READ: Ex. 12:41–51: …And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised… For no uncircumcised person shall eat it…
Continually remembering the deliverance that the LORD alone accomplished—without human help—is essential in our relationship with Him. God’s people must always commemorate this deliverance as a matter of pure grace.
The LORD finds this so important that He already provides the instructions at the time of deliverance for a lasting ordinance that Israel must uphold.
The Passover is not just a formal or symbolic ritual. Its purpose is that it remains engraved in their hearts that God is their Redeemer, and that all salvation and prosperity come from Him alone. Their whole lives should be aligned with this truth.
The Passover is not a family event or church tradition. It is about life with the LORD—honoring and praising Him, knowing one’s dependence on Him, and showing gratitude. This is what Israel must learn.
Therefore, Passover is intended only for God’s covenant people. No outsider may eat it unless they are circumcised and brought into the covenant. This applies to slaves and foreigners alike.
Thus, circumcision and Passover are sacraments of the Old Covenant. They already point to the sacraments of the New Covenant: baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which came through Christ, our great Redeemer. These are also only for those included in God’s covenant.
What do verses 43–49 say about our celebration of the Lord’s Supper?
Sing: Ps. 105:2,3