I think it's important to understand the crucifixion week, not only because of course it was a fulfillment of the shadow of things to come, but also because it contains the only New Testament ceremony that Jesus instituted for Believers. (Cleansing through Baptism was already established, just improved on by Jesus )  This is really long so I will break it up into two parts.  If it is longer then of course it will be 3 but I'm being optimistic.

The first thing that I want to make clear is that the Last Supper was NOT a Jewish Passover Seder.  I know, I know, people are not going to like to hear this but I have to say it and I will back up what I believe from the scripture and from the Hebrew and Greek. 

So, as we begin, please take note of these important words.....

Hebrew: Unleavened bread is matzah (singular) and matzot (plural); Bread is lekhem (singular) and lekhemim (plural).  Halekhem means "the bread" with the definite article "ha" joined to the front of the word.

Greek: Unleavened bread is azumos (or variants like azumon) ; and regular bread is artos (sometimes arton).

Ok, now that we have the language sorted out, let's go to the scriptures.  (H) is for Hebrew and (G) is for Greek.

Exodus 12:18 - eat unleavened bread on the 14th day of the first month at evening, (H) matzot, (G) azuma.

Exodus 23:15 the Feast of Unleavened Bread, (H) hamatzot, (G) azuma.

Leviticus 23:6 the Feast of Unleavened Bread, (H) hamatzot, (G) azumon.

Leviticus 23:17 the two loaves of raised bread for Shavuot or Pentecost, (H) lekhem, (G) artos.

Numbers 28:17 unleavened bread being eaten for 7 days for the feast, (H) matzot, (GS) azuma.

Ok, are you still with me?

Those scriptures show a consistent use of words in the Law, and shows what words were used in each case for unleavened bread or regular bread. In each case, where unleavened bread is cited, the word in Hebrew is matzot, the plural of matzah. The same occurs in the Greek, where there is consistency in using azuma/azumon for unleavened bread. A different word is used for regular bread in both the Hebrew and Greek.

Matthew 26:17 Now on the First day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where do you want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?" (Please read in your own Bible and you will see that italics are used.  It is important to note that italics are not in the original text.  They were added by the translators, and thus it was not the first day of the Feast, but the first Preparation Day -a misleading by translators).  The words used in this verse are (H) hamatzot, (G) azumon.

Matthew 26:26 (NASB) And while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body".  (H) halekhem, (G) artos.  Both texts state that the bread was regular bread and not unleavened bread.

Mark 14:1 (NASB) Now the feast of the Passover and Unleavened Bread was two days off..... , (H) hamatzot, (G) azuma.  Both texts agree that it was unleavened bread.

Mark 14:12 (NASB) And on the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread...... (note heavy use of inserted meaning in italics, this was not the first day of the feast, but the first Day of Preparation). (H) hamatzot, (G) azumon.  Both texts agree on unleavened bread.

Mark 14:22 (NASB) And while they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take it, this is My body". (H) halekhem, (G) arton. Both texts agree that the bread was regular bread and not unleavened bread.

Luke 22:1 (NASB) Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching.  (H) hamatzot, (G) azumon. Both texts agree on unleavened bread.

Luke 22:7 (NASB) Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.  (H) hamatzot, (G) azumon. Both texts agree on unleavened bread.

Luke 22:19 (NASB) And having taken some bread, when He had given thanks, He broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."  (H) halekhem, (G) arton. Both texts agree that the bread was regular bread and not unleavened bread.

1 Corinthians 11:23 (NASB) For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;....  (H) lekhem, (G) arton.  Both texts agree that the bread was regular bread and not unleavened bread.

1 Corinthians 11:26 (NASB) For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.  (H) halekhem, (G) arton.  Both texts agree that the bread was regular bread and not unleavened bread.

1 Corinthians 11:27 (NASB) Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. (H) milekhem, (G) arton.  Both texts agree that the bread was regular bread and not unleavened bread.

1 Corinthians 11:28 (NASB) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. (H) halekhem, (G) artos.  Both texts agree that the bread was regular bread and not unleavened bread.

