Feast of Weeks
Holy Daze: Confronting the Confusion of Sacred & Secular Festivals & Feasts
Part 4: Feast of Weeks
What did the Feast of Weeks mean to Israel?
1. From the day of the Feast of Firstfruits, the Israelites were to count off 7 full weeks (49 days) and then (on the 50th day) celebrate the Feast of Weeks. Leviticus 23:15.
2. This was another harvest festival (Firstfruits was for barley, this was for wheat). Leviticus 23:16b-17, Exodus 34:22.
3. This was to be celebrated in Jerusalem (one of the three pilgrim festivals). Exodus 34:23, Deuteronomy 16:11+16.
4. The celebration included various offerings: free will (wheat), wave (bread), burnt (lambs, bull, ram, goat), grain, drink, and fellowship. Deuteronomy 16:10, Leviticus 23:18-20.
5. The Feast of Weeks was another special Sabbath day (assembly, no work). Leviticus 23:21.
6. The harvesting that followed the Feast of Weeks was to done with the poor and with the gentiles in mind. Leviticus 23:22.
7. Jewish tradition teaches that the Law was given to Moses about 50 days after the Exodus. Thus the Feast of Weeks is associated with the giving of the Law. Exodus 19:1.
What does the Feast of Weeks mean for Christians?
1. After His crucifixion (Passover), rest in the tomb (Regular and Special Sabbath for Feast of Unleavened Bread), and resurrection (Firstfruits), Jesus appeared among His disciples for a period of 40 days. Just before His ascension, Jesus promised them that they would shortly receive the Holy Spirit. When the time came for the Feast of Weeks (called Pentecost in Greek), the disciples were all together when The Holy Spirit came and filled them. Acts 1:3-9, 2:1-12.
2. Thus, the Feast of Weeks which was traditionally associated with the coming of the Law (the Old Covenant) was now to be associated with the coming of the Spirit (the New Covenant). So the BIG question is, why do so many Christians celebrate the coming of the 2nd Person of the Trinity (Jesus Christ), but not the coming of the 3rd Person of the Trinity (the Holy Spirit)?
3. The Holy Spirit is our guarantee of an even greater future. Romans 8:23.
Part 4: Feast of Weeks
What did the Feast of Weeks mean to Israel?
1. From the day of the Feast of Firstfruits, the Israelites were to count off 7 full weeks (49 days) and then (on the 50th day) celebrate the Feast of Weeks. Leviticus 23:15.
2. This was another harvest festival (Firstfruits was for barley, this was for wheat). Leviticus 23:16b-17, Exodus 34:22.
3. This was to be celebrated in Jerusalem (one of the three pilgrim festivals). Exodus 34:23, Deuteronomy 16:11+16.
4. The celebration included various offerings: free will (wheat), wave (bread), burnt (lambs, bull, ram, goat), grain, drink, and fellowship. Deuteronomy 16:10, Leviticus 23:18-20.
5. The Feast of Weeks was another special Sabbath day (assembly, no work). Leviticus 23:21.
6. The harvesting that followed the Feast of Weeks was to done with the poor and with the gentiles in mind. Leviticus 23:22.
7. Jewish tradition teaches that the Law was given to Moses about 50 days after the Exodus. Thus the Feast of Weeks is associated with the giving of the Law. Exodus 19:1.
What does the Feast of Weeks mean for Christians?
1. After His crucifixion (Passover), rest in the tomb (Regular and Special Sabbath for Feast of Unleavened Bread), and resurrection (Firstfruits), Jesus appeared among His disciples for a period of 40 days. Just before His ascension, Jesus promised them that they would shortly receive the Holy Spirit. When the time came for the Feast of Weeks (called Pentecost in Greek), the disciples were all together when The Holy Spirit came and filled them. Acts 1:3-9, 2:1-12.
2. Thus, the Feast of Weeks which was traditionally associated with the coming of the Law (the Old Covenant) was now to be associated with the coming of the Spirit (the New Covenant). So the BIG question is, why do so many Christians celebrate the coming of the 2nd Person of the Trinity (Jesus Christ), but not the coming of the 3rd Person of the Trinity (the Holy Spirit)?
3. The Holy Spirit is our guarantee of an even greater future. Romans 8:23.
posted by matthew at 9:58 AM
1 Comments:
Why indeed?
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