Moed

פסח

Pesach [Passover] is a beautiful and wonderful time of year.  The moed teaches us about freedom from bondage, salvation, redemption, and G-d's great love for His people.

As we examine what Scripture says about this special day, we find some specific commandments regarding the original event in Egypt and others regarding the annual remembrance of the event.

In addition to Passover's commanded and traditional elements, we should never forget Who Pesach was given to picture: Yeshua, the Messiah of Israel.  We should always remember that "Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed." (1 Corinthians 5:7).

חג המצות

The moed of Chag HaMatzot [the Feast of Unleavened Bread] occurs the day after Pesach and gives us a picture of removing sin from our lives immediately as we are set free from bondage in Egypt.  In this moed, we see the sinless Messiah and the sanctifying work of G-d's Holy Spirit.

As we remove the physical leaven from our homes, we should also strive to remove the spiritual leaven of sin from our lives.

Consider what Scripture says about this festival and its commandments: what are we to do, and when are we to do it?  And we should never forget the One for whom we do all of it: our Maker and Redeemer.

ראשׁית קציר

The spring-time moed of Reishit Qatzir [Beginning of the Harvest] is also sometimes called Yom HaBikkurim [the Day of Firstfruits], and it occurs the day after the Sabbath during the week of the Chag HaMatzot.  This moed teaches us that we should always put G-d first and honor Him since He set us free from bondage.  In this moed, we can see the resurrection of Messiah as the "first fruit" of those who are asleep.

What does Scripture say about this festival, and what commandments are related to it?   Oh, Lord, please "open our eyes" to see Messiah in this moed.  Scripture was given to speak of Him, and we should listen and hear its voice... His voice... during these times.

שבעת

The moed of Shavuot is also known as the Feast of Weeks [shavuot means "weeks"].  In Christian circles, it is called Pentecost (which comes from the Greek word pentekostes, meaning "fiftieth").  It occurs about 50 days after Passover.  In this moed, we can see the Most High giving the Law at Mt. Sinai and then giving the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem 1,500 years later.

As we examine this moed and discover all that Scripture has to say about it, we should consider that it was the same very same One Who gave the Law Who also gave us His Spirit. So what does Scripture say about this festival and its related commandments?  What are we to do, and when are we to do it?

יום תרועה

The moed of Yom Teruah is known by many names.  Yom Teruah means the Day of the Shofar Sound.  In Christian circles, it is called The Feast of Trumpets.  It occurs six cycles of the new moon (i.e., six months) after Pesach on the first day of the seventh month in the Biblical calendar.

It marks the end of a long, hot, and dry summer and the beginning of the fall festivals.

As we examine this moed and discover what Scripture tells us about it, we should consider that the same G-d Who granted grace and mercy by sending His Son to die for our sins will send that same Son again to defeat His enemies and judge the world.

יום כפור

The moed of Yom Kippur is known in English as the Day of Atonement. It occurs nine days after Yom Teruah/ The Feast of Trumpets on the tenth day of the seventh month in the Hebrew calendar.

As we examine this moed and discover what Scripture says about it, we should consider that the same very same G-d Who granted grace and mercy by sending the Messiah to die for our sins will also send that same Messiah again to defeat His enemies, separate "the wheat from the tares," "the sheep from the goats," and provide the ultimate atonement for those who are His.

What does Scripture tell us about this holy day and its related commandments? What are we supposed to do and see and hear? As we study Scripture regarding this special appointment, we pray once more in the words of King David: oh, Lord, please "open our eyes that we might behold wonderful things from your Torah" and discover our returning Messiah in this moed. Scripture was given to humankind to speak of Him, and we should seek to hear its voice... His voice... especially during His appointed times.

סכות

The last of G-d's appointed times is Sukkot.  In English, it is called "the Feast of Tabernacles" or "the Feast of Booths".  This particular moed occurs on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, four days after Yom Kippur/ The Day of Atonement.  The moed pictures the day Messiah returns to dwell [tabernacle] among His people for a thousand years.  Believers have yearned for this "return of the King" for almost two thousand years.

What does Scripture tell us about this festival and its related commandments?

As we begin our study of this special appointment with the Most High, we pray once more in the words of King David: oh, Lord, please "open our eyes that we might behold wonderful things from your Torah" and see our returning Messiah in this moed.  Scripture was given to humankind to speak of Him, and we should listen and hear its voice... His voice... especially during His appointed times.