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Passover - The “Threshold” Covenant

The way YHVH deals with man is through Covenants. He made the

initial Covenant with a Gentile man called Abraham in Gen 15. This

was an unconditional everlasting covenant made to Abraham’s

“seed” or descendants. It was unconditional because Abraham was

asleep while “the touch of fire” (Messiah) walked in between the

pieces, making the Covenant with Abraham while he was asleep,

taking the consequences for breaking the Covenant, for both parties,

upon Himself. This means that if any of the conditions of the

Covenant are broken by any party, “the Torch” had to die, ending up

like the dead animals.

Before this Covenant was cut YHVH told Abraham that He is His Shield and his

exceedingly great Reward. The Shield referred to Messiah that will “cover” Abraham’s

descendants if they break the Covenant conditions and that implies that Messiah

(Shield) had to die if man broke the Covenant. This is the reason Y’shua had to die for

us, because He is the Shield, covering man while in a sinful state, so that man can

receive the Exceedingly Great Reward, that is the Father, living with Him forever.

After that there were two other Covenants that formed part of this initial

Covenant made with Abraham. These two Covenants “hang on” the

initial Covenant made with Abraham, forming part of the overall

Marriage Covenant YHVH made with man (Abraham’s descendants).

Jer 31:31-33 Behold, the days are coming, says YHVH, when I will make a

new Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 32 not

according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took

them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My Covenant which

they broke, though I was a husband to them, says YHVH. 33 But this is the

Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says

YHVH: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I

will be their God, and they shall be My people.

We know this passage very well and it is the verse that is quoted as proof of a “New

Covenant”, where He will write the Torah in our Hearts. What people fail to see is the

language used here referring back to the Exodus where they celebrated the first

Passover. The Passover is referred to here as a Covenant YHVH made with His

people and that Covenant made YHVH their Husband and Israel His Bride. This

confirms that Passover is part of the Marriage Covenant with Israel.

The first part of the Marriage Covenant was when “the Groom” (YHVH) gave His

vows (conditions of Covenant) to the Bride, to protect and to provide for Her. These

promises were given before Israel left Egypt and is found in Exo 6:6-7 and we will

look at them when we discuss the Four Cups that form part of the Passover

Celebration.

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This makes the Passover the First part of the Marriage Covenant between YHVH

and Man. The Passover also prophetically predicted the death of the “Shield” or

Messiah that will take the consequences for breaking any of the conditions of the

Covenant upon Himself, protecting and covering His Bride.

The next Part of the Marriage Covenant took place at Mount

Sinai where the Bride gave Her vows (conditions of

Covenant) to the Groom that she stated in Exo 19:8 “…all

that YHVH has spoken, we will do…” They said that before

receiving any of the Commandments / conditions from

YHVH and became the Bride’s vows to their Groom.

Breaking any of these vows will result in Her death, as

stipulated at the cutting of the Covenant with Abraham, but

the Messiah is the Shield that will protect His Bride and He would die in Her place as

promised.

We all know the rest of the story and now understand that the Passover is part of the

Two-Part Marriage Covenant that hang off from Abraham’s Covenant, to protect

Israel His Bride, because He knew She was in a fallen state and will sin eventually.

That is why He made the Abraham’s Covenant with Himself on behalf of Abraham’s

descendants, in order to protect His Bride becoming Her Shield and Covering.

This makes these three Covenants One (Echad) with the initial part, the

unconditional and eternal Covenant and the other two are conditional, containing the

conditions (vows) and the consequences for breaking them.

The Gospel: We as Gentiles can now be blessed (grafted in) with our father

Abraham and become part of Israel and part of the Marriage Covenant and the

Bride. [The word for “blessed” connects to a root word that means “grafted in”] This

is the “New” or Renewed Covenant YHVH made with man and is still part of the

original “Three-Part-Covenant” He made with Israel, Abraham’s descendants so that

anybody from any nation can become part of Israel and be Married to YHVH

engaging in this initial Covenant. This is the Gospel message in a nutshell.

