28:1–29:40 These two chapters contain information about Israel’s ritual calendar, including a list of required daily, weekly, and monthly offerings and a list of annual religious events. Thus Israel was instructed to worship God “properly and in order” (1 Cor 14:40). The annual cycle of sacrifices involved a tremendous investment of animals, grain, oil, and wine. Israel marked these special days by stopping their normal work, a kind of sacrifice that recognized the importance of these holy days. This annual cycle included eight different occasions for worship, all of which recalled Israel’s relationship with the Lord. Each worship event included a different combination of burnt, grain, liquid, and/or sin offerings. • For details on the grain and liquid offerings, see Num 15:1-16. For explanations of the different types of offerings, see Lev 1:1–7:38. For a description of Israel’s festivals, see Lev 23:1-44. For the New Testament perspective on the Old Testament sacrificial system, see John 1:29; Rom 12:1; Heb 9:9-15; 10:1-2; 1 Pet 2:5.

28:16-25 The Passover, followed by the Festival of Unleavened Bread, was the first of five great annual festivals; it was held in early spring (March~April). The Passover required no public sacrifices—it was a family occasion celebrated at home (see also 9:1-4; Exod 12:1–13:10; Lev 23:5-8; Deut 16:1-8). This festival played a special role in the background of the Last Supper (see Matt 26:17-19, 26-27; Mark 14:12; John 11:55; 12:1; 13:1; 18:28, 39; 19:14, 31; cp. 1 Cor 5:7).