The Day of the First fruits

“And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting…..And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-2, 4.

The above verses are relatively well-known and loved today, as they give the account of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon those gathered in this room on that day. Have you ever wondered, “What is this day of Pentecost?” “What is it all about?” “Why were Yahshua’s followers gathered together on this day?” This article will seek to answer these questions.

In Leviticus 23, Numbers 28 and 29, and Deuteronomy 16, a list of annual holy days is outlined. In Deuteronomy 16:9-10, we see one of these feast days described. After a description of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we see: “Seven weeks shall you number to yourself: from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain shall you begin to number seven weeks. And you shall keep the feast of weeks to Yahweh your Elohim….” We see here that after counting 7 weeks (49 days) from the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks must be kept on the 50th day. This special day is also known as the “Day of the First Fruits” in Numbers 28:26. Now, how is all this related to the ‘day of Pentecost’? If you research the meaning of the word ‘Pentecost’, you would find that it means “count fifty”.

Hence, we can see that this day points directly to the Old Testament Feast of Weeks. We in the Assemblies of Yahweh affirm that the Day of Pentecost is to be kept seven weeks after Passover, beginning our count with the day following the weekly Sabbath which falls during the week of Unleavened Bread.

Now why is it important? Why is it a time of rejoicing as described in Deuteronomy 16:11? It is the day when Israel ratified (confirmed) the covenant at Mt. Sinai. Yahweh tells us that if we obey His voice indeed, and keep His covenant, we will be His own possession (Exodus 19:4-6, Jeremiah 31:33). When Yahweh’s people confirm this covenant, they show their dedication and love to their Heavenly Father. On the Feast of Weeks, Israel stated “All that Yahweh has spoken we will do, and be obedient.” Exodus 24:7. Think about the tremendous blessings promised to those who enter the covenant (agreement) with Yahweh! In Jeremiah 31:34, where the ‘New Covenant’ is described, Yahweh says, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more.” Another important aspect of the Day of Pentecost is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Yahweh’s people as shown in the introductory passage. The Holy Spirit is an amazing gift given to those who obey Almighty Yahweh (Acts 5:32). With the Holy Spirit, Yahweh’s obedient children would have the ability and strength to bring their lives into a state of perfection pleasing to their Father (John 14:26, Acts 1:8). The 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) would be evident in the lives of those who nurture the spirit and not grieve it.

The Feast of Pentecost is a day of rest, worship and holy convocation. Note that the disciples kept this Feast Day even after the death and resurrection of the Messiah. Almighty Yahweh blessed them with the Holy Spirit for keeping His commandment. Please also note that Paul made mention of keeping the Day of Pentecost on several occasions [Acts 20:16; 1 Corinthians 16:8].

Members of the Assemblies of Yahweh gather together for worship on this day. Usually, all-day worship and preaching services are held. This year, the Feast of Weeks falls on June 8th. Services will be held at our worship place at Cedars.

Recall that this holy day is also known as the “day of the first-fruits”. Indeed, the Israelites of the Old Testament were farmers, and it was a time to give thanks to Almighty Yahweh for the first grains of wheat harvested at this time of the year. But does this have a deeper meaning?
Do you remember ‘the parable of the wheat and the tares’ that Yahshua the Messiah explained in Matthew 13? In the New Testament, the end of the world is often compared to harvesting a field. In this parable, Yahshua clearly explains that the field is compared to the world, and the “good seed” (the wheat) is compared to the “sons of the kingdom” (Matthew 13:36-43). Therefore, the thanksgiving for the early wheat grain harvest points us toward the 144,000 who follow the lamb wherever He goes (Revelation 14:4-5). They are directly referred to as the “first-fruits” in this passage. Those who hear the Law of Yahweh, enter His covenant, receive the Holy Spirit, and are faithful to the end will surely be resurrected when
Yahshua returns. Their bodies shall be changed, and they will be made spirit. They will receive the crown of life and be called the very children of Yahweh in His Kingdom.

Let us remember what John the Baptist said about Yahshua the Messiah in Matthew 3:11-12.

Ulrika Sutherland.
Assemblies of Yahweh.