Passover – The Threshold Covenant

In a traditional Hebrew Marriage, the sign of the Covenant was

the blood on the Sheet that was presented after the first

Marriage night. The wife has a “threshold” that the man enters

and blood came forth sealing this Covenant between the

woman and the man. In a similar way, Israel applied blood on

the “threshold” (doorpost) of their houses on the first Passover

night prior to leaving Egypt. This blood sealed the Covenant

between YHVH and Israel (Righteous People of Elohim). All

Covenants were sealed or cut with Blood and without Blood

there is no Covenant. In the same way is the blood of the lamb on the “threshold”

(doorpost) provided a sign that the “Bride” inside the House was pure and now

“married” to YHVH.

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The next stage of the Marriage Covenant took place at Mount Sinai. This was where

Israel broke her vows of the Marriage Covenant by worshipping a Golden Calf. This

placed the Marriage under pressure because it was a great insult to YHVH, Who just

got married, committing adultery because Idolatry is seen as spiritual adultery in the

eyes of YHVH. This sin activated the need for a Sacrificial System that could act as a

“Shield” until Messiah came to die for His Bride as promised to Abraham.

Luckily for Israel, the initial part of the Covenant was unconditional and everlasting

(Covenant made with Abraham), that was the initial part of the Betrothal and the

Messiah being the Shield, had to fulfil His vow to cover and protect His Bride, thus

dying in our place on our behalf as required by the Covenant.

The Threshold was a very important aspect of any house

according to ancient traditions, including Hebrew tradition. When

you go to the Eastern Countries as well as Israel and are invited

into someone’s house, never step on the threshold of their house,

if you step over, you will be treated as a special guest in that house,

if you step on it, you show that you no longer accept their

hospitality. Whenever you enter a house of a person and step onto

the threshold of the front door, it is seen as a sign of hostility

towards the people living in that house and towards the God they serve. Whenever a

person with evil intent enter their house and step on the Threshold, the God of that

house will release curses upon that person who defiled the threshold of that house.

This made the Threshold a sacred sign of the Covenant between the people in the

house and the God they served.

Adoption through the Threshold Covenant: In Syria and Egypt they had the

custom when a newcomer arrives, to slaughter an animal and shed the blood on the

threshold of the front door of the house. When the newcomer enters that house and

step over the threshold, they are adopted into that family and treated as a son or

daughter form that day on for life.

Welcoming sign: In Liberia, West Africa, it is a common custom among the tribes to

kill a fowl and sprinkle blood upon the Threshold of the house when strangers arrive

as a welcoming sign.

Threshold and Mezuzah: When you enter a Jew’s house and kiss the

Mezuzah, you show the owner of the house that you respect the God they

serve and they will treat you with great hospitality. Jews install Mezuzahs on the

Doorpost (Mezuzah means Doorpost) of their doors that is a sign of the

Threshold Covenant they made with YHVH. The Mezuzah contains the passage

in … that links the Passover Blood of the “threshold” of the house, with the

Commandments given at Mount Sinai to show they are YHVH’s people.

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Conclusion: Relating this passage back to the sacrifice of the Passover placed the

blood on the doorposts or Mezuzah’s as well as on the Threshold of the entrance of

the House. It was as if the people had to walk through the blood, covered from all

sides, to enter into the house. The Covenant is symbolised, not only with the blood

on the lintel and doorposts, but the Threshold as well, making the Passover and

sacrifice of Y’shua, the “Threshold Covenant”. New Believers are grafted into the

family of YHVH when they step into the house, crossing over the threshold, thorough

the Blood of Messiah. This makes them part of the Bride and the next step of the

Marriage is to agree to the vows of the Bride as revealed at Mount Sinai.

Trample on the Threshold

When you “cross over” the threshold of that house, you imply that you are in

Covenant with the God of the owner of that house. If you then disregard or

disrespect the customs or hospitality of the house, it is similar to stepping

onto the threshold of that house, insulting the people and their God.

