2). The Church was actually established on this day when God poured out His Holy Spirit and 3,000 Jews responded to Peter's great sermon and his first proclamation of the Gospel.14. Back to Leviticus 23. Have many sabbaths (weeks) were they to count from the day of first fruits or waving of the sheaf they brought to the priest each year? vs. 15,16
15. What were they to offer up on the day of Pentecost (or 50 days after) ? vs. 16
16. What were they to bring from their dwelling places for a wave offering on the day of Pentecost? vs. 17
17. Were the loaves to be with or without leaven for this Pentecost wave offering? vs. 17
18. If leaven represents sin, this must be two groups of sin represented. It is easy to see that it would be the future picture of the Jews and the Gentiles in one body which is the church. Comment on the verse below:
- 1 Corinthians 12:13 -
- Ephesians 2:11-22-
- Ephesians 3:4-7 -
20. What was to be offered with these animals as a soothing aroma to the Lord? vs. 18 - Name 2 other offerings.
21. What was to be offered as a "sin offering" on this day? vs. 19
22. What was to be offered as a "peace offering" on this day? vs. 19
23. What would the priest do with the lambs that were brought for the peace offering? vs. 20
24. What were they to make on the same day of this holy covocation? vs. 21
25. They were to do no laborious work on this day of "Pentecost". (vs.21) Being a forshadow of the church and the New Covenant, we can see this as a picture of the Sabbath Rest believers have in Christ. Comment on the following verse:
- Hebrews 4:4-10 -
27. There was an interval of about 4 months between the festivals. Every male would be required to come to Jerusalem for the festivals, so it was nice they would not have to travel in the heat of the Summer months. Many believe that this gap of time represents the church age in which we are involved in the harvest to come and eagerly awaiting the sound of the trumpet. Comment on the folowing verse:
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 -
Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24) – The first of the fall feasts. Many believe this day points to the Rapture of the Church when the Messiah Jesus will appear in the heavens as He comes for His bride, the Church. The Rapture is always associated in Scripture with the blowing of a loud trumpet (I Thessalonians 4:13-18 and I Corinthians 15:52).29. They were to do no work, but they were to present an offering by fire to the Lord. (vs.25). What Holy Day was on the 10th day of the 7th month following the blowing of trumpets? vs. 27
30. On the 9th day of the month at evening, from evening to evening (which would be the 10th day of the month of the 7th month - vs.27) ... they were to have a complete Sabbath. (vs.28-32) This was the Day of Atonement. They were to do no work at all on the Day of Atonement. The command was to rest and humble themselves on this day while their sins were being atoned for by the High Priest. (vs.28,29). What would happen to a person who did any work on this day? vs. 30
Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27) – Many believe this prophetically points to the day of the Second Coming of Jesus when He will return to earth. That will be the Day of Atonement for the Jewish remnant when they "look upon Him whom they have pierced," repent of their sins, and receive Him as their Messiah (Zechariah 12:10 and Romans 11:1-6, 25-36).
31. What Festival was to begin each year on the 15th day of the 7th month following the Day of Atonement? vs. 34
32. How long did this final feast of the year last? vs. 34-36,41
33. What was to be done on the first day of the feast? vs. 35
34. What was to be presented to the Lord for 7 days? vs. 36
35. What was to happen on the 8th day? vs. 36
36. These apponited times of the Lord were to be in addition to the weekly sabbaths of the Lord and the gifts and votive and freewill offerings of the sons of Israel. What coincided with the beginning of this festival? vs. 39
37. What were they to make the booths out of on the 1st day that they would begin this festive week of rejoicing? vs. 40
38. All the native born Israelites were to live in booths for 7 days. What was this to teach the generations to follow each and every year? vs. 42-43
Tabernacles or Booths (Leviticus 23:34) – Many scholars believe that this feast day points to the Lord's promise that He will once again “tabernacle” with His people when He returns to reign over all the world (Micah 4:1-7).
Application:
39. Should Christians celebrate these Levitical feast days of Israel today? Whether or not a Christian celebrates the Jewish feast days would be a matter of conscience for the individual Christian. Comment on the following verses:
- Colossians 2:16-17
40. Christians are not bound to observe the Jewish feasts the way an Old Testament Jew was, but we should not criticize another believer who does or does not observe these special days and feasts. Comment on the following verse:
- Romans 14:5
41. Although Jesus fulfilled the foreshadow of the feasts, it would be wonderful to teach our children and others the things about Jesus through also observing the Jewish holidays to one degree or another. As Christians, we celebrate Christmas to teach of His birth. We celebrate Easter Sunday to teach of His death and resurrection from the grave. How do you take special times of the year to teach others about our Lord? Share your holiday traditions if you would like.
42. Summarize the lesson and post a prayer if you would like.
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