Messiah in Chag HaMatzot Chapter 3
- Born out of affliction
- Purity and Humility
Born out of affliction:
In the Torah matzah is sometimes called “the bread of affliction” (לֶ֣חֶם עֹ֑נִי – Deuteronomy 16:3). However, it is not “of affliction” because it is unleavened but it is unleavened because it had been born out of affliction. In other words, since our ancestors had no time to prepare their bread on account of their affliction, the bread had no time to rise.
The matzah is not the remembrance of our bondage, it is the remembrance of our “deliverance” from bondage.
Matzah is called the bread of affliction but it is also called by the sages the “food of healing.” What is it that is both a bread of affliction and the food of our healing? It is only the bread of the affliction of Messiah that is food for ‘our’ healing.
When we eat this bread we profess the power of Messiah’s bread of affliction that delivers us from evil.
In our afflictions we are powerless to effect the perfect righteousness (immediate obedience) that Adonai desires to reside in all our hearts, souls, minds and bodies (1, 2, 3). However, the bread of Messiah’s affliction is sufficiently powerful to permanently cleanse us and effect perfect healing for our souls. Therefore, when we eat this bread we profess the power of Messiah’s bread of affliction (sacrificial death) that is sufficient to (save) heal our souls; until He comes again, to heal our bodies as well!
הן בכל עת שאתם אוכלים את הלחם הזה ושותים מן הכוס הזאת, אתם מזכירים את מות אדוננו, עד שיבוא. פ
Every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup, you recall and show respect for (מזכירים-commemorate) the death of Adoneinu (אדוננו-our Lord), until He comes.
Purity and Humility:
Matzah also represents “purity” and “humility,” since chametz is a symbol of sin; especially the sin (leaven) of pride. All of the old leaven of Egypt is to be purged from our lives. Egypt represents the evil world system that exists in a state of enmity with Adonai El-Elyon (the Most High). Chag HaMatzot memorializes Israel’s deliverance from a life of slavery under Pharaoh. It also represents deliverance from a life of bondage under the rule of the false divinity of this world, the evil one. This deliverance illustrates our getting rid of the leaven that comes from the false beliefs, convictions, and values of the sinful lifestyle of Egypt (i.e. the world). Sin is to be replaced with purity and humility. Upon redemption, we are to become a sanctified, set-apart “unleavened” people.