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Weeks
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Jewish Calendar |
Sivan - 50 days after Firstfruits. |
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Gregorian Calendar |
May/June |
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Spring or Fall |
Spring Feast |
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Scripture |
Exodus 34:33
Leviticus 23:15-16
Deuteronomy 16:10,16
II Chronicles 8:13 |
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Significance |
Weeks (Shavuot), also known as Pentecost, speaks of origination. Symbolizes Jesus giving us the gift
of the Holy Spirit which inaugurated the
New Covenant and Church Age. |
The Feast of Weeks, also known as Harvest (Exodus 23:16), Shavuot (Hebrew), the
Day of Firstfruits (Numbers 28:26), or Pentecost, was a festival of joy and thanksgiving celebrating the completion of the
harvest season. It was the second major feast in which all able-bodied Jewish males were required to attend (the other
two being Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles).
It was celebrated as a sabbath with rest from ordinary labors and the calling of a holy convocation (Leviticus 23:21;
Numbers 28:26).
Essentially a harvest celebration, the term weeks was used to describe the time period
from the grain harvest to the barley harvest and finally to the wheat harvest.
It is called
the Feast of Weeks because God specifically told the sons of Jacob that they were
to count seven sevens of weeks (seven complete weeks) from Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:15; Deuteronomy 16:9), and
then on the "morrow" this fourth feast was to be observed (Luke 23:16). Seven sevens
of weeks are forty-nine days. Add one additional day ("on the morrow"), and it
brings the total number of days to fifty. This fourth feast was to occur precisely
fifty days after Firstfruits (Christ's resurrection).
Therefore, the feast was given the name "Pentecost" (Acts 2:1) which means "fifty."
On this occasion, the children of Israel were not to simply bring the firstfruits
of the wheat to the Temple (as they brought the firstfruit of the barley at the Feast
of Firstfruits), but rather two loaves of bread. These two loaves were specifically commanded to be made
with fine flour and baked with leaven
(Leviticus 23:17), and they were to be used as
a "wave offering" for the people.
These two loaves, however, could not be eaten until after the ceremony was completed
(Leviticus 23:14; Joshua 5:10-11) and could not be placed on the altar
due to its leaven content. In addition to the wave offering, two lambs, one young bull, and two rams
were to be offered as burnt offerings before the Lord (Leviticus 23:15-22; Numbers 28:26-31).
The feast was
concluded by the eating of communal meals to which the poor, the stranger, and the Levites
were invited.
What Does It All Mean?
The Feast of Weeks is a symbolic festival which pointed to the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Church.
The Son of God arose from the grave on Firstfruits. He then spent forty days with
His disciples in post-resurrection ministry (Acts 1:3).
Immediately after forty days, Jesus informed them that it was
necessary that He leave them and ascend to His Father in Heaven (in order to apply the benefits of His once and for
all sacrifice). However, He told His disciples that they would not be left abandoned and comfortless.
He would then send them His Holy
Spirit who would come alongside to help in His absence (John 14:16-17).
The disciples were commanded to tarry at Jerusalem until He came (Acts 1:4), and they
knew exactly how long they would have to wait. The coming of the Holy Spirit would occur on the
next Jewish holiday - a festive time when Jews from different countries were to be in Jerusalem
to celebrate the completion of the harvest season. This annual feast was none other than Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks.
The disciples waited as they were commanded; however, their wait was not long - only
ten days. And then it happened. The Spirit of God descended on those first-century
believers.
The two loaves which were brought to the Temple represented both Jew
and Gentile; however they became one in Christ with the advent of the Spirit's coming. Writing to the
Ephesian believers, Paul said" "For he is our peace, who hath made both (Jew and Gentile)
one, and have broken down the middle wall of partition between us ... to make in himself
of two (Jew and Gentile) one new man, so making peace" (Ephesians 2:14-15).
There was to be leaven in those two loaves, for the Church had not yet been glorified.
During this age, there is still sin within the Church. Messiah Yeshua (the head) is unleavened.
On the other hand, the Church (the body) still has leaven within her. Therefore, leaven was to be
included in those two loaves.
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This teaching was written by David Holt Boshart, Jr.
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