Offerings of Pentecost – Leviticus 23:17-21

ELEMENT OF CEREMONY COMMENTS APPLICATION TODAY

Two loaves, with yeast (leavened), The loaves were to be prepared with Until our redemption (and our as a “” 1/10 of an ephah of grain. This was sanctification) is complete, even our the firstfruits itself, offering the best efforts are less than perfect and initial part of the crop. Leaven is may be tainted by sin. “But if usually forbidden in sacrifices, anybody does sin, we have one who perhaps because it suggests speaks to the Father in our corruption and even sin. The defense—Jesus Christ, the presence of leaven in the two loaves Righteous One” (1 John 2:1). may be a statement that even the fruit of our labors is tainted by sin; Also we should realize that not just or it may simply represent that God our resources but the work of our wanted not only the raw materials hands belongs to God, whether our but the product prepared by human job is producing software, providing hands. This would suggest that not education for a child, or anything just our resources but even our else He gives us to do. finished products belong to God. Even after we turn a raw piece of wood into a cabinet or chair, God still ultimately owns the work of our hands.

A of 7 male lambs, The burnt offering, though it may We can worship God by returning a 1 bullock, and 2 rams also symbolize complete dedication, portion of His blessings to us, even was generally seen as a sacrifice of as we receive forgiveness of sin atonement. The fact that it was through Jesus. Our dedication offered with the firstfruits should be a natural response to our underscores that even as we offer salvation. Romans 12:1 says, the fruit of our labors to God, we “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in still have sin for which we need view of God’s mercy, to offer your atonement. bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”

Grain and drink offerings to accompany The word for grain offering All that we do and all that we give the burnt offerings (minchah) is the word for “tribute” should be with the understanding brought to a king by a vassal. This that it has all been made possible by offering represented one’s God, and should be done or given as relationship to God as belonging to a tribute to Him. 1 Peter 4:11 Him, offering the firstfruit of his (NKJV): labor as a tribute, demonstrating dedication to the Lord. “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

One male goat for a Sin offerings (also called How much more quickly should we purification offerings) were for ask God to forgive us for our unintentional sins and sins of unintentional sins and sins of omission; their purpose was to omission, since as the apostle Paul purify God’s sanctuary, His wrote, “Do you not know that your dwelling place, from the defilement body is the temple of the Holy Spirit of our sin. who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NKJV).

Two lambs for a fellowship offering, Fellowship, or peace, offerings were Our fellowship with God through also as a “wave offering”* essentially festive meals. It signifies Jesus leads to fellowship with other the fellowship we have with God Christians. Acts 4:32 shows us what once our sin is removed. Christian fellowship can look like: “All the believers were one in heart and mind.”

Sacred assembly; no work to be done This feature of several holidays may Christians look forward to a final sound like a deprivation. But the rest with God, a time of complete idea of “rest” in Scripture is for our fellowship with Him. enjoyment, and to draw a distinction between what is ordinary and what is set apart for God.

With a few differences, Numbers 28:26–31 gives much the same outline for the ceremony as does Leviticus 23:17–21 above.1

1 David Brickner and Rich Robinson, Christ in the Feast of Pentecost (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2008), 45–52.