Feasts
In the Bible, "Feasts" refers to designated times of celebration and worship that hold significant spiritual and communal importance for the Israelites. These feasts, often commanded by God, served to commemorate key events in Israel's history, agricultural cycles, and divine provisions. The major feasts outlined in the Old Testament include Passover (Pesach), which commemorates the Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12:12-14), and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which follows immediately after Passover (Exodus 12:15-20). Other significant feasts include the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), celebrating the harvest and the giving of the Law (Exodus 34:22), and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), which recalls the Israelites' wanderings in the desert (Leviticus 23:34-43).These feasts not only served as occasions for communal gathering and joyous celebration but also as reminders of God's covenant and faithfulness. They were times for reflection, thanksgiving, and spiritual renewal, with specific rituals and offerings prescribed in the Law (Leviticus 23). In the New Testament, Jesus observed these feasts, and they carried forward into early Christian practices, with some being reinterpreted in light of Christ's fulfillment of the Law. For instance, the Last Supper, which occurred during Passover, is seen as the institution of the Eucharist, symbolizing the new covenant (Matthew 26:17-29). Overall, the biblical feasts exemplify a rhythm of life centered around divine remembrance and communal identity.