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Leviticus 23:16-21

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

16. Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD. 17. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; [they are] the firstfruits unto the LORD. 18. And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be [for] a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, [even] an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD. 19. Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings. 20. And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits [for] a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest. 21. And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, [that] it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work [therein: it shall be] a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.

Leviticus 23:16-21 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Leviticus 23:16

Theological / Devotional

Fifty days. This feast came on the 50th day after the presentation of the wave sheaf on the 16th of Abib, that is, on the 6th day of the third month — late in May or early in June. It was known as the “feast of weeks,” or “firstfruits” (Ex. 34:22). In NT times it was known as “Pentecost,” from a Greek word meaning “fifty.”

As the wave sheaf was presented at the beginning of the harvest, before any of the new yield might be used, so Pentecost marked the end of the harvest season, though some grain might remain to be harvested in the higher mountains. It was the joyous acknowledgment of Israel’s dependence upon God as the giver of all good gifts. At this time it was not a sheaf that was presented, but two wave loaves of fine flour, baked with leaven, together with seven lambs, a bullock, and two rams (Lev. 23:17, 18). These were accompanied by a goat for a sin offering and two lambs for a peace offering (v. 19).

In the Passover celebration no leaven was to be eaten or to be found in the homes of the people. At Pentecost two loaves were to be presented, “baken with leaven” (v. 17). The wave sheaf is Christ “the firstfruits” (see on v. 14). He was without sin.

Pentecost symbolizes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. As the wave loaves were offered 50 days, inclusive, after the wave sheaf, so there were 50 days, inclusive, between the resurrection of Christ and the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).

Forty of these days Christ spent on earth instructing and helping His disciples (Acts 1:3). Then He ascended, and for 10 days the 11 disciples continued in prayer and supplication, until “the day of Pentecost was fully come.” With Pentecost came the fullness of the Spirit (Acts 1:8 ; 2:4). At Pentecost the labors of the disciples were added to those of Christ, and the result was glorious for the kingdom of heaven.

These ten days were important ones for the church on earth. They were also important in heaven. When Christ “ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men” (Eph. 4:8). Those who had been raised at Christ’s death and had come “out of the graves after his resurrection” ascended with Him to heaven, and were then presented before the Father a kind of first fruits of the resurrection (Matt. 27:52, 53).

By SdaBc