Understanding the Wave Sheaf
There are many who have a misunderstanding of the day of First fruits. We will be discussing the meaning of the day of First fruits and hopefully correcting incorrect views on this day. Let’s take a look at what the term first fruits mean. The Hebrew word for first fruits is Bikoor which means First of the crop or Harvest. There is a very important significance to this day of First fruits because it has a lot to do with our walk with the Messiah. We will start by looking at Leviticus chapter 23 verses 9 to 12,
Lev 23:9 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Lev 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
Lev 23:11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.
Lev 23:12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.
Let’s first clear up the appointed time that this should be done. The scripture mentions that the Wave sheaf offering should be done the day after the Sabbath. This indicates that it is the first day of the week. There are many who say this is the day after the first day of unleavened bread. The main reason this is not true is because the 1st day of unleavened bread is not called a Sabbath.
Lev 23:6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
Lev 23:7 In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
This day is a holy convocation and not a Sabbath. It is definitely a rest from servile work but it does not mean its called a Sabbath. The term Sabbath is used to describe the nature of certain convocations but the convocation is referred to as set Feast or solemn assemblies. Lets see this used in scripture.
2Ch_2:4 Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shew-bread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.
Neh_10:33 For the shew-bread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the Sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.
There is a clear distinction of the difference between Sabbaths and Feast days. The term Sabbaths is applied by the English translators in meaning multiple of the same day. For example, I dedicate every Tuesday for ministry. I can formulate a sentence indicating this by saying I dedicate my Tuesdays to ministry work. This does not mean that Tuesday is a different day but rather meaning every Tuesday is used for ministry. This is how the word Sabbaths is used in scripture. Now back to explaining when the wave sheaf is waved.
“on the morrow after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it”
This verse is telling us that the day after the 7th day Sabbath is the day of the First fruits. Now it mentions a wave sheaf which is a group of grain that reflects the beginning of the harvest or crop. The Priest was to wrap a group of grain from the newly grown harvest and present it to the Father as a Thank offering of the harvest that was beginning and about to come in the future. Before we look at this symbolism lets first make a few things clear. This day is NOT a feast day. It is an appointed time for the priest to present a wave sheaf before the Father in heaven. This is day is actually the first day on of the Feast known as Feast of harvest.
Lev 23:15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete:
Lev 23:16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.
This feast is known as Feast of Harvest, feast of weeks (7weeks) or commonly known as Pentecost (means 50). The count to the fiftieth day was to begin on the day of the wave sheaf or first fruits.
Deu 16:9 Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: from the time thou beginnest to put the sickle to the standing grain shalt thou begin to number seven weeks.
This makes these two appointed times, day 1 and day 50, apart of the same feast, Feast of Harvest or Pentecost. We will discuss Pentecost in another study. Now let’s look at the symbolism of the day of First fruits.
Lev 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
Lev 23:11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you:
Scripture reveals that the day of first fruits is a reflection of the resurrected messiah.
1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1Co 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
The Wave sheaf of First fruits, represent the first to rise from the grave. Now that the messiah is raised and an acceptable offering to the Father the future Harvest (resurrection) is accepted as well.
How is this important to me personally?
Well, because the wave sheaf symbolizes the messiahs accepted resurrected life, when we accept the gospel this life is given to us causing us to experience this new life.
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
When we are born again, and have the life of the son of God in us we partake of His resurrection. This also makes us a kind of First fruits as said by James,
Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
When we are begotten, we become a kind of first fruits because the Spirit of the Son of God is in us and He is the First fruits. Another interesting note is that it is the beginning of the harvest which is to come and we have comfort that because the messiah is raised we will be harvested at the end. We see this promise in many places.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming
Rev 14:14 And I saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud I saw one sitting like unto a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:15 And another angel came out from the temple, crying with a great voice to him that sat on the cloud, Send forth thy sickle, and reap: for the hour to reap is come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Rev 14:16 And he that sat on the cloud cast his sickle upon the earth; and the earth was reaped.
Mat 13:37 And he answered and said, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
Mat 13:38 and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one;
Mat 13:39 and the enemy that sowed them is the devil: and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels.
Mat 13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world.
Mat 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity,
Mat 13:42 and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
Mat 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear.
