What is the Passover, and why does it matter?

In Exodus 12, on the night of the final plague, God gives Israel the Passover. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt explains this pivotal event — “the gospel in Old Testament clothing.”

As judgment falls on Egypt’s firstborn, God tells each Israelite family to kill a lamb without blemish and put its blood on their doorposts. Wherever God sees the blood, He “passes over” that home. Dr. Holt walks through the simple, profound pattern — kill the lamb, apply the blood, stay inside — and shows how it all points to Jesus, the Lamb of God. The Passover meal would later become the Lord’s Supper, the new covenant in Christ’s blood.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did it take ten plagues before Pharaoh let Israel go? Because Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and God was displaying His power over Egypt and its false gods. The plagues built to the final, decisive judgment.

2. Why was God so specific about the Passover lamb? Because the lamb pictured Christ — spotless, sacrificed in the place of sinners. Every detail pointed to Him.

3. How does the Passover point to Jesus? Jesus is the true Passover Lamb, whose blood causes God’s judgment to pass over all who trust Him. The Passover became the Lord’s Supper.

“Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” — Exodus 12:13 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Exodus Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.