The Three Pilgrimage Festivals

Summary

The video explains the significance of three Jewish pilgrimage festivals: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. Passover celebrates Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, with symbolic elements like unleavened bread and a seder meal. Pentecost, or Shavuot, marks the wheat harvest and is tied to the giving of the Ten Commandments. Tabernacles, or Sukkot, commemorates Israel's 40 years in the wilderness and coincides with the fall harvest. These festivals are important for understanding biblical events and themes, including their relevance to the New Testament, especially during key moments in the life of Jesus.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Bible contains three pilgrim festivals: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles, still celebrated by Jewish people today.
• 🏙️ These festivals are called pilgrimage festivals because they were meant to be celebrated in Jerusalem, away from home.
• 🍞 Passover, or Pesach, celebrates Israel's deliverance from Egypt and involves the consumption of unleavened bread (matzah).
• 🍷 The Last Supper in the Gospels was a Passover Seder meal, and Jesus used its elements, including wine and bread, to symbolize His sacrifice.
• 🌾 Pentecost, or Shavuot, occurs 50 days after Passover, coinciding with the wheat harvest and celebrating the giving of the law at Mount Sinai.
• 🔥 In the New Testament, Pentecost marks the arrival of the Holy Spirit on the disciples, seen as the birth of the Christian Church.
• 📖 The Pharisees believed in an oral law passed alongside the written law, forming the basis of the Talmud, which Jesus referenced as 'the tradition of the elders.'
• 🏕️ The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, recalls Israel's 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and includes the building of temporary shelters (sukkahs).
• 🌴 Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, known as Palm Sunday, took place during Sukkot, which coincides with the fall harvest of tree fruit.
• 📅 For the quiz, remember the name of each festival, the month it occurs, the agricultural harvest associated with it, and its religious significance.

Q & A

What are the three pilgrim festivals mentioned in the Bible that are still celebrated by Jewish people today?

The three pilgrim festivals are Passover (Pesach), Pentecost (Shavuot), and Tabernacles (Sukkot).

Why are these festivals referred to as 'pilgrim' festivals?

They are called 'pilgrim' festivals because the Jewish people were expected to celebrate these events in Jerusalem, away from their homes.

What is the significance of Passover (Pesach) and what does it commemorate?

Passover, also called the Feast of Unleavened Bread, commemorates Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt. It is celebrated with a special meal called a seder, featuring roasted lamb and unleavened bread.

How does the Passover Seder relate to the Last Supper in the New Testament?

The Last Supper, as described in the Gospels, was a Passover seder. Jesus and his disciples had consumed the first two cups of wine, and Jesus used the unleavened bread and the third cup of wine to symbolize his body and blood, establishing the new covenant.

What are the four cups of wine in the Passover Seder, and what do they represent?

The four cups of wine in the Passover Seder represent sanctification, deliverance, redemption, and praise. Jesus used the third cup, the cup of redemption, to establish the new covenant.

What is Pentecost (Shavuot), and how is it associated with the New Testament?

Pentecost is celebrated on the 50th day after Passover and coincides with the wheat harvest. In the New Testament, Pentecost is significant because it marks the day the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples, symbolizing the birth of the Church.

How did the rabbis of Jesus’s time link Pentecost with the giving of the Ten Commandments?

The rabbis linked Pentecost with the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai because Exodus 19:1 states that Israel arrived at Mount Sinai in the third month, which the rabbis interpreted as approximately 49 days after leaving Egypt.

What is the oral law mentioned in the script, and how does it relate to Jesus's teachings?

The oral law was a parallel interpretation of the written law passed down orally. Jesus refers to this in Mark 7 as the 'tradition of the elders.' This oral tradition was eventually written down and became the Talmud.

What is the significance of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), and how is it celebrated?

The Feast of Tabernacles commemorates Israel’s 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, where God provided food and protection. Jewish people build temporary shelters called sukkahs and often eat and sleep in them during the festival to remember this time.

How does the Feast of Tabernacles connect to the New Testament event of Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem?

Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, commonly known as Palm Sunday, took place during the Feast of Tabernacles, which was celebrated in September or October.

