God calls for three feast times during a year. May 31st, 2020 is the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost. Last month we looked at Passover and the associated Feast of Unleavened bread. We learned about the shadows that are contained within these Holy Days and the time of their occurrence. The detailed instructions of those occasions are actually prophecies of events that happened at the time of Y’hoshua (Jesus) as well as right now! Could the same be true for the ‘Feast of Weeks?’ Absolutely!
As a refresher, one aspect of Passover is the connection to the time of the Sabbath in God’s time. The menorah represents that seven-fold light of time, Y’hoshua is shadowed in the center shaft or vine in both his role as the Passover lamb and the time in history when he was alive.
Feast of Weeks
The Feast of Weeks is another reference to a seven-day week. In this case there are seven weeks for a total of forty-nine days plus one equaling fifty days. Fifty days from the Passover and Feast of unleavened bread is the time to the next feast, called the Feast of Weeks. Another term for this same event is Pentecost which is the Greek word for fifty or Shavuot in Hebrew which literally means seven, week or week of years.
“Six days you shall eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the Lord your God: you shall do no work therein. Seven weeks shall you number to you: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as you begin to put the sickle to the wheat. And you shall keep the feast of weeks to the Lord your God with a tribute of a freewill offering of your hand, which you shall give to the Lord your God, according as the Lord your God has blessed you.”Deuteronomy 16:8-10
On first glance, the Feast of Weeks appears to be instructions from God regarding a wheat harvest, the time to bring in the first fruits of a harvest, the spring wheat.
“The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God….”Exodus 23:19
Be aware, God’s instructions are for His people, regarding His people. The harvest during the Feast of Weeks is not an agricultural lesson but a parable! So, what is it?
A Field of Seed
Just as with the Passover, let’s look to Y’hoshua for an understanding of this parable of the harvest.
“…his (Y’hoshua’s) disciples came to him, saying, Declare to us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said to them, He that sows the good seed is the Son of Adam; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares (weeds) are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity.”Matthew 13:36-41
Hear and Understand
Y’hoshua just took the understanding of a harvest from the simple backyard wheat field to the big picture of God’s purpose! The harvest is not to bring in a grain for physical food, but to bring the good seed or people into the Kingdom of Heaven. But there are also the tares (weeds) or children of the wicked. How can one tell the difference? Again, let’s look to Y’hoshua and his parable of the sower.
“Hear you therefore the parable of the sower. When any one hears the Word of the kingdom, and does not understand, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the Word, and immediately with joy receives it; But he does not have root in himself, … when tribulation or persecution arises because (on account) of the Word, immediately he is offended (stumbles). He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the Word; but the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness (delusion) of riches, choke the Word, and he becomes unfruitful (barren). But he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the Word, and understands it; which also bears fruit, and brings forth…”Matthew 13:18-23
A harvest in God’s Word is a time for people to hear His Words, understand His Words and become His, God’s, Children, making up the Kingdom of Heaven. But when does this happen? Just like the indications of time contained in the menorah are reflected in the Passover and Sabbath, the feast of Weeks is a time frame of seven weeks of seven, also a reflection of the Menorah. As Y’hoshua said, “the harvest is the end of the world (age)” the seventh day of God’s time.
“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”2 Peter 3:8
God’s Will be Done
How does this happen? One must read and hear with the intent to understand what God wants instead of looking to fill your own personal needs. Remember the Lord’s prayer? “Our Father, …Your kingdom come, Your Will be done…” What is God’s Will? To turn the hearts of the children back to their Father, which is in heaven.
“Then shall you return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves Him not.”Malachi 3:18
The time has come for the “Feast of the Firstfruits”, to gather the “Good Seed” into his barn and learn what His Word says in truth. It’s time for the Feast of Weeks! Let’s Eat!