Topic: The Spiritual Significance

The Spiritual Significance of the Feast of First Fruits

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Introduction

Yahweh gave Israel seven feast days at Mt. Sinai. They were part of the Covenant He made with them (Lev. 23rd chp.; Ex. 24:5-8), after He brought them out of the bondage of Egypt (Deu. 5:4). Three of these feast days, Feast of First Fruits, the Feast of Weeks (or Pentecost), and Feast of Tabernacles, could not be kept during Israels 40 years of wandering in the Wilderness.

These three feast days were connected with planting and harvesting crops that could not be done until Israel reached the Promised Land. Israel did not become farmers until they reached Canaan. During their 40 years in the Wilderness, Israel was nomadic and their diet consisted primarily of manna and quail, which Yahweh provided (Exo. 16th Chapter). When Israel got to the Promised Land, they began to eat from the fruits of the land (Jos. 5:11-12).

In the spring, the Feast of First Fruits began the barley harvest. Barley, a cereal grass with edible seeds, was used to make bread and feed livestock. The feast was celebrated on the 16th of Abib/Nisan, the first month of the Hebrew calendar (Ex. 12:2; 13:4; Lv. 23), which corresponds to March-April on the Christian calendar. Yahweh required Israel to perform an elaborate ceremony to keep this feast. A Book of Jewish Concepts by Philip Birnbaum refers to the 'Feast of First Fruits' as the law of bikkurim in Hebrew (p. 86).

What is the intent of this article?

This article will show that the Feast of First Fruits is a universal principle. Both Gentiles and Jews celebrated some form of this feast day, but neither understood its spiritual reality. We will explore the historical origins of the Feast of First Fruits that existed in modified form in most cultures before the Law was given to Israel at Mt. Sinai.

We will also illustrate how the Messiah fulfilled it (Isa. 46:9-10) and brought this feast day to an end (Rom. 2:14; Col. 2:14-17) at His resurrection. Most Christian scholars know that this feast day points to or is a type and shadow of the Messiahs resurrection (John 5:39; Mt. 27:52-53). The Messiah is the reality of this feast, or the first born of all creation (I Cor. 15:20-22). We cannot obtain salvation by keeping this or any other feast day, for we are all saved by Grace through faith, not works of the Law (Eph. 2:8-9).

On a personal basis, this article will show that the soul, to whom the Messiah has revealed Himself, is the first fruits. This process begins with the soul accepting the words of Truth (Jn. 8:32) and having spiritual experiences. The spiritual reality of the Feast of First Fruits is a soul harvesting the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5.22) and exemplifying a resurrected state.

Did the Gentile nations have similar feast days?

Many cultures had a feast of first fruits (Rom. 2:14), which was called a sacrament of first fruits according to Sir James G. Frazer, F.R.S., F.B.A., in his book the Golden Bough. There were various ceremonies performed during the feast of first fruits that varied with the cultures. The one element common to all of these ceremonies was that the first fruits were offered to appease and give thanks to the gods.

Mr. Frazer states: "In some festivals & the sacrament of the first fruit is combined with a sacrifice or presentation of them to gods or spirits, &The mere fact of offering the first-fruits to the gods or spirits comes now to be thought a sufficient preparation for eating the new corn; the higher powers having received their share, man is free to enjoy the rest (p. 565-566)." [Note to the Reader: In various cultures, many spring festivals were closely associated with sexual orgies to guarantee the fertility of the land.]

What was required on this feast day?

Yahweh told Moses the following about the Feast of First Fruits. "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 first fruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before Yahweh (the LORD), to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto Yahweh (the LORD; Lv. 23:10-12; see Deu. 26:1-11)."

All of Israel had to harvest their fields, vineyards, etc., and offer up the sheaf of the first fruit before the harvest began. They had to bring either fresh or dried first fruits to Jerusalem and offer them up at the temple (Ex. 23:19). If the distance was great, they had to bring dried first fruits such as figs, wool, fruits, and prepared food such as flour or dough etc. (Num. 15:21). Now all the first fruits had to be the best from the field and vineyard (Num. 18:12-13).

What two ceremonies were performed?

There were two ceremonies: a public offering and private offerings. The public ceremony began with the cutting of the first sheaf of barley. This was an elaborate ceremony that consisted of offering the first fruits of the crop in the temple, before the harvest and the private offerings could begin (Lv. 23:15, 20). Alfred Edersheim describes it in detail in his book Temple (p. 375-485; Reprinted 1979 Eedershem).

In the private offerings everyone had to bring their first fruits to the Temple in a basket and set them down on the brazen altar as a burnt offering. (See A Book of Jewish Concepts by Philip Birnbaum, p. 86.) Now the person who offered the first fruits had to recite the story of Jacob's trip into Egypt, the multiplication of his seed, and the affliction they suffered which caused them to cry out to their Elohim. Israel's resurrection from Pharoah's bondage and migration to Canaan Land symbolized the first fruits (Deut. 26:2-11). The offerers also had to acknowledge that Yahweh had blessed them with the first fruits.

It became impractical for everyone to bring their first fruits to Jerusalem. So the custom arose that a representative from each district would prepare a basket of first fruits to carry to the temple to offer them for the entire district according to The New Ungers Bible Dictionary by Merril F. Unger (p. 429; © 1988 Moody Press). This is a basic summary of this feast day. Space is not available for a detailed analysis.

What was the purpose of this feast day?

Yahweh used the harvest feast days to convey His purpose and nature to Israel. Before Israel could do any harvesting, there was a celebration and sacrifice of the first sheaf of grain harvest, along with a male lamb (Lv. 23:10-12). Yahweh did this to emphasize the principle of the first born of creation and the first fruits to resurrect from the dead who is Yahshua the Messiah.

