Faith and Passover

Hebrews 11:28 (NLT)

28 It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.

The account of this we have in Ex. 12:13-23. Though all Israel kept this passover, yet it was by Moses that God delivered the institution of it; and, though it was a great mystery, Moses by faith both delivered it to the people and kept it that night in the house where he lodged. The passover was one of the most solemn institutions of the Old Testament, and a very significant type of Christ. The occasion of its first observance was extraordinary: it was in the same night that God slew the first-born of the Egyptians; but, though the Israelites lived among them, the destroying angel passed over their houses, and spared them and theirs. Now, to entitle them to this distinguishing favour, and to mark them out for it, a lamb must be slain; the blood of it must be sprinkled with a bunch of hyssop upon the lintel of the door, and on the two side-posts; the flesh of the lamb must be roasted with fire; and it must be all of it eaten that very night with bitter herbs, in a travelling posture, their loins girt, their shoes on their feet, and their staff in their hand. This was accordingly done, and the destroying angel passed over them, and slew the first-born of the Egyptians. [Matthew Henry Commentary}

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

For Christians the following except was continued in Matthew Henry’s Commentary:

(1.)  Christ is that Lamb, he is our Passover, he was sacrificed for us.

(2.)  His blood must be sprinkled; it must be applied to those who have the saving benefit of it.

(3.)  It is applied effectually only to the Israelites, the chosen people of God.

(4.)  It is not owing to our inherent righteousness or best performances that we are saved from the wrath of God, but to the blood of Christ and his imputed righteousness. If any of the families of Israel had neglected the sprinkling of this blood upon their doors, though they should have spent all the night in prayer, the destroying angel would have broken in upon them, and slain their first-born.

(5.)  Wherever this blood is applied, the soul receives a whole Christ by faith, and lives upon him.

(6.)  This true faith makes sin bitter to the soul, even while it receives the pardon and atonement.

(7.)  All our spiritual privileges on earth should quicken us to set out early, and get forward, in our way to heaven.

(8.)  Those who have been marked out must ever remember and acknowledge free and distinguishing grace.

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.