What was Unleavened Bread?

Unleavened Bread, known in Hebrew as “matzot” (מַצּוֹת) and in Greek as “azymos” (ἄζυμος), refers to bread made without yeast or leaven. This bread was a central element of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a week-long Jewish festival that began immediately after Passover. It commemorated Israel‘s exodus from Egypt and served as a symbol of purity, haste, and separation from sin.

In Luke 22:1, the Bible says, “Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching.” The text demonstrates that by the time of Jesus, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and Passover were closely associated, with the terms often used interchangeably, though they were technically distinct observances on the Jewish calendar.

Biblical References and Cross-References

• Luke 22:1, 7-8 – Describes the timing of Jesus’ last Passover meal during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

• Exodus 12:1-20 – Introduces the institution of Passover and the command to eat unleavened bread for seven days.

• Leviticus 23:5-8 – Lists the Feast of Unleavened Bread as one of the Lord’s appointed festivals.

• Deuteronomy 16:3 – Refers to unleavened bread as the “bread of affliction.”

• 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 – Paul uses unleavened bread symbolically to call believers to holiness.

• Matthew 26:17 – Parallel account of Jesus preparing for the Passover during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

What Happened in the Bible

The Feast of Unleavened Bread was commanded by God as a memorial of the Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt. Because they had to flee in haste, they had no time to let their dough rise. Thus, unleavened bread became a perpetual reminder of God‘s mighty deliverance and their need for readiness and purity.

In Luke 22, Jesus instructs His disciples to prepare the Passover meal during this Feast. It was at this meal that He instituted the Lord’s Supper, using the unleavened bread as a symbol of His body, broken for sinners (Luke 22:19). This connection deeply rooted the Gospel in the Old Testament sacrificial system and revealed Jesus as the true Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7).

What It Means for Today’s Christians

Unleavened bread holds deep spiritual significance for Christians. In Scripture, leaven often symbolizes sin or corruption (see Matthew 16:6, 1 Corinthians 5:6-7). The absence of leaven in the bread points to the sinlessness of Christ and the call for His followers to walk in purity and sincerity.

The Apostle Paul encourages believers to “celebrate the festival… with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:8), urging Christians to live holy lives in response to Christ’s redemptive work.

How Unleavened Bread Points to Jesus and the Gospel

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Feast of Unleavened Bread in every way. Just as the Israelites removed leaven from their homes, Christians are called to remove sin from their lives. Jesus, the sinless one, offered Himself as the true bread of life (John 6:35), broken on the cross during Passover.

The unleavened bread used at the Last Supper symbolized Christ’s body—pure, without blemish, and given for the salvation of the world. This act inaugurated the New Covenant in His blood and body, replacing the old system of continual sacrifice with His once-for-all offering (Hebrews 10:10).

Broader Biblical Themes

Deliverance and Redemption

Unleavened Bread is tied to God’s deliverance of Israel and points forward to the greater redemption through Jesus Christ.

Purity and Holiness

The removal of leaven represents sanctification—God calling His people to be set apart from sin.

Fulfillment in Christ

Jesus fulfills the types and shadows of the Old Testament feasts. Unleavened Bread was a signpost pointing to His perfect sacrifice.

Communion and Fellowship

The use of bread in the Lord’s Supper echoes the covenant relationship between God and His people, now made new through Christ.

Reflection Questions

1. Why did God require the Israelites to eat unleavened bread during the Exodus, and what does this teach us about His character?

2. What does leaven symbolize in Scripture, and how should this shape your view of personal holiness?

3. How does understanding the Feast of Unleavened Bread enrich your appreciation of the Lord’s Supper?

4. In what ways can you “remove the leaven” from your life and walk in sincerity and truth?

5. How does the timing of Jesus‘ death during Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread strengthen your faith in the providence of God?

Unleavened Bread is more than a historical detail—it is a rich theological symbol of God‘s deliverance, Christ’s sinlessness, and the believer’s call to holiness. It continues to shape Christian worship and identity through the remembrance of Christ in the Lord’s Table.