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Unleavened Manna and the Lord’s Supper?
Two facts about manna are undeniable: 1) It is called bread; 2) It is not man-made.
Was it Unleavened?
Moses regave God’s command which said, “Observe the feast of Unleavened Bread. You are to eat Unleavened Bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib” (Exodus 34:18). Passover is the first day of this feast which required Unleavened Bread. Exodus 12:15 further reveals that “whoever eats what is leavened from the first day through the seventh day must be cut off from Israel”. “Yeast must not be found in your houses for seven days” (Exodus 13:19).
Whatever “manna” was, it was called bread, and given during the Wilderness Wanderings for 40 years. Since manna was bread, then either:
1. God gave them leavened manna bread which they could not eat during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
2. God gave them unleavened manna bread which they could eat during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
What significance does this have for us today?
1. Jesus is called the Bread of Life in John 6 and is called this in comparison to manna.
2. Jesus instituted His new Passover during the old Passover using unleavened bread in Luke 22.
3. Paul compares leavened bread in our Passover to sin in 1 Corinthians 5.
4. Jesus said the bread represents His body.
There is debate among some among “us”, and there is actual practice by the Orthodox Church, that leavened bread is scriptural for the Lord’s supper.
How can we use leavened bread for the Lord’s supper when:
1. Jesus used unleavened bread.
2. Jesus compares his body to the unleavened bread.
3. Paul compares the leaven in bread during the Lord’s Passover as sin.
4. Jesus compares Himself to manna which must have been unleavened since God provided it during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
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