Exodus 12 discusses the deliverance from Egypt and the institution of Passover. Of course, our ultimate Passover is in the Perfect Lamb Jesus Christ. Everyone recognizes that Passover in Christ is the fulfillment of the original type. This type is celebrated in the Lord's Supper but many Christians want to limit the fulfillment more than the type. And in order to do so, some have re-explained the type is limited. However, the text of the observance of Passover is clear.
Exodus 12: 42 It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.
He says, all the children of Israel shall observe this. Of course, these could be a generalization simply meaning all those who are Israel. It may not literally mean the little children but simply those people who are the children of Israel, ie., God' children. But He is speaking about the children to be born, the 'generations' of Israel.
He continues.
Ex. 12:43 And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: 44 But every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. 45 A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.
God's make a distinction between those who are Israel and those who are not Israel. What is the distinction? Circumcision. Furthermore, he uses a second criteria, those of your household. Not foreigners or hired servants, but those whom you have bought (slaves) but who have taken on your household name and your God. They have become fully part of Israel through circumcision. These shall partake of Passover. But those outside your household whom you have no control over that they be joined to Israel through circumcision shall not partake.
46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
Herein is the reason. One household shall partake of the meal and all the congregation, that is, all Israel shall keep it. The congregation here is not 'All Israel' as the congregated people. It is those who are congregated in the household. All of them shall partake.
48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
If the stranger attaches himself to Israel through circumcision, then all of his males shall be circumcised, remember the rule was for those eight days old and older, and then shall he and his family come near and partake.
49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. 50 Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. 51 And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.
And so it is clear from this passage that the qualification to eat of the Passover Meal was attachment to Israel through circumcision. Because the meal was eaten in households, all those who are part of Israel, men, women and children, were to eat of the meal.
We have the same requirement for participation of the Lord's Supper. Let not outsiders partake but if you are named among God's covenant people through baptism, then your are invited to eat. The meal is now more symbolic. We eat a bit of bread and drink a bit of wine. It is also administered at the corporate gathering instead of in homes. Finally, the participation is expansive. The covenant meal is not now more restrictive than it was in Moses's day. It is not merely Jews and those who have attached themselves to Israel that are God's people. Rather, all those, from every tongue and tribe and nation, who have are attached to Jesus through Christian baptism.
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