This is the same language that is used in Hebrews 10 where it talks

about the blood of Messiah being trampled on, entering His House

and not adhering to the “customs” and hospitality of that house

contained in the Covenant vows Israel made with their Husband at

Mount Sinai.

Heb 10:28 -31 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy

on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment,

do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God

underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a

common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who

said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, “says YHVH. And again, “YHVH will

judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

This is a message and warning to us entering the House of YHVH, not respecting

and knowing the vows the Bride agreed to at Mount Sinai contained in the

Commandments.

Q – How do you step disrespectful onto the Covenant of YHVH symbolised by the

Threshold?

Zep 1:9 And I shall punish on that day all who leap over the threshold, who

fill their master’s house with violence and deceit.

When you enter your Master’s house you must be fearful of not defiling the house

with violence and deceit.

Violence is the word “chamac” and means; “violence, do wrong, cruelty, do injustice”

If the Master of the House specified what is just and what is right (righteous) in the

house, you defile the house by doing the opposite after “crossing over” taking part in

the Covenant of the Threshold. If you do these things, you will bring a curse upon

yourself and receive His punishment.

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Spiritual Application: If you partake in the Threshold Covenant, the Passover, that

is also known as the Marriage Covenant, you enter the House of your Master and

must learn the Master’s Ways in order not to defile His house like Israel did

worshipping the Golden Calf. This was the first sin after establishing the Threshold

Covenant and the first thing people will do right after they enter YHVH’s Household.

Rid yourself from all pagan traditions or cultural traditions that are contrary to

YHVH’s Word that might defile His House.

Covenant Meal Warning: It is very important NOT

to partake in this Covenant Meal if you cling to

“customs” you are not prepared to let go of that

could potentially defile the House of the Master.

Rather sit out, observe and learn than to take part

in the Threshold Covenant Meal and bring

judgement upon yourself.

Another reason not to partake, potentially stepping

disrespectfully onto the Threshold is described by

Paul in 1 Corinthians 11 where he warned

believers to examine themselves prior to partaking

in the Passover. He related it back to when Y’shua

ate the Passover meal with His Disciples.

1 Cor 11: 23-25 For I received from the Master

that which I also delivered to you: that the Master Y’shua on the same night in

which He was betrayed took bread;24 and when He had given thanks, He

broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this

in remembrance of Me.”25 In the same manner He also took the cup after

supper, saying, “This cup is the new Covenant in My Blood. This do, as often

as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

The context and why Paul addressed this is found in verse 18.

1 Cor 11: 18 For first of all, when you come together as an Assembly, I hear

that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must

also be factions (groups) among you, that those who are approved may be

recognized among you.

Whenever they did the Passover, they remembered the Marriage Covenant YHVH

made with the House of Judah and with the House of Israel (Jer 31:31-33), bringing

these two factions (Groups) together into one House.

Division within Groups: The warning to us as followers of Messiah is that the

House of YHVH consists of Jews and Gentiles, the House of Judah and the House

of Israel (Gentiles who received Messiah).

These two groups with different backgrounds cause conflict and divisions within the

Congregation specifically regarding the celebration of Passover. This cause violence

to enter YHVH’s House and caused them to trample on the Threshold of the

Master’s House.

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If you have any issues with your brother, one form Jewish background or one from

Christian background, or any issue with any brother regarding celebrating the Feast

(calendar, dates etc.), causing disputes, you should make right before you partake in

this Threshold Covenant Meal or not partake in order to avoid punishment of a curse

to come upon you.

1 Cor 11:27-32 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the

Master in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the

Master. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread

and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy

manner[e]eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the

Master’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and

many that died. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be

judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by YHVH, that we may

not be condemned with the world.

Paul addressed three issues; Eating in an unworthy manner, thinking it just about

food and forgetting the symbolism of this Covenant Meal. Secondly, having “groups”

with disputes within the House of YHVH and thirdly, having un-forgiveness towards a

brother or sister. Examine yourself and sort out your issues with your brother or

sister and make it right even if you still differ in opinion, so that you can respect the

Master of the House, His Blood and His Covenant.

