Why Should Passover Be a Lasting Ordinance?

In the World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG), Ahnsahnghong teaches keeping Passover as a lasting ordinance for Christians who keep the New Covenant. The WMSCOG explains that Passover is a lasting ordinance, meaning it should always be kept by God’s people. So, why should Passover be a lasting ordinance?

Why Should Passover Be a Lasting Ordinance in the Old Testament?

Though many Christians have heard of the Passover, they do not know that God declared the Passover as a lasting ordinance from the beginning, from the first Passover.

Exodus 12:11- This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.

Exodus 12:14 – This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.

God said you shall celebrate it (Passover) as a lasting ordinance. What is the expiration date on an lasting ordinance? None. This actually means that Passover should be kept in the New Testament times also. Notice how God described the Passover as being, “the Lord’s Passover.” God did not say the Jewish Passover only for Jewish people. Then did Christians celebrate Passover in the New Testament?

Why Should Passover Be a Lasting Ordinance in the New Testament?

Let’s see if Christians celebrated Passover in the New Testament.

Matthew 26:17-19 – On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

Jesus said, “I will celebrate the Passover with my disciples,” meaning that lasting ordinance was still being kept for Christians. Who can deny the words of Christ Himself? No one. The Passover kept by the Israelites in Egypt was kept by slaughtering a lamb and placing the blood on the tops and sides of the . The New Covenant Passover is celebrated with bread and wine.

Matthew 26:26-28 – While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

1 Corinthians 5:7-8 – Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Apostle Paul concludes by saying, “Therefore let us keep the Festival.” Which festival is he speaking about? The Passover. There is no verse in the New Testament that says we should stop keeping the Passover.

Is Passover the only Lasting Ordinance in the Bible?

There are actually other laws that God set as lasting ordinances just like the Passover.

• Sabbath (Exodus 31:16)
• Day of Firstfruits / Resurrection Day (Leviticus 23:14)
• Feast of Weeks / Pentecost (Leviticus 23:21)
• Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:31, 41)

This list includes the seven annual Feasts of God in three times (Deut 16:16), which God’s people are to proclaim at their appointed times (Leviticus 23:4) in addition to the weekly feast of the Sabbath. If your church hasn’t been following these lasting ordinances, commands God set for our salvation, I would be concerned! Fortunately you can keep all of these commands at the WMSCOG. You can always come to a Bible study to see each one in the Bible for yourself.