The Apostle Paul understood that the Messiah, who was Elohim in a body, was the first born of all creation. He wrote: "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist (Col. 1:15-17):"

This means that before Elohim created anything in the angelic or physical realm, He (the Word or Son) was the first thing formed. He was the first fruits of the Father Yahweh Pure Spirit, who had no shape or form (Prov. 8:22; Deu. 4:12; Jn. 1:1-4; Rev. 1:8). Remember, Adam was the first man formed out of the dust of the ground and was made in the image of Elohim (Gn. 1:26; 2:7). This means Adam was created with a spiritual minded state or his soul represented the first fruits of creation (Rom. 8:6). We will proceed on to examine other examples of first born or first fruits in the scriptures.

Did Israel symbolize 1st fruits or 1st born?

There are numerous examples in the Law that emphasized the importance of the first born or first fruits. The angel told Moses, who was Yahweh Elohim, at the burning bush, that Israel was His first born son (Ex. 4:22; Hos. 11:1; Mt. 2:15), and that if Pharaoh did not let Israel go, his first born would be killed.

The emphasis here is that Israel was the first to be redeemed from Egypt by the blood of the lamb (Ex. 12:1-22) and presented as the first fruits before Yahweh at Mt. Sinai. Israels deliverance from Egypt is allegorical to the Messiah resurrecting men's souls from the graves after His resurrection (Mt. 27:51-52). This also explains why on the Feast of First Fruits all first born males, animals, and harvesting had to appear in the temple before Yahweh (Ex. 22:29). They all pointed to the resurrected souls of humans.

Yahweh Elohim revealed Himself to Israel who represented the first fruits among the nations of men (Deu. 4:5-9). By giving them the Tabernacle Pattern, Laws and Prophecies, He enabled Israel to transcend ignorance. They were not bound to superstition and primitive magic of the gentile nations, who worshipped gods according to their imagination, but not according to knowledge.

The Apostle John brings this out in Revelation. "These are they which were not defiled with women [erroneous concepts of men-Mystery Babylon the Great and her wine Rev. 17:1-5]; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb (Rev. 14:4)."

How did the Messiah fulfill this feast day?

As we have pointed out in this article and substantiated in the Bible, the Messiah is the first fruits. All these feast days of Israel are manifestations of Him (Lk. 24:27, 44-45). The Apostle Paul explained that the Law testifies to the Messiah. "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things &(Heb. 10:1)." Clearly, the Apostle Paul knew that the Messiah was the good thing that the Law prophesied would come.

Now when we speak of the Messiah, we are not referring to a man hanging on the cross, but Elohim in a physical body demonstrating that the Father Yahweh performed miracles through Him (Jn. 14:9-10).

In short, Yahshua the Messiah symbolized a body of positive spiritual principles. These principles of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (Gal. 5:22-23) consist of the fruits of the Spirit. These attributes were first born in Him.

The Messiah fulfilled this Feast of First Fruits by being both the sacrificial lamb (Jn. 1:29) that was offered up for the sins of Israel (Jn. 1:29) and the first to resurrect from the dead. The Apostle Matthew wrote: "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many (Mt. 27:52-53)."

When did the harvesting of human souls begin?

From this account, one sees that the Messiah was the first fruits to resurrect from the graves which began the harvesting of human souls. This brought an end to this feast day of the Old Covenant from a physical standpoint, and established a New Covenant (Jer. 31;31-34; Heb. 8:5-13). The physical harvesting of crops by Israel typifies or is a shadow of spiritual harvesting. A soul truly "harvests" in the Spirit by acquiring the fruits of the Spirit, which govern or resurrect his mind.

Apostle Paul also confirmed this for he said: "But now is the Messiah (Christ) risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in the Messiah (Christ) shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: the Messiah (Christ) the firstfruits; afterward they that are The Messiah's (Christ)s at his coming (1 Cor. 15:20-23)."

Yahshua the Messiah also demonstrated that He was the first born of all creatures, while in a body, by calling the soul of Lazarus back into a physical body. The Messiah told Lazarus sister: "& I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live (Jn. 11:25):" This makes him the first fruits of the living and the dead.

From where do most of the harvested souls originate?

The greater part of souls being harvested do not come from those in the graves, but from humans who are physically alive, but spiritually dead. The Messiah said to His disciples: "& The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore Yahweh (the Lord) of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest (Matt. 9:37-38)."

Here the harvest symbolically represents the souls of humans, and the laborers are the disciples who received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. This began the harvesting of mens souls in physical bodies. There is no need to physically die to be resurrected because one can receive the Holy Spirit now. This spiritual harvesting has been going on for almost 2,000 years.

What is the spiritual reality of this feast day?

If a human soul has received the truth, the resurrected soul symbolizes the first fruits. The Apostle James illustrates how the Messiah resurrected us. "Of his own will begat he [the Messiah] us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures (James 1:18)." By receiving the Messiah's words, which are Spirit and life (Jn. 6:63), the soul is resurrected and becomes the first fruits (Rom. 8:22-23). The Messiah told Israel: "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free (Jn. 8:32)."

Conclusion

This article has shown that the Feast of First Fruits is not only symbolically referring to the Messiah resurrecting from the grave, but it also represents those souls that are resurrected spiritually. The first fruits are the fruits of the spirit manifested within the soul. Also, positive ideas that spring forth from the mind are first fruits. It is these ideas that enable us to resurrect over life's tribulation.

Clearly, the mind is like a garden and through life experiences one is supposed to acquire the first fruits. The Messiah said: "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing (Jn. 15:5)."

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