Exodus 12:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

“With unleavened bread...,” it is written, “with bitter herbs let them eat it.” The state of humanity becomes simple and ungrateful when he has, in a sense, liberated himself from old impurities, taking on the new yet allowing it to become corrupt. “Our Passover,” it is said, “is Christ, slain for us. Therefore let us not celebrate with old leaven, nor with the leaven of corruption and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Cor. 5:7-8). The bitterness represents the trials of life, for “we also boast in tribulations, knowing that from tribulation comes patience, from patience comes character, and from character comes hope; and hope does not disappoint” (Rom. 5:3-5). “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). Therefore, we treat tribulations as a seasoning that may lead us to the kingdom. It was prohibited to consume raw meat. At a surface level, it seems unclear why God would ban something that typically doesn’t occur, as no one eats raw meat; however, regarding our spiritual preparation, this prohibition is highly significant: we must not approach the divine body without proper preparation, for many carelessly receive it without the necessary readiness through good deeds. “Faith,” it is said, “without works is dead” (James 2:20). Consequently, tribulations occur as a means of benefit for the heedless, so they may be, as Paul notes, partakers of His holiness. The inclination towards worldly pleasures often leads to inactivity in spiritual pursuits. Thus, using a different symbol, the lawgiver prohibits consuming meat boiled in water, for boiling meat serves to enhance its flavor. Yet, during the communion of divine sustenance, the focus should not be on pleasure: spiritual strength cannot be united with a carnal temperament. Hence, the command is to eat the sacred meat simply, roasted over the fire, with earnest effort and devoid of indulgent pleasure. As stated by Paul, the love of pleasure is incompatible with the love of God; to those whose “god is their belly” (Phil. 3:19), God ceases to be God. The Apostle disapproves of those who turn the Eucharist into a lavish feast, transforming the holy communion into an occasion for rich foods and various drinks. To such individuals, Paul cautions: “You gather together so as not to eat the Lord's Supper; for each one takes his own supper first, and one is hungry and another is drunk. Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? I will not” (1 Cor. 11:20-22). The Apostle clarifies the tribulations they faced due to their irreverent approach to the sacred meal, having approached the holy with impurity. “Therefore many of you are weak and sick, and many sleep. For if we had judged ourselves, we would not have been judged” (1 Cor. 11:30-31). We act wickedly against the Lord when we fail to adequately prepare our bodies to unite with His body, given to us for communion with the Holy Spirit. This is the reason the Word of God offered Himself fully to our humanity and became flesh, according to the voice of the Gospel, enabling us, who cannot engage with Him as the Word, to unite with Him who took on flesh, conforming our flesh to be as close as possible to spiritual reality, thereby allowing our spirits to align with the Holy Spirit, thus becoming like Christ. To achieve this, we must strive to become like Christ and be temples of the Spirit, as the Apostle states: “You are the temple of God,” and “Do you not know that your bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God?” (1 Cor. 3:16; 1 Cor. 6:19). Through our union with the Spirit, we also engage with the body of Christ, and, by living in holiness, we become members of Christ. “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!” (1 Cor. 6:15). Such are the specifics provided by the law concerning the preparation of sacred food, serving as symbols for our benefit and guiding the representations of that time.

In receiving the Passover, unleavened bread was included; for us, however, communion with Christ embodies a new, youthful, and uncomplicated spirit, as fresh and simple as the dough of unleavened bread. The bitter herbs accompanying the lamb during the Passover reflect our sorrows, through which we share in Christ's sufferings, for though the anguish is bitter, its outcome is sweet.

The bitter herbs consumed with the lamb symbolize the bitterness of sorrows; unleavened bread signifies purity and simplicity, as the Apostle indicates, representing a new virtue, untainted by prior corruption.

“Meat baked on fire” signifies the fervency of the spiritual body of Christ. “Fire I came to bring to the earth, and how I wish it were already ignited” (Luke 12:49).

Partake of the brine with bitter herbs, for they represent your bitterness and signify bitter actions. “Your land is desolate; your cities are burned with fire; your fields, in your sight, are devoured by strangers; all is desolate, as after the ravages of strangers” (Isaiah 1:7).

Furthermore, the participation in His Sacred Body and the reception of His life-giving Blood entails the acknowledgment of Christ's suffering and, by divine Will, His sacrifice on our behalf. He states clearly to His disciples regarding this sacred ordinance: “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim My death” (1 Cor. 11:26; cf. Lk. 22:20). Thus, in this present age, through our communion with Him who is eternally named, we truly declare His death; and when He appears in the glory of the Father, it will no longer be appropriate to offer a confession of His suffering, but we shall recognize Him openly as God, “face to face,” as Paul affirms (1 Cor. 13:12). We will glorify Him as Sovereign. Once He has died, He “dies no more: death hath no more power over Him,” as Paul states (Rom. 6:9). Hence, he declares, “Henceforth we know no man after the flesh: but if we knew Christ after the flesh, we know him no more” (2 Cor. 5:16). Then we will understand more profoundly, not merely that He became man, but that He is indeed true God, for then the divine work, through which He took on flesh, will be complete. Discussion of the incarnation may cease, replaced by a deeper understanding and a certain divine insight into the salvation He has achieved in His glorious fullness. The command to eat the “meat” of the lamb “baked with fire” signifies that those who share in communion with Christ must be fervent in spirit. Paul likewise encourages believers to be “burning in spirit” (Rom. 12:11). Additionally, the unleavened bread “shall be eaten with bitter herbs,” indicating that those who partake of Christ should nourish their souls with pure and unadulterated desires, adapting themselves to a life devoid of deceit and free from moral corruption. Consequently, they should not shy away from the bitterness of trials, as advised by Scripture: “My son, if thou art about to serve the Lord God, prepare thy soul for temptation: control thy heart, and be steadfast” (Sir. 2:1-2).

