The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzah in Hebrew) is the second of the seven feasts that the L-RD commanded Israel to celebrate. "And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the L-RD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the L-RD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein" (Leviticus 23:6-8). It was to be celebrated for seven days, beginning on the evening of the 15th of Nisan through the 21st of Nisan.

In the time of the earthly ministry of Yeshua, the celebration of both the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread was identified collectively as "the Passover"-- "Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover" (Luke 22:1). Modern Judaism still observes these eight days collectively as Passover (Pesach)-- Nisan 14 through 21.

Seven high days are designated in Leviticus 23 (verses 7, 8, 21, 25, 28, 30-32, 35-36). These high days are Sabbaths. They were to be treated like the seventh day Sabbath, even though they could occur on a day other than the seventh day (Saturday) of the week-- which was the normal Jewish Sabbath. The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Nisan 15, was the first of the seven high days. The seventh day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Nisan 21, was the second of the seven high days of Leviticus 23. This could cause confusion in understanding the events of the week of Yeshua's crucifixion, since both the day before the weekly Sabbath as well as the day before the Feast of Unleavened Bread were designated as Preparation days.

Tradition holds that Yeshua was crucified on Friday (instead of Thursday) because of a reference to "the preparation" and "the sabbath day" in the same verse. "The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away" (John 19:31). In this instance, "the preparation" was for the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread which was an "high day" and consequently a "sabbath day". Unleavened bread was historically the symbol of Israel's flight from Egyptian bondage in the time of Moses-- they were in too much of a hurry to allow the dough to be leavened. "And the people took their dough before it was leavened... And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any provisions." (Exodus 12:34,39). Leaven (yeast), in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, was something Israel was enjoined to put away on the penalty of being cut off from the nation of Israel. "Whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel" (Exodus 12:15). This was very strong language for a ceremony-- unless the L-RD G-d was trying to teach Israel the significance of something future, that would be put away to make them clean. Of course, that something is Yeshua. "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of G-d in Him" (2Corinthians 5:21). Sin is typified by the leaven. "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" (1Corinthians 5:8).

The New Testament fulfillment of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is the burial of Yeshua. He was placed in the tomb shortly before the first moments of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Yeshua was the unleavened bread. "I am the Living Bread which came down from Heaven: if any man eat of this Bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" (John 6:51). As leaven is a type for sin, Yeshua became "sin for us... that we might be made the righteousness of G-d in Him" (2Corinthians 5:21).