The Feast of Pentecost

The Feast of Weeks

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The Holy Spirit did not come on an ordinary day. He came on a feast day that God had given Israel more than a thousand years before. Its name was the Feast of Weeks. In Greek it was called Pentecost.

A harvest feast. God told Israel, “You shall observe the Feast of Weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest” (Exodus 34:22). It was a big thank-you to God for the wheat.

First, a sheaf. At the start of the barley harvest, Israel brought “a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest” (Leviticus 23:10). A sheaf is a bundle of grain stalks. Firstfruits means the first part of the harvest, given to God.

The day after the Sabbath. The priest waved that sheaf “on the day after the Sabbath” (Leviticus 23:11). That is a Sunday.

Count fifty days. Then God said, “Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath” (Leviticus 23:16). Seven weeks went by, and then came the feast. That is why it is called the Feast of Weeks, and why Pentecost means fiftieth.

Two loaves. On that day they brought “two wave loaves” of fine flour, “baked with leaven” (Leviticus 23:17). Leaven is what makes bread rise. These loaves were real bread from the new wheat, baked in the people's own homes.

A day of rest. “You shall do no customary work on it” (Leviticus 23:21). Customary work means everyday jobs. Everyone stopped to worship. Even in the busiest weeks of harvest, God's people took a whole day to thank Him.

Remember the poor. In the same chapter God said not to harvest the corners of a field: “You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger” (Leviticus 23:22). A happy harvest included sharing.

Rejoice together. Moses told families to rejoice before the Lord at this feast with their servants, the Levites, strangers, orphans and widows (Deuteronomy 16:9-12). Nobody was to be left out.

A trip to Jerusalem. Weeks was one of three feasts when the men of Israel came to worship where God chose. That is why Jerusalem was full of visitors “from every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5).

What we learn. God planned Pentecost long before Acts 2. He chose a harvest day for a harvest of people. Every feast Israel kept was getting God's people ready for Jesus.

What to do. At your next meal, thank God for the food by name: the wheat, the fruit, the people who grew it. Then thank Him for Jesus, His best gift.

Pentecost was one of Israel's appointed feasts (Leviticus 23). Understanding it helps us see why God chose that day to pour out His Spirit.

Names. The Hebrew name is Shavuot (say: shah-voo-OHT), which means weeks. The Greek name Pentecost, pentekoste (say: pen-tay-kos-TAY), means fiftieth. Exodus 23:16 calls it the Feast of Harvest, and Exodus 34:22 calls it “the Feast of Weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest.”

The firstfruits sheaf (Leviticus 23:10-11). During the week of Passover and Unleavened Bread, the priest waved the first sheaf of barley “on the day after the Sabbath.” Nobody was to eat any of the new crop until that offering was made (23:14). God got the first part.

The count (23:15-16). From that day Israel counted seven full weeks, “fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath,” and then offered “a new grain offering to the Lord.” The count tied the two feasts together: the first sheaf and the full wheat harvest.

Two leavened loaves (23:17). Most grain offerings had no leaven, but these two loaves were “baked with leaven.” They were called “the firstfruits to the Lord.” Many Christians see in the two loaves a picture of the church, made of Jews and Gentiles, ordinary people who still need forgiveness, offered to God together.

Sacrifices (23:18-19). With the bread came burnt offerings, a sin offering and peace offerings. Even a joyful feast needed blood for sin. The harvest was holy only because sin was covered.

Gleanings (23:22). The corners of the field were left “for the poor and for the stranger.” The book of Ruth shows this law at work: Ruth gleaned in Boaz's field during the harvest season (Ruth 2:2-3).

Sinai. Israel reached Sinai “in the third month” after leaving Egypt (Exodus 19:1), about the time of the wheat harvest. There the Lord came down “in fire” (19:18). Later Jewish teachers remembered the Feast of Weeks as the time the law was given. That is a tradition, not a verse, but it helps us see why fire and a loud sound at Pentecost would remind Jews of Sinai.