Outlines

00:00

🍲 Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles

The paragraph discusses three significant Jewish festivals: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. Passover, also known as Pesach or the Feast of Unleavened Bread, commemorates Israel's liberation from Egyptian slavery. It is observed in March or April, coinciding with the barley harvest. The celebration includes a special meal called a Seder, featuring roasted lamb and unleavened bread, symbolizing the haste of the Israelites' departure from Egypt. The Last Supper is identified as a Passover Seder, with Jesus and his disciples having already partaken in the first two cups of wine before Jesus announces his betrayal and institutes the Eucharist with bread and wine. Pentecost, meaning '50' in Greek, is celebrated 50 days after Passover, aligning with the wheat harvest. It is also known as Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, or the Feast of the Harvest. Traditionally linked to the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, it is also the event where the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples as described in Acts 2. The paragraph also touches on the concept of the oral law, which was eventually written down to form the Talmud.

05:01

🌾 Tabernacles and Its Significance

The second paragraph focuses on the final pilgrim festival, Tabernacles or Sukkot. This festival is associated with the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness by the Israelites, during which God provided for them. To remember this, Jews build a sukkah, a temporary booth, and often eat and sometimes sleep in it during the festival. Tabernacles is also known as the Feast of Ingathering due to its alignment with the fall harvest. The paragraph mentions the Triumphal Entry of Jesus during Sukkot, which is observed in September or October. The summary slide at the end provides key points for a quiz, which include the names of the festivals, the months they are celebrated, the agricultural harvests they coincide with, and their religious and historical significance.

Keywords

💡Pilgrim Festivals

Pilgrim Festivals refer to the three major religious celebrations in Judaism that require attendance in Jerusalem. These festivals are Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. In the context of the video, pilgrim festivals are significant as they are deeply rooted in Jewish history and are referenced in the New Testament, connecting the Old and New Testaments.

💡Passover

Passover, also known as Pesach in Hebrew, is a Jewish holiday commemorating the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The video explains that it is celebrated with a seven-day feast that includes a special meal called a Seder. It is also the backdrop for the Last Supper narrative in the New Testament, where Jesus shares a meal with his disciples, which is a pivotal moment in Christian theology.

💡Pentecost

Pentecost, meaning '50' in Greek, is a festival celebrated 50 days after Passover. It coincides with the wheat harvest and is also known as Shavuot. The video highlights its significance in the New Testament as the event when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, marking the birth of the Christian Church as described in Acts 2.

💡Tabernacles

Tabernacles, or Sukkot in Hebrew, is a festival that commemorates the Israelites' 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. It is celebrated by building temporary booths called sukkah, symbolizing the shelters used during their travels. The video mentions that this festival also coincides with the fall harvest and is associated with Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem during Palm Sunday.

💡Seder

A Seder is a ritual feast held by Jewish families during the first night of Passover. The video describes it as a special celebratory meal that includes the consumption of roasted lamb and unleavened bread, symbolizing the haste of the Israelites' departure from Egypt. The Last Supper is identified as a Seder, indicating its importance in both Jewish and Christian traditions.

💡Unleavened Bread

Unleavened Bread, specifically matzah, is a key element of the Passover celebration. As explained in the video, it represents the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt, where they did not have time for their bread to rise. It is also symbolic of the simplicity and preservation needs during their wilderness journey.

💡Agriculture Harvest

The video mentions that each of the pilgrim festivals coincides with an agricultural harvest: Passover with the barley harvest, Pentecost with the wheat harvest, and Tabernacles with the fall harvest of fruits. These harvests are not only agriculturally significant but also provide a backdrop for the religious observances.

💡Historical Significance

The historical significance in the context of the video refers to the connection between the pilgrim festivals and pivotal events in Jewish history. Passover recalls the exodus from Egypt, Pentecost is linked to the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, and Tabernacles remembers the wilderness wandering. These events are foundational to Jewish identity and are echoed in Christian narratives.