Passover Symbolism

Over the centuries the Passover Seder has grown

with new and meaningful traditions, but the core of

the celebration is very ancient and goes back to the

time when Israel left Egypt. During this Passover, we

are only going to look at the symbolism of the First

Passover found in Exodus, as well as the last

Passover Y’shua celebrated with His Disciples and

base our Passover according to these Scriptural

guidelines.

Exo 12:5-17 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You

may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 Now you shall keep it until the

fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the

congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. 7 And they shall take some of the

blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where

they eat it. 8 Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with

unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Do not eat it raw,

nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire—its head with its legs and its

entrails.

10 You shall let none of it remain until morning, and what remains of it until

morning you shall burn with fire. 11 And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on

your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you

shall eat it in haste. It is YHVH’s Passover.

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12 ‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all

the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the

gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am YHVH. 13 Now the blood shall be a

sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass

over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the

land of Egypt.14 ‘So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it

as a Feast to YHVH throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a Feast

by an everlasting ordinance.

15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall

remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the

first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. 16 On

the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there

shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them;

but that which everyone must eat—that only may be prepared by you.17 So you

shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have

brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this

day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance.

The Passover has the following Symbolism:

1. Blood on the Doorpost.

2. The Four Cups (Exo 6:6-7) – Vows of YHVH to His Bride. The Four Cups will

be used as a framework and will link each of the “food symbols” to a particular

cup and will be taken together

2.1 Bitter Herbs

2.2 Unleavened Bread

2.3 Roasted Lamb

The vows of the Bride are found within the symbolism of the next Feast, counting

50 days from First Fruits to come to the next Feast, Shavuot where the Bride

committed to do everything YHVH commanded. (Exo 19:8).

1. Blood of the Lamb on the Doorpost and on the

Threshold:

Exo 12:22-23 And you shall take a bunch of hyssop,

dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the

lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the

basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his

house until morning. 23 For YHVH will pass through to

strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the

lintel and on the two doorposts, YHVH will pass over

the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your

houses to strike you.

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We have already covered the symbolism of the Blood of the Covenant that

represents the Marriage Covenant (where there is blood on the wedding night) as

well as the Threshold and the Mezuzah, symbolising the entrance into the House of

YHVH, becoming part of His Family.

Stepping “over” the Threshold with the Blood is a sign of respect for the God of that

House and adhering to the customs of the people inside the House, accepting their

hospitality.

The blood was also for YHVH to see, that the people inside the House took part in

His Covenant and that “Death could Pass-them-over” (Passover), being under the

protection of the “Shield” (Y’shua).

2. The Four cups

We find the vows or promises of the Groom to

the Bride in Exodus 6:6-7:

Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, ‘I am

YHVH, and I will bring you out from under

the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will

deliver you from their bondage. I will also

redeem you with an outstretched arm and

with great judgments. ‘Then I will take you

for My people, and I will be your God; and you

shall know that I am YHVH your Elohim, who

brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

If you take the four verbs which describe YHVH’s promises to Israel prior to the

Exodus event, the Sages instituted Four Cups in the Meal of Remembrance to

commemorate YHVH’s work. At the Passover Y’shua referred to two of the four

cups, excluding the Fourth Cup, indicating that He partook of at least three Cups that

symbolises the Work He had to do during His First Coming. The Fourth Cup was

mentioned in the Garden just before He was captured and He never returned to the

table to do the last Cup after the Passover.

We will use the Four Cups as the framework for our Seder and will be taken with

each of the relevant “food symbols” that relates to that particular Cup.

2.1 "I will take you out…" Remove you from being a slave form under the

authority of Satan (Pharaoh) and away from the temptations of Mitzrayim (Egypt - sin

and bondage). This Cup is taken while eating the Bitter Herbs.

Bitter herbs – Maror - The Bitter herbs relates to the symbolism of the First

Cup, taking you out of slavery. Bitter herbs bring tears to the

eyes and recall the bitterness of slavery. The bitterness

reminds us of the slavery in Egypt, but we are called to look at

their own lives to identify our own bitter enslavements, whether

addiction or bad sinful habit.