The day of the first fruits is a day in which we remember that the Harvest has not only begun but has been accepted by the Father in heaven. It shows that it is the Fathers will that the life of the messiah be in us to bring us into that harvest at the end. Receive this promise in your heart and walk as the son of God walked and allow His life to live in you.
Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.
Lev 23:9 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Lev 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
Lev 23:11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.
Lev 23:12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.
Let’s first clear up the appointed time that this should be done. The scripture mentions that the Wave sheaf offering should be done the day after the Sabbath. This indicates that it is the first day of the week. There are many who say this is the day after the first day of unleavened bread. The main reason this is not true is because the 1st day of unleavened bread is not called a Sabbath.
Lev 23:6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
Lev 23:7 In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
This day is a holy convocation and not a Sabbath. It is definitely a rest from servile work but it does not mean its called a Sabbath. The term Sabbath is used to describe the nature of certain convocations but the convocation is referred to as set Feast or solemn assemblies. Lets see this used in scripture.
2Ch_2:4 Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shew-bread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.
Neh_10:33 For the shew-bread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the Sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.
There is a clear distinction of the difference between Sabbaths and Feast days. The term Sabbaths is applied by the English translators in meaning multiple of the same day. For example, I dedicate every Tuesday for ministry. I can formulate a sentence indicating this by saying I dedicate my Tuesdays to ministry work. This does not mean that Tuesday is a different day but rather meaning every Tuesday is used for ministry. This is how the word Sabbaths is used in scripture. Now back to explaining when the wave sheaf is waved.
“on the morrow after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it”
This verse is telling us that the day after the 7th day Sabbath is the day of the First fruits. Now it mentions a wave sheaf which is a group of grain that reflects the beginning of the harvest or crop. The Priest was to wrap a group of grain from the newly grown harvest and present it to the Father as a Thank offering of the harvest that was beginning and about to come in the future. Before we look at this symbolism lets first make a few things clear. This day is NOT a feast day. It is an appointed time for the priest to present a wave sheaf before the Father in heaven. This is day is actually the first day on of the Feast known as Feast of harvest.
Lev 23:15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete:
Lev 23:16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.
This feast is known as Feast of Harvest, feast of weeks (7weeks) or commonly known as Pentecost (means 50). The count to the fiftieth day was to begin on the day of the wave sheaf or first fruits.
Deu 16:9 Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: from the time thou beginnest to put the sickle to the standing grain shalt thou begin to number seven weeks.
This makes these two appointed times, day 1 and day 50, apart of the same feast, Feast of Harvest or Pentecost. We will discuss Pentecost in another study. Now let’s look at the symbolism of the day of First fruits.
Lev 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
Lev 23:11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you:
Scripture reveals that the day of first fruits is a reflection of the resurrected messiah.
1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1Co 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
The Wave sheaf of First fruits, represent the first to rise from the grave. Now that the messiah is raised and an acceptable offering to the Father the future Harvest (resurrection) is accepted as well.
How is this important to me personally?
Well, because the wave sheaf symbolizes the messiahs accepted resurrected life, when we accept the gospel this life is given to us causing us to experience this new life.
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
When we are born again, and have the life of the son of God in us we partake of His resurrection. This also makes us a kind of First fruits as said by James,
Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
When we are begotten, we become a kind of first fruits because the Spirit of the Son of God is in us and He is the First fruits. Another interesting note is that it is the beginning of the harvest which is to come and we have comfort that because the messiah is raised we will be harvested at the end. We see this promise in many places.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming
Rev 14:14 And I saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud I saw one sitting like unto a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:15 And another angel came out from the temple, crying with a great voice to him that sat on the cloud, Send forth thy sickle, and reap: for the hour to reap is come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Rev 14:16 And he that sat on the cloud cast his sickle upon the earth; and the earth was reaped.
Mat 13:37 And he answered and said, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
Mat 13:38 and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one;
Mat 13:39 and the enemy that sowed them is the devil: and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels.
Mat 13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world.
Mat 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity,
Mat 13:42 and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
Mat 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear.
The day of the first fruits is a day in which we remember that the Harvest has not only begun but has been accepted by the Father in heaven. It shows that it is the Fathers will that the life of the messiah be in us to bring us into that harvest at the end. Receive this promise in your heart and walk as the son of God walked and allow His life to live in you.
Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.