What is Passover – part 2

Passover has what is called a “Seder,” which is a dinner after nightfall on the first two nights of Passover. The “Seder plate” contains various foods symbolic of Passover. It includes matzah (unleavened bread) and “maror” (bitter herbs). In Hebrew, Passover is called “Pesach” which means “to pass over.” This is because God passed over the Jewish homes when killing the Egyptian firstborn on the very first Passover night.

Here is the Bible account of Passover:

"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...

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. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it...

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 the LORD'S passover...

And the blood shall be to you for a token [a sign] 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. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. 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...

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." - Exodus 12:3, 7-8, 11, 13-15, 17 KJV

During all the days of Passover, chametz (leaven) is strictly avoided. Leaven is the yeast that bread contains that makes it rise.

"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." - 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 KJV