💡Religious Significance

The religious significance pertains to the spiritual and theological importance of the pilgrim festivals. Each festival has a distinct theological theme: Passover signifies deliverance, Pentecost represents the giving of the law and the Holy Spirit's descent, and Tabernacles is about provision and protection. The video underscores how these themes are integral to Jewish and Christian belief systems.

💡Deuteronomic Code

The Deuteronomic Code is a set of laws presented in the Book of Deuteronomy in the Hebrew Bible. The video mentions that the pilgrim festivals are part of the theological laws in this code, indicating their scriptural basis and the obligation for Jews to observe these festivals as part of their religious practice.

💡Oral Law

The Oral Law refers to a tradition of interpretive guidelines and teachings that were passed down verbally alongside the written Torah. The video explains that the Pharisees believed in this parallel tradition, which Jesus referred to as 'the tradition of the elders.' This Oral Law was later written down and became the basis for the Talmud, a central text in Judaism.

Highlights

The Bible contains three pilgrim festivals still celebrated by the Jewish people today: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.

These festivals are called pilgrimage festivals because they were to be celebrated in the holy city of Jerusalem.

Passover, or Pesach, celebrates Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt, coinciding with the barley harvest.

Passover involves a special celebratory meal called a seder, featuring roasted lamb and unleavened bread, or matzah.

The unleavened bread symbolizes the haste with which the Israelites had to leave Egypt, not having time to let the bread rise.

The Last Supper, as described in the Gospels, was a Passover seder where Jesus made references to his coming sacrifice.

During the Last Supper, Jesus shared the third cup of wine, the cup of redemption, which referenced God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt.

Pentecost, meaning '50' in Greek, was celebrated 50 days after Passover, coinciding with the wheat harvest.

The festival of Pentecost, also known as Shavuot or Feast of Weeks, celebrates the wheat harvest and the giving of the Ten Commandments.

In the New Testament, Pentecost is associated with the Holy Spirit's arrival, marking the birth of the Christian church.

The Pharisees believed in an oral tradition of the law, passed alongside the written law, which later formed the basis of the Talmud.

The third pilgrim festival, Tabernacles or Sukkot, commemorates Israel's 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.

During Sukkot, Jewish people build booths or temporary shelters, recalling the Israelites’ temporary dwellings in the wilderness.

Sukkot also coincides with the fall harvest of tree fruits, making it known as the Feast of Ingathering.

The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, known as Palm Sunday, took place during the festival of Tabernacles.

Transcripts

the bible contains three pilgrim

festivals

that continue to be celebrated by the

jewish people to this very day

passover pentecost and tabernacles

understanding the significance of these

festivals is important for the new

testament

since the gospels are full of references

to all three celebrations

they are called pilgrim or pilgrimage

festivals

because these three events were supposed

to be celebrated away from one's home

in the holy city of jerusalem

i chose this particular lesson to

discuss these three festivals

because they form part of the fourth

category of theological

laws in the deuteronomic code in

deuteronomy

16.

passover or pesach in hebrew

is also called the feast of unleavened

bread

where the unleavened bread refers to

matzah

passover celebrates israel's deliverance

from slavery in egypt

and depending on when the fourteenth day

of the month of nisan falls

according to the biblical calendar it

takes place in march

or april this coincides with the barley

harvest

and its seven day celebration included

waving a sheaf of barley in the temple

celebration of passover includes a

special celebratory meal

called a seder featuring a roasted lamb

whose blood had been sprinkled on the

doorposts of their homes in egypt

and unleavened bread or matzah based on

the bible statement

that the people had to leave egypt in

such haste that they didn't have time to

allow the bread to rise

practically speaking though unleavened

bread was the best kind of bread to eat

in the wilderness

since it would not spoil

it is clear from the gospel that the

last supper

was a passover seder the version of the

last supper that we are looking at here

comes from mark chapter 14.