A pilgrim feast. Weeks was one of three feasts when Israel's men came up to worship (Deuteronomy 16:16). By the first century, Jews from all over the Roman world traveled for it. God had gathered the audience before the Spirit came.

Application. God gives the first and best to us in Jesus. Giving God the first part of our time, money and attention is a thankful answer to His grace.

The First Harvest

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For hundreds of years Israel kept the Feast of Weeks. Then on one Pentecost God showed what the feast had been pointing to all along: a harvest of people for Jesus.

Jesus, the firstfruits. “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Fallen asleep means died. Jesus rose first, and everyone who trusts Him will rise too.

The order. “Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming” (1 Corinthians 15:23). Firstfruits is a promise that more harvest is coming.

Fifty days later. Jesus rose on the first day of the week, the day after the Sabbath. Fifty days later, on Pentecost, the Spirit came. Many Christians see Jesus' resurrection as the true firstfruits sheaf and Pentecost as the start of the full harvest.

The harvest of people. “That day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:41). On a feast for the first wheat, God gathered the first great harvest of His church.

Fields ready. Jesus once said, “Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” (John 4:35). He was talking about people who were ready to hear about Him.

Many nations. The visitors came from many countries (Acts 2:9-11). The first harvest already had people from all over the world in it. Many Christians believe some of them carried the good news home.

Firstfruits of the Spirit. Believers “have the firstfruits of the Spirit” (Romans 8:23). The Spirit inside you now is the first part of everything God will give you forever.

Sharing the harvest. At the old feast, farmers left grain for the poor (Leviticus 23:22). In the new church, believers shared with anyone in need (Acts 2:45). When God fills people with His Spirit, they become generous like Him.

The harvest goes on. Jesus sent His followers to “make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19). The harvest that began at Pentecost is still going on today.

What we learn. Jesus rose first. The Spirit came to gather people to Him. Every person who trusts Jesus is part of God's harvest, and that can include you.

What to do. Pray this week for one person who does not know Jesus yet. Ask God for a chance to tell them about Him.

The feasts of Leviticus 23 were more than calendar dates. The New Testament shows that Jesus fulfilled them, and Pentecost is where the Spirit begins the harvest the feast pictured.

Firstfruits (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). Paul calls the risen Christ “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” The first sheaf belonged to God and promised the whole crop. Jesus' resurrection is the promise that all who are His will rise.

The timing. The firstfruits sheaf was waved “on the day after the Sabbath” (Leviticus 23:11), and Jesus rose on the first day of the week. Fifty days later came Pentecost. Many Christians see the Passover, Firstfruits and Weeks feasts being fulfilled in order: Jesus died at Passover, rose as the firstfruits, and poured out the Spirit at Weeks.

The great harvest (Acts 2:41). “That day about three thousand souls were added to them.” Acts 2:47 says it again: “the Lord added to the church daily.” The Lord is the One who gathers the harvest.

Two loaves, one offering. The two leavened loaves were “the firstfruits to the Lord” (Leviticus 23:17). Many Christians see them as Jews and Gentiles made one in Christ (Ephesians 2:13-18). Pentecost began with Jews and proselytes; Acts 10 brings in the Gentiles.

Firstfruits of the Spirit (Romans 8:23). The Spirit we have now is a first installment. We “groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” The full harvest is resurrection life.

Sowing and reaping (John 4:35-38). Jesus said the fields were “already white for harvest” and that “others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.” Many Christians see the prophets as the sowers, and the apostles reaping the harvest at Pentecost.

Beginning at Jerusalem. The risen Jesus said repentance and remission of sins “should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). Pentecost is that beginning.

Generosity. Israel left gleanings for the poor (Leviticus 23:22). The Spirit-filled church sold possessions “as anyone had need” (Acts 2:45). The harvest makes people generous.

Application. You are part of a harvest that began at Pentecost. Pray for the people around you who do not yet know Jesus, and look for ways to serve them.

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