The Wave Sheaf Offering A Ceremony Foreshadowing Salvation
(adapted from article by Jerold Aust)
In ancient Israel, the beginning of the spring grain harvest was marked with an unusual ceremony—the waving of the first sheaf of grain to be accepted by God. This simple act holds great spiritual significance!
The agricultural cycle of ancient Israel revolved around two harvests, one in the spring and the other in the autumn. Before any grain could be harvested in the spring, an unusual ceremony took place to inaugurate the spring harvest season.
Leviticus:23:10-14
No one was to eat any of the grain of the harvest until the first sheaf of the harvest was brought to the priest, who in turn waved it before God.
This first sheaf of grain was called the “firstfruits” (v. 10). It was the firstfruits of the barley harvest, the first part of the grain harvest. Thousands of years later, we find the same term used again in the Bible-describing Jesus Christ! “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians:15:20).
The apostle Paul said that Christ was prophesied to be “the first to rise from the dead” (Acts:26:22,23).
What is the connection between the first grain offering, called the firstfruits, and Jesus Christ, the firstfruits and firstborn from the dead?
The very day of the wave-sheaf ceremony pointed forward to Christ. History records that the sheaf was harvested on Saturday night, which began the first day of the week. It was then waved before and accepted by God on the first day of the week (Sunday) during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
This understanding is tied in with the symbolism of the two harvests mentioned earlier (“Grain” and “Barley” harvests) and the Feast of Pentecost, observed at the conclusion of 50 days that began with the day of the wave-sheaf offering. On Pentecost, two loaves were offered from the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, which followed several weeks after the barley harvest.
Meanings of Pentecost
Pentecost has several meanings, each significant in its own right. The word Pentecost means “fiftieth (day).” In the Old Testament, this festival was known as the Feast of Weeks (seven complete weeks plus one day, (Leviticus:23:15-17; Deuteronomy:16:10,16). It was also called the Feast of Harvest or Firstfruits (Exodus:23:16; Exodus:34:22).
The word firstfruits suggests an initial harvest that will be followed by another harvest. The firstfruits of the wheat harvest are preceded by the wave-sheaf offering of the earlier-ripening barley harvest. Pentecost is an annual reminder of the coming of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the Church (Acts:2:1-4).
Wave-sheaf offering a forerunner
The wave-sheaf offering was the forerunner of an additional offering brought later, on the Feast of Pentecost. On Pentecost, two loaves of bread, “the firstfruits to the LORD,” were offered (Leviticus:23:16, 17).
As the wave-sheaf offering represented Jesus Christ, so did these loaves represent God’s spiritual firstfruits, those who are called and faithfully obey God in this life (Romans:8:23; James:1:18). As the wave-sheaf offering was the necessary forerunner of the Pentecost offering, so was the acceptance of Jesus Christ (return to the Father) the necessary forerunner to birth of the Church (Pentecost, outpouring of Holy Spirit, belief, repentance, salvation and birth of the church). Note: the Holy Spirit was promised to all who obeyed the gospel from that time forward (Acts 2:38).
It’s amazing to see how God’s Holy Days relate to one another, but infinitely more amazing how they were fulfilled through Jesus Christ! For example, Passover is the first of God’s annual festivals (Leviticus:23:5). God’s plan for the salvation of mankind is built upon the death of Jesus Christ our Passover (1 Corinthians:5:7), as the atoning sacrifice for humanity (John:1:29). Christians cannot attain to everlasting life without Christ’s sacrifice, which reconciles us to God. Without a Savior who would give His life and be resurrected to life again, there could be no later harvesting of humankind for salvation.
Christ’s return to the Father
The Israelites’ harvest season could not begin until the wave-sheaf offering was made to and accepted by God. After His resurrection, Jesus Christ had to tell His followers not to touch Him until after He had gone to His Father (John:20:17). Only after Jesus had risen to the Father and returned to them again were they allowed to touch Him (John:20:19,26-27).
This occurred on the first day of the week (John:20:19), the Sunday during the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Matthew:26:2,17; Matthew:28:1). The wave-sheaf offering foretold the precise day of the week Christ would return to the Father more than 1,400 years before that day actually occurred!
Paul reveals that our Savior occupies a place for us in the very presence of our Father and that we are accepted by Him through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:20; 2:6)
Symbols of firstfruits ceremony all pointed to Christ
In addition to the wave-sheaf offering, the other sacrifices and offerings commanded by God at the time of this ceremony also pointed forward to Jesus Christ.
The Lamb to be offered
Leviticus:23:12
John:1:29
The fine flour
Leviticus:23:17
Hebrews:5:8-9
This fine flour was to be mixed with oil
Leviticus 23:13
Luke 1:15
The lamb was to be a burnt offering, totally consumed by fire
Leviticus 23:13
Hebrews 2:9,18; 13:12
This offfering made a pleasing aroma to God
Leviticus 23:13
Ephesians 5:2
The accompanying drink offering of wine
Leviticus:23:13
Matthew 26:27-28; 1 John:1:7
(Leviticus:23:11).
Through these things, God continually assures and reminds His people that we have the promise of eternal life through the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise was made possible through God, who resurrected and accepted Jesus Christ, our wave-sheaf offering.