Let that which is nourishing in the Word be deeply internalized, assimilated within our innermost thoughts, undergoing spiritual digestion—it is applied to both the foundational truths about the Divine and the profound mysteries of the Incarnation. The manner in which we partake is equally important; the Law was not mute on this subject, concealing wisdom within its commandments. We ought to partake of the sacrifice with “thoroughness,” consuming it with “unleavened bread with bitter herbs,” having our loins girded and “shoes” on our feet, much like the elders who lean on “staffs” (Ex. 12:11).

We must proceed “with care,” avoiding that which was commanded of Lot, not “looking back, nor stopping anywhere in this neighborhood, lest we perish by the fire of Sodom and the outpouring of wrath” (Gen. 19:17), and not allow ourselves to become like a pillar of salt by returning to our former ways, a fate brought about by hesitation. “With bitter herbs” signifies that a life in accordance with God's will is often challenging and bitter, particularly for those just beginning their journey, rejecting transient pleasures. Although the new “yoke is good and the burden is light” (Matt. 11:30), it is so because of the promise of hope and reward, which surpasses what our current struggles might demand.

Without this hope, it becomes evident that the gospel presents more challenges and is more burdensome than the Law itself. The Law prohibits acts of sin, yet we often find ourselves guilty of the motivations behind those actions. The Law states, “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Matt. 5:27), commanding not only the avoidance of the act but also the rejection of lustful thoughts and the igniting passions through a curious gaze. Similarly, the Law enjoins, “Thou shalt not kill” (Matt. 5:21), which requires not merely refraining from vengeance but also submitting to those who harm us. The wisdom in this instruction far surpasses that of the older commands.

The Law states, “Thou shalt not break an oath” (Matt. 5:33), yet we are admonished to avoid swearing altogether, be it minor or major, as swearing may lead us into sin. The Law additionally says, “Thou shalt not add house to house, nor field to field” (Isa. 5:8) and “oppressing the poor” (Ezek. 22:29). Instead, we are encouraged to generously share what we have acquired righteously, to offer ourselves to the poor, making it easier for us to take up our cross and to be enriched in ways not seen.

In the same vein, the strength of His humanity appears dried up 'as a tile,' because through the fire of suffering, it matured into the strength of incorruption. However, for the true salvation of the soul, it is insufficient to merely receive the sacraments of our Savior without accompanying good deeds. What benefit is there in partaking of His Body and Blood if one acts in opposition to Him through sinful behavior? Hence, it is rightly added to the meal: with unleavened bread and bitter herbs let them eat it. The unleavened bread is consumed by those who commit themselves to good works without seeking recognition, fulfilling the commandments of love without wrongdoing, thereby not taking what rightly belongs to others. The leaven of sin tainted the good works of those whom the Lord reproached through the Prophet, saying, "Ye entered into Bethel, and were lawless" (Am. 4:4). Soon after, He added, "and offer the sacrifice of praise from the leaven" (Am. 4:5). For one who presents a leavened offering of praise is he who brings a sacrifice to God from ill-gotten gains. Bitter are the field lettuces, and thus the flesh of the Lamb must be consumed with these bitter herbs, so that when we partake of the Body of our Redeemer, we may be filled with sorrow for our sins, as the very bitterness of repentance should cleanse our souls from the remnants of a corrupt life.

This method served a purpose: it provided a tangible illustration of the unity and indissoluble spiritual bond that believers share with the Lord and with one another, reminiscent of those receiving communion from the singular sacramental bread. The act of Eucharistic communion establishes one bread and one body among believers (1 Corinthians 10:16-17). Furthermore, the requirement for the lamb to be fully cooked, with no “harsh” or undercooked parts remaining, reflects the understanding that raw meat is scarcely consumable. It is also significant that the Passover lamb was to be eaten in its entirety that night, with nothing left until the morning. This lamb was to be accompanied by unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Unleavened bread, being less soft and palatable than leavened bread, served as a reminder of the Israelites' hardships in Egypt, thus earning the designation of the bread of "bitterness" (Deuteronomy 16:3). Furthermore, according to the Apostolic directive to observe the New Testament Passover “not with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:8), it is believed that unleavened bread, free from the leaven that corrupts and alters flour’s natural qualities, was intended to evoke the mental purity expected of those partaking. The bitter herbs also served as a reminder of the harsh trials endured by the Hebrews in Egypt.