the passover seder was structured around

four cups of wine

and included the reading of scripture

and the saying of prayers

and blessings related to israel's

deliverance from egypt

and the celebration of god's

faithfulness

the last supper and all of the gospel

accounts

start midway through the meal

highlighted here in red

this means that when we start reading

about the last supper

jesus and his disciples have already

consumed

the first two cups of wine the cup of

sanctification

and the cup of deliverance

in the gospel accounts it is precisely

when they are eating that jesus

says i tell you the truth

one of you will betray me one who is

eating with me

jesus then took bread broke it and gave

it to his disciples

telling them that this unleavened bread

this matzah

was his body that would be broken for

them

this statement was then followed by a

third cup of wine

the cup of redemption whereby god

promised the israelites

that he would personally lead them out

of egypt with an outstretched arm

a clear reference to god's real presence

among his people

and a foreshadowing of the incarnation

of god and christ

this is when jesus says this cup

is the new covenant in my blood which is

shed for you

the fourth and final cup the cup of

praise

is drunk while singing the hillel

or praise psalms these are psalms

113-118

and psalm 136

according to mark it was after they

quote unquote

sung a hymn that they went out to the

garden of gethsemane

where jesus would pray and later be

betrayed by judas

psalm 136 which is called the great

hallel

or the great praise is the hymn that

mark is referring to

and a beautiful psalm about god's

faithfulness

i encourage you to read it when you get

the chance

pentecost means 50 in greek and is

celebrated on the 50th day after the end

of passover

this means that it took place in may or

june during the wheat harvest

since there are 49 days or seven weeks

between the end of passover

and the 50th day when pentecost was

celebrated

the festival also came to be known as

the feast of weeks or

shavuot in hebrew

since pentecost coincided with the wheat

harvest

it also came to be known as the feast of

the harvest

or the feast of first fruits

in this case the first fruits are not

referring to tree fruit

but the initial harvest of the ripened

wheat

unlike passover and tabernacles which

were tied by the bible to

particular historical events pentecost

had no specific historical event

so the rabbis of jesus's day invented

one

they linked pentecost to the day that

god gave israel the ten commandments on

mount sinai

this is because exodus 19 1 stated that

israel arrived at mount sinai

in the third month the rabbis took this

demean

two months or eight weeks after leaving

egypt

close in time to the seven weeks or

forty-nine days

of shavuot

most of us know about pentecost through

its new testament association

in acts chapter 2. the reason the

disciples are gathered in the upper room

50 days after passover was to celebrate

the end of shavuot

it was on the 50th day that the holy

spirit

fell on the disciples and transformed

what was in fact

celebrated as the birth of a nation with

the giving of the law

at mount sinai and to what would become

for christians

the birth of the church

this is a good place to make you aware

of something that the gospels talk about

but most christians don't understand

when god gave israel the ten

commandments and the other laws like the

covenant code the deuteronomic code the

holiness code and others

they were all in written form as we have

them in the bible

however the pharisees of jesus's day

believe that in addition to the written

law there was also a parallel

oral law as well meaning an old

interpretation of the law passed down

alongside the written version

this is what jesus is referring to when

he mentions the tradition

of the elders in mark chapter 7.

this oral tradition was eventually

written down

and in the 5th century a.d formed the

basis of the talmud

so if you ever hear anyone talk about

the jewish talmud

they are referring to the written form

of this oral interpretation of the law

given by god at mount sinai alongside

the written law

the third and final pilgrim festival was

tabernacles

or sukkot in hebrew

this celebration is tied to israel's 40

years of wandering in the wilderness

when the people recall how god provided

food for them and protected them

in remembrance faithful jews to this day

will build a sukkah literally a booth

that commemorates the temporary shelters

the israelites lived in

during their wandering during sukkot

observant jewish people will eat their

meals in the sukkah

and sometimes even sleep there overnight

while they're permitting

since this event coincides with the fall

harvest of ripe and tree fruit

it also became known as the feast of end

gathering

the triumphal entry of jesus from the

mount of olives into jerusalem

commonly known to us as palm sunday took

place during sukkot

sometime in september or october since

this is when the feast of tabernacles is

celebrated

this final slide summarizes all three

pilgrim festivals

for the quiz all you will need to know

are four things

the name of each festival the months

when it took place

the agricultural harvest it coincided

with

and its religious and historical

significance