Firstfruits
The writers of the New Testament made a concerted effort to help followers of Yeshua comprehend the many dimensions and enigmas of the Torah. Rather than detracting from the significance of the rituals, the Apostles utilized them as a means to impart knowledge about Jesus by elucidating on these distinctive religious practices. Similar to how a pastor at your local church might expound upon a particular passage of Scripture, the Apostles utilized the Torah to teach about the gifts of Yeshua. Continuing in this vein, the 44th positive commandment is employed in a variety of ways by the New Testament authors.
P44 – To bring the meal offering of the omer on the day after the first day of Pesach together with a single lamb, as [Leviticus 23:10] states: “And you shall bring the omer….”[1]
The Apostles were not hesitant to utilize the intriguing firstfruits ritual to underscore truths about the Kingdom. The offering of firstfruits occupies a significant place in the imagery of Yeshua’s ministry. The Apostles aim to illuminate the links between this offering and the customary Passover sacrifices. Without grounding these statements and allusions in the commandments of God, their potency would be diminished.
1 Corinthians 15:20 (TLV)
20 But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
John relates an enigmatic parable that alludes to the notion of Yeshua’s death. In order to become the firstfruits, Jesus needed to first undergo death. He expounded on this idea, drawing upon the firstfruits imagery in his teachings as he approached the hour of his death.
John 12:24 (NKJV)
24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
Present it before the Father
Following Yeshua’s death, there is a curious account of the initial encounter with Him immediately after his resurrection. In John 20, Mary is the first to meet Yeshua, and upon realizing it is Him, she appears to hold onto Him tightly and not let go. Yeshua then urges her to release him. While numerous teachings suggest that this could be due to an impurity that Mary may have been carrying, possibly arising from the status of women or other ritual purity standards, I believe this is more closely related to the imagery of firstfruits.
Genesis 32:26 (NKJV)
26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
The narrative of Miriam holding onto Jesus can be likened to the story of Jacob wrestling with a mysterious man, where the angel asked Jacob to release him due to the rising sun. The story of Jacob is simple and direct, with few details. However, Jewish culture offers further insight into it. In Jewish thought, angels were subject to strict schedules. As an angel, the one who wrestled with Jacob was required to present himself in heaven and offer morning praises to God Most High[2]. Consequently, he had to hurry to present himself before God due to this designated time.
Likewise, when speaking to Miriam, Yeshua implored her to release Him because He had an appointment with the Father to present the offering of firstfruits. Just as the angel in Jacob’s story had to hurry to present himself before God at the appointed time, Yeshua also had a time-sensitive mission to accomplish. By presenting Himself as the firstfruits offering, He fulfilled an essential part of His redemptive work. Therefore, Yeshua asked Miriam to release Him so that He could fulfill His duty before the Father.
John 20:16–17 (TLV)
16 Yeshua says to her, “Miriam!” Turning around, she says to Him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Yeshua says to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet gone up to the Father. Go to My brothers and tell them, ‘I am going up to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’ ”
Leviticus 23:11 (NKJV)
11 He shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.
Guarding the Firstfruits
Exploring God’s commandments has provided me with unexpected insights. The firstfruits offering is an appointed time with specific requirements prescribed by God, and the Jewish people must adhere to these statutes, regardless of any anomalies that may arise in other years or related commandments.
Previously, I had viewed the priests who requested a guard over the Master’s tomb as acting solely out of selfish desire. I had not considered it as a “God thing.” However, I now believe that, much like Caiaphas prophesied unknowingly (John 11:50-51), these priests and Pharisees were fulfilling God’s will without realizing it, thereby further emphasizing the symbolism that a learned Jew would discern while reading the Gospels.
Matthew 27:62–66 (NASB95)
62 Now on the next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, 63 and said, “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I am to rise again.’ 64 “Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” 66 And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.
God established Sabbatical years in Scripture, and the associated statutes allowed anyone to partake of the fruit of the land without cost. While there are numerous prophetic allusions in this practice, one can see that Yeshua’s gift to humanity is also freely accessible. All that is required is a repentant heart and a willingness to partake of God’s free gift. Similarly, during Sabbatical years, anyone could extend their hand to receive God’s free gift growing from the land, a true blessing.
However, this free gift presented a challenge. If anyone could simply take the free gift of God, there might not be any firstfruits left for the annual ceremony, and God’s appointed time would lack the necessary offerings. For this reason, the Jewish people devised a solution to this dilemma.
In a Sabbatical year, when [the produce of the fields] is ownerless, the court hires watchmen to protect some of the produce that grows on its own, so that it will be possible to offer the omer [of barley] and the two loaves of bread, for these offerings may come only from the new harvest. These watchmen receive their wages from terumat halishcah.
Should a person volunteer to watch the produce without charge, his offer is not accepted, lest men of force come and take it. [To prevent this,] the Sages ordained that the watchmen be paid from the funds of the Temple treasury. [This] will prompt everyone to avoid that place where the guards are posted.[3]
Similar to the Sabbatical years, Yeshua had to first present Himself before the Father as the firstfruits from the dead before anyone else could partake of the gift of God. Following the appointed practice, the Father appointed a guard to stand over Yeshua’s grave until the designated time of the initial harvest. By fulfilling His role as the firstfruits, Yeshua made it possible for others to partake of God’s gift of salvation freely – each in its own order.
Leviticus 23:14 (NKJV)
14 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.
1 Corinthians 15:23 (TLV)
23 But each in its own order: Messiah the firstfruits; then, at His coming, those who belong to Messiah;
Chag Sameach! Enjoy this season with your Bridegroom King.