So you can see that every one of those verses states that the bread used in the bread and wine ceremony was regular bread and not unleavened bread; that's 100% in agreement in both the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts on all verses. There is also another version which is Aramaic which I didn't include but it says the same thing.  The bread used for the bread and wine ceremony was regular bread and not unleavened bread. We have multiple witnesses to this fact, in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, plus the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians.

Also, you can see that in Matthew, Mark and Luke,they used the term for unleavened bread in the same chapter, when referring to the Feast of Unleavened Bread. So it isn't like the word was unknown. 100% agreement says that there is a consistent message in the New Testament, that the bread and wine ceremony and the Last supper were not a Passover Seder meal.  If it had been a Passover Seder meal, then they would have used unleavened bread (which they did not do).  Am I starting to sound a bit redundant??  Well, let me add a variation to the theme. 

A traditional Jewish Passover Seder Meal looks like this:

1. Kiddush and the first cup (first of 4 cups of wine)--prayer of sanctification and a blessing is recited with the first cup of wine, to set apart the day to God.

2. U-r'chatz (the washing of hands)--no blessing is recited. One family member takes a pitcher of water, bowl, and towel to each person at the table to wash their hands.

3. Karpas (means parsley, celery, green herbs)--dip the green vegetable in a bowl of salt water and eat. The green vegetable reminds people Passover is in the spring, and the salt water symbolizes the tears and pain of slavery.

4. Yachatz (breaking of matzot)--middle of 3 pieces of matzah (unleavened bread) is broken in two with the larger portion wrapped in a napkin and set aside as afikomen (it is hidden & that matzah eaten at the end of the meal), the other piece is left with the other two unbroken matzot.

5. Maggid (telling of the story of the Exodus)--4 questions, concludes with 2nd cup of wine, the wine of wrath. The story of the Exodus is told and a tiny bit of wine is poured out for each plague. First half of the Hallel (Psalms 113-118) is recited responsively. Then the 2nd cup of wine is consumed.

6. Rachtzak (washing of hands with a blessing)--ceremonial cleansing.

7. Motzi (the blessing over the unleavened bread)--the upper matzah and remainder of the broken middle are broken into pieces and distributed.

8. Matzah (unleavened bread is blessed and eaten)--the upper matzah and remainder of the middle matazah are broken and eaten.

9. Maror (bitter herbs are blessed and eaten)--usually symbolized by romaine lettuce and horseradish.

10. Korech (matzah and bitter herbs eaten together)--dip the matzah in horseradish and charoset (apple & nut mixture) and eat it. In many seders, steps#8-10 are combined.

11. Shulchan Orech (the meal is eaten)--roasted lamb served with bitter herbs and matzah (in Jesus' day), today it can vary a lot and usually has much more variety as a sumptuous meal.

12. Tzafun (afikomen found, ransomed, and eaten)--children search for and find the afikomen and the finder gets a reward. Everyone gets a small piece of the afikomen to eat.

13. Barech (grace after the meal)--3rd cup of wine is the cup of redemption, and it is sipped. After the third cup, a child goes to the door looking for Elijah, to see if he is there to announce the coming of Messiah. Fourth cup of wine is the cup of acceptance or praise.

14. Hallel (Psalms, Tehillim 115-118)--every seder ends with the latter half of the Hallel.

15. Nirtzak (all is finished)--seder complete.

Teaching all the procedural steps of a Passover Seder doesn't make sense to me because it comes from Judaism (which is a man-made religion only loosely based on the Tanach) and this ceremony has evolved over the years.  At the time of Jesus, this is not what a Seder Meal looked like.  I know some Believers use it though to look back to what the Passover portrayed and how it was fulfilled in the crucifixion week.  However, teaching that the Last Supper bread and wine ceremony was a Passover Seder is a falsehood. It was a new ceremony for believers to portray annually and has a future prophetic fulfillment.

Ok, enough for now, I'm going to bed.  More tomorrow.