The Feast of the First fruits
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"Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it." (Lev 23:10-12)
I.What was the sheaf of the first fruits?
It was a "sheaf' (i.e. a quantity of the stalks and ears of a cereal grass or sometimes other plant material
bound together)1 of the coming harvest. (Lev.23:9-15) This harvest was fifty days after Passover.
(Lev.23:15-21) This Harvest was the Feast of Pentecost (Harvest / Weeks)
A. A "sheaf" speaks of a person
Joseph said, "my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and
made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou
indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.
(Gen 37:7-9, Psa.126:1-6)
B. The coming Harvest was Pentecost ( Also called Harvest / Weeks) This harvest was 50 days after
Passover (Lev.23:15-16) and foreshadows "the day of Pentecost." (Review: Phase 2)
II. Jesus fulfilled the "sheaf of the firstfruits."
Just as in Passover and Unleavened bread, God is faithfully building the Church according to His
pattern foreshadowed in the Old Testament. (It should be noted that God was Sovereignly and Providentially
fulfilling His purpose regardless of the Roman Empire or the dependability of His own disciples) "...none can
stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest thou?" (Dan.4:35, Rom.9:20) God the Father, not only makes a
Covenant with us through Jesus Christ, but also keeps His promise wether we fail or not! (Heb.6:13-20; 7:22)
"Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast."
A. Jesus was sacrificed as the true Passover Lamb
"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ
our passover is sacrificed for us:" (1Cor.5:7-8)Note: Chart above
B. Jesus was buried three days and three nights
"For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days
and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matt.12:40-41)Note: Chart below
C. Then Jesus was resurrected and became the "firstfruits"
As the type reveals that Jesus was to be "wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for (us) you: on
the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it." (Lev 23:10-12)
a. Firstfruits / Firstborn
Jesus was the "firstfruits" (firstborn among many brethen) 1Cor.15:23, Rom.8:29)
b. Resurrected
Jesus resurrected "to appear in the presence of God for us." "to be accepted for" us.
(Heb.9:24, Lev.23:11)
D. Shewed Himself alive for "forty days and forty nights"
"To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them
forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." (Acts.1:1-4)
5. Told the disciples to wait at Jerusalem (would have been 7 days)
"And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart
from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John
truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Acts
1:4-6; 2:1-17, John.14:16; 16:13-16)
6. The harvest came.(The Grain harvest, 50 days after Passover)
"And when the day of Pentecost (Greek: Fiftieth, the feast fifty days after Passover) was fully come,
they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a
rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto
them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the
Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-5)
Continue to the PHASE 9 (The Feast of Pentecost)
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