(adapted from article by Jerold Aust)
In ancient Israel, the beginning of the spring grain harvest was marked with an unusual ceremony—the waving of the first sheaf of grain to be accepted by God. This simple act holds great spiritual significance!
The agricultural cycle of ancient Israel revolved around two harvests, one in the spring and the other in the autumn. Before any grain could be harvested in the spring, an unusual ceremony took place to inaugurate the spring harvest season.
Leviticus:23:10-14
No one was to eat any of the grain of the harvest until the first sheaf of the harvest was brought to the priest, who in turn waved it before God.
This first sheaf of grain was called the “firstfruits” (v. 10). It was the firstfruits of the barley harvest, the first part of the grain harvest. Thousands of years later, we find the same term used again in the Bible-describing Jesus Christ! “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians:15:20).
The apostle Paul said that Christ was prophesied to be “the first to rise from the dead” (Acts:26:22,23).
What is the connection between the first grain offering, called the firstfruits, and Jesus Christ, the firstfruits and firstborn from the dead?
The very day of the wave-sheaf ceremony pointed forward to Christ. History records that the sheaf was harvested on Saturday night, which began the first day of the week. It was then waved before and accepted by God on the first day of the week (Sunday) during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
This understanding is tied in with the symbolism of the two harvests mentioned earlier (“Grain” and “Barley” harvests) and the Feast of Pentecost, observed at the conclusion of 50 days that began with the day of the wave-sheaf offering. On Pentecost, two loaves were offered from the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, which followed several weeks after the barley harvest.
Meanings of Pentecost
Pentecost has several meanings, each significant in its own right. The word Pentecost means “fiftieth (day).” In the Old Testament, this festival was known as the Feast of Weeks (seven complete weeks plus one day, (Leviticus:23:15-17; Deuteronomy:16:10,16). It was also called the Feast of Harvest or Firstfruits (Exodus:23:16; Exodus:34:22).
The word firstfruits suggests an initial harvest that will be followed by another harvest. The firstfruits of the wheat harvest are preceded by the wave-sheaf offering of the earlier-ripening barley harvest. Pentecost is an annual reminder of the coming of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the Church (Acts:2:1-4).
Wave-sheaf offering a forerunner
The wave-sheaf offering was the forerunner of an additional offering brought later, on the Feast of Pentecost. On Pentecost, two loaves of bread, “the firstfruits to the LORD,” were offered (Leviticus:23:16, 17).
As the wave-sheaf offering represented Jesus Christ, so did these loaves represent God’s spiritual firstfruits, those who are called and faithfully obey God in this life (Romans:8:23; James:1:18). As the wave-sheaf offering was the necessary forerunner of the Pentecost offering, so was the acceptance of Jesus Christ (return to the Father) the necessary forerunner to birth of the Church (Pentecost, outpouring of Holy Spirit, belief, repentance, salvation and birth of the church). Note: the Holy Spirit was promised to all who obeyed the gospel from that time forward (Acts 2:38).
It’s amazing to see how God’s Holy Days relate to one another, but infinitely more amazing how they were fulfilled through Jesus Christ! For example, Passover is the first of God’s annual festivals (Leviticus:23:5). God’s plan for the salvation of mankind is built upon the death of Jesus Christ our Passover (1 Corinthians:5:7), as the atoning sacrifice for humanity (John:1:29). Christians cannot attain to everlasting life without Christ’s sacrifice, which reconciles us to God. Without a Savior who would give His life and be resurrected to life again, there could be no later harvesting of humankind for salvation.
Christ’s return to the Father
The Israelites’ harvest season could not begin until the wave-sheaf offering was made to and accepted by God. After His resurrection, Jesus Christ had to tell His followers not to touch Him until after He had gone to His Father (John:20:17). Only after Jesus had risen to the Father and returned to them again were they allowed to touch Him (John:20:19,26-27).
This occurred on the first day of the week (John:20:19), the Sunday during the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Matthew:26:2,17; Matthew:28:1). The wave-sheaf offering foretold the precise day of the week Christ would return to the Father more than 1,400 years before that day actually occurred!
Paul reveals that our Savior occupies a place for us in the very presence of our Father and that we are accepted by Him through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:20; 2:6)
Symbols of firstfruits ceremony all pointed to Christ
In addition to the wave-sheaf offering, the other sacrifices and offerings commanded by God at the time of this ceremony also pointed forward to Jesus Christ.
The Lamb to be offered
Leviticus:23:12
John:1:29
The fine flour
Leviticus:23:17
Hebrews:5:8-9
This fine flour was to be mixed with oil
Leviticus 23:13
Luke 1:15
The lamb was to be a burnt offering, totally consumed by fire
Leviticus 23:13
Hebrews 2:9,18; 13:12
This offfering made a pleasing aroma to God
Leviticus 23:13
Ephesians 5:2
The accompanying drink offering of wine
Leviticus:23:13
Matthew 26:27-28; 1 John:1:7
(Leviticus:23:11).
Through these things, God continually assures and reminds His people that we have the promise of eternal life through the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise was made possible through God, who resurrected and accepted Jesus Christ, our wave-sheaf offering.