Old Testament Festivals
Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest… You shall eat neither bread nor parched grain nor fresh grain until the same day that you have brought an offering to your God; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. Leviticus 23:10,14
We are now back to the “first month” (Abib / Nisan = March or April on our calendar). In the first month the “later rains” would ripen a wheat, barley and flax harvest. As the firstborn of man and beast belonged to the Lord, so also on the sixteenth day, the people were to bring the “firstfruits” of the land to the priest. It is worth repeating (v. 14) that the people were not to eat any of their harvest until they first presented their firstfruits to the Lord.
This was a confession of faith. The God who provides the harvest will make sure that we too will get what we need. Sad to say, Israel was not always faithful in giving God the firstfruits. After Solomon, the corrupt nation neglected this feast until Hezekiah re-established it. (2 Chronicles 31:5) Nehemiah also tried to encourage this offering after the Babylonian captivity. (Nehemiah 10:35-37; 12:44)
And then Jesus came. What “firstfruits” did Jesus offer, you ask? “Easter” is the answer! During Holy Week, the Feast of Firstfruits fell on Easter Sunday! “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.” (1 Corinthians. 15:20-23 ESV) Jesus took the Feast of Firstfruits and upgraded it–as a promise to you!
May we Thy bounties thus As stewards true receive
And gladly, as Thou blessest us, To Thee our first-fruits give!
The Lutheran Hymnal 441:2