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2.2 "I will save you…" Take away your fallen leprous state and fallen nature

through the Sacrifice of the Lamb of YHVH that was slain on Passover. Allow

you to be called His Bride, partaking in the Marriage Covenant

Meal and entering into YHVH’s House, crossing over the

Threshold. This Cup is taken while eating the Unleavened

Bread.

Unleavened Bread or Matzah – The Unleavened Bread is

taken with the Second Cup representing the Saviour’s Body

and our Salvation from our old fallen nature. This is the

fulfilment of the first part of the Promise made to Abraham;

”…I will be your Shield…” Gen 15:1.

2.3 "I will redeem you…" Prepare you as the Bride taking you through a

cleansing process in order to be presentable before the King. This Cup is

taken after eating the Roasted Lamb and the Meal.

Roasted Lamb: The Lamb represents partaking in the Word of

YHVH. The Lamb was for the people inside the House so that

they could eat and gain strength for the journey ahead. They

had to eat the meal in haste, packed and ready to go. It is

about filling yourself with the Word of YHVH (eat His flesh,

partake of His Body – John 6:54. They that partake in His

flesh, learning and knowing and doing His Word in order to

leave the old “culture” and embrace YHVH’s new “Culture”

John 6:54 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal

life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

The Third Cup is normally taken after the Meal and this is the Cup that Y’shua said in Luke 22:20 “Likewise the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the renewed Covenant in My Blood which is shed for you”. [Supper in Greek is also translated as Feast and in this context, Feast is more appropriate]

2.4. "I will take you …" – Allow you to enter into the Kingdom of YHVH and

live with Him forever after His Restoration Process is complete. This is

fulfilling the second part of the Promise to Abraham where YHVH said; ”…I

will be your Exceedingly Great Reward…” Gen 15:1

The Fourth Cup within the traditional Passover Seder is related to the coming of

Elijah the Prophet. In modern times, the Fourth Cup is filled, and the door

opened “for Elijah.” The Fourth Cup is taken after reciting of the Hallel Psalms

(Psalms 115-118) and then the Great Hallel (Psalm 136).

We read in Mark 14:26: “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the

Mount of Olives”. This suggests to us that Y’shua's Seder did not include the

Fourth Cup, but adjourned to Gethsemane where Y’shua wrestled in prayer

about the cup of suffering he was about to drink, praying the following words:

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“Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup

from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Mark 14:36.

This suggests that Y’shua only drank the first three cups and that

means that the Work of the Messiah represented by the first three

Cups is accomplished during His First Coming and relevant to us

today.

In a Marriage we have the symbolism of the Groom carrying the Bride over the Threshold of the house symbolising that he will protect and provide for her. This is similar to what Y’shua will do when we meet Him in the Clouds where He will gather us in His arms and land with His feet on the Mount of Olives, carrying us over the Threshold into His Father’s House. The Kidron Valley is the valley on the eastern side of The Old City of Jerusalem, separating the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives. The blood of the sacrifices conducted in the Temple ran onto this valley and taken away by its water running towards the Dead Sea. This Valley forms the Threshold between the Mount of Olives and the House of YHVH that Y’shua will carry us over as a Groom carrying His Bride into His Father’s House. People know this

event as “the Rapture” but it is actually physically fulfilling the Threshold Covenant YHVH made with His Bride at the First Passover. Let’s find out more about the Threshold and why it is important.

This final cup reminds us that our redemption is not fully realized yet, and though we

enjoy the realities of it in the present, the future still holds our full and final

redemption and restoration. The Last Cup will be celebrated at the Passover

Marriage Feast in the Kingdom with Messiah that is referred to in the Book of

Revelation.

Rev 19:6-9 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude,

like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder,

crying out, “Hallelujah! For YHVH our Elohim the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us

rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the Marriage of the Lamb has

come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe

herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous

deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said[a] to me, “Write this: Blessed are those

who are invited to the Marriage Feast of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These

are the true words of Elohim.”