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Ezekiel 45:21-25
In the firstmonth, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten…

they shall

Numbers 28:31
Ye shall offerthem beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings.

Numbers 29:8
But ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORDfor a sweet savour; one young bullock, one ram,and seven lambs of the first year; they shall be unto you without blemish:

Leviticus 22:20
But whatsoever hath a blemish,that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.

there is to be a sacred assembly;
A sacred assembly, or "holy convocation," is a gathering of the people for worship and reflection. This assembly underscores the communal aspect of worship in ancient Israel, where the community comes together to honor God. It is a time for the Israelites to remember their covenant with God and to renew their commitment to His laws. This practice is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are encouraged to gather together (Hebrews 10:25).

you must not do any regular work.
The prohibition against regular work emphasizes the sanctity of the day. It is a time set apart for rest and worship, similar to the Sabbath. This commandment highlights the importance of dedicating time solely to God, free from the distractions of daily labor. It serves as a reminder of God's provision and the need for spiritual rest, which is fulfilled in Christ, who offers rest for the soul (Matthew 11:28-30).

“On the first day…” (Numbers 28:18) grounds this instruction firmly in time. The Lord is pinpointing the opening day of the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread (cf.Exodus 12:17;Leviticus 23:6).

• God works with precise dates; His appointed times are not random (Genesis 1:14).

• By specifying “the first day,” He sets a rhythm for worship that Israel can anticipate year after year (Exodus 13:5-7).

• The immediacy of day one reminds us that deliverance from Egypt was the launch point for a new life with God (Deuteronomy 16:3).

The phrase highlights communal worship, not private preference.

• “Sacred” means set apart for God, echoing His call to holiness (Leviticus 11:44).

• “Assembly” stresses gathering; isolated spirituality was never the design (Hebrews 10:25).

• Bringing everyone together ensured shared memory of redemption (Exodus 12:26-27).

• The corporate focus foreshadows the church’s unity around Christ, our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).

God orders a cessation of ordinary labor to prioritize His presence.

• Rest protects the day from being swallowed by business as usual (Exodus 20:8-11).

• It underscores dependence on Him rather than on personal productivity (Psalm 127:2).

• By suspending “regular work,” Israel rehearsed the greater rest found in Christ (Hebrews 4:9-10).

• The prohibition also guarded the feast’s joy; distractions were set aside (Nehemiah 8:10).

Numbers 28:18 calls God’s people to mark the first day of Unleavened Bread with a collective, holy gathering free from ordinary work. The verse weaves together God’s precise timing, the importance of communal worship, and the necessity of rest. Taken literally, it shapes a rhythm that celebrates deliverance, spotlights holiness, and anticipates the ultimate rest and unity found in Jesus.