◄ Leviticus 23:11 ►
And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD so that it may be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath.
Study Bible
And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD
This phrase refers to the ritual of the wave offering, a significant part of the Feast of Firstfruits. The sheaf, or omer, represents the first portion of the barley harvest, symbolizing the Israelites' acknowledgment of God's provision. Waving it before the LORD signifies presenting it to God, acknowledging His sovereignty and blessing. This act of waving is a gesture of offering and dedication, showing gratitude and dependence on God for the harvest. The waving of the sheaf can be seen as a type of Christ, who is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:20), symbolizing His resurrection and the promise of eternal life for believers.

so that it may be accepted on your behalf;
The acceptance of the sheaf on behalf of the people indicates that this offering is not just a personal act but a communal one, representing the entire nation of Israel. It underscores the idea of substitutionary atonement, where the offering is made acceptable to God on behalf of the people. This concept is echoed in the New Testament, where Christ's sacrifice is accepted on behalf of humanity, providing atonement for sin (Hebrews 9:24-28).

the priest is to wave it
The role of the priest is crucial in this ritual, as he acts as a mediator between God and the people. The priest's involvement highlights the importance of mediation in the relationship between God and humanity. In the New Testament, Jesus is described as our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16), who mediates the new covenant and intercedes on our behalf.

on the day after the Sabbath.
This timing is significant as it places the offering on the first day of the week, which later becomes the day of Christ's resurrection. The day after the Sabbath, or the first day of the week, is symbolic of new beginnings and renewal. This connection to the resurrection of Christ emphasizes the fulfillment of the Old Testament types and shadows in the New Testament reality. The timing also aligns with the Christian practice of gathering on Sunday to celebrate the resurrection and the new life found in Christ.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD
The covenant God of Israel, who commands the observance of the feasts and rituals.

2. The Priest
The mediator between God and the people, responsible for performing the wave offering.

3. The Sheaf
A bundle of the firstfruits of the harvest, symbolizing the beginning of the harvest season.

4. The Sabbath
The day of rest, which precedes the waving of the sheaf, marking the timing of the offering.

5. The Israelites
The people of God, who are to observe this ritual as part of their covenant relationship with Him.
Teaching Points
The Principle of Firstfruits
The offering of the firstfruits symbolizes giving God the first and best of what we have. It is a reminder to prioritize God in all aspects of life.

The Role of the Priest
The priest's role as a mediator foreshadows Christ's ultimate mediation between God and humanity. Reflect on how Christ fulfills this role today.

Sabbath and Rest
The timing of the offering after the Sabbath highlights the importance of rest and worship before service and work. Consider how you can incorporate rest into your spiritual life.

Acceptance Before God
The waving of the sheaf "so that it may be accepted" underscores the need for our offerings and lives to be acceptable to God. Reflect on what it means to live a life pleasing to God.

Symbolism of the Harvest
The harvest imagery points to spiritual growth and the gathering of souls. How can you participate in God's harvest today?
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the concept of firstfruits in Leviticus 23:11 challenge you to prioritize God in your daily life?

2. In what ways does the role of the priest in this passage point to the work of Jesus Christ as our High Priest?

3. How can observing a Sabbath rest enhance your spiritual life and relationship with God?

4. What does it mean for an offering or a life to be "accepted" by God, and how can you strive for this in your own life?

5. How can the symbolism of the harvest in this passage inspire you to engage in evangelism and discipleship in your community?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 23:16
This verse discusses the Feast of Harvest, which is related to the offering of firstfruits, connecting the agricultural cycle to worship.

1 Corinthians 15:20
Paul refers to Christ as the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep, drawing a parallel between the resurrection and the offering of firstfruits.

Deuteronomy 26:1-11
This passage provides instructions for the offering of firstfruits, emphasizing gratitude and acknowledgment of God's provision.

Hebrews 4:9-10
The concept of Sabbath rest is expanded to a spiritual rest in Christ, connecting the physical rest to a deeper spiritual reality.
Sermons
The FestivalsR.A. Redford Leviticus 23:1-44
Feasts of the LordW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 23:2-44
God's FestivalsHenry, MatthewLeviticus 23:2-44
God's Holy DaysHenry, MatthewLeviticus 23:2-44
Seven Feasts Mentioned in This ChapterD. C. Hughes, M. A.Leviticus 23:2-44
The Great FeastsJ. C. Gray.Leviticus 23:2-44
The Holy FestivalsJ. A. Seiss, . D. D.Leviticus 23:2-44
The PassoverJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 23:4-14
Provision and PietyW. Clarkson Leviticus 23:9-14
The Feast of the FirstfruitsR.M. Edgar Leviticus 23:9-14
The First Sheaf a Wave Offering of the HarvestR.A. Redford Leviticus 23:9-14
The Conditions of the Spiritual Land-TenureH. T. Edwards, M. A.Leviticus 23:9-15
Lessons of the HarvestW. J. Hocking.Leviticus 23:10-11
The Beginning of HarvestS.R. Aldridge Leviticus 23:10, 11
The First-FruitsJ. B. Lowe, B. A.Leviticus 23:10-11
The Wave-Sheaf Typical of ChristJohn Gill, D. D.Leviticus 23:10-11
People
Ephah, Israelites, Moses
Places
Teman
Topics
Acceptance, Accepted, Behalf, Grain, Morrow, Pleasing, Priest, Sabbath, Sheaf, Wave, Waved
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 23:9-11

     4456   grain

Leviticus 23:9-20

     4442   firstfruits

Leviticus 23:9-22

     8644   commemoration

Leviticus 23:10-11

     4951   month
     7400   New Year, the

Leviticus 23:10-16

     4464   harvest

Library
The Consecration of Joy
'And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 34. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord. 35. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 36. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord; on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Of a Private Fast.
That we may rightly perform a private fast, four things are to be observed:--First, The author; Secondly, The time and occasion; Thirdly, The manner; Fourthly, The ends of private fasting. 1. Of the Author. The first that ordained fasting was God himself in paradise; and it was the first law that God made, in commanding Adam to abstain from eating the forbidden fruit. God would not pronounce nor write his law without fasting (Lev. xxiii), and in his law commands all his people to fast. So does our …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

In the Last, the Great Day of the Feast'
IT was the last, the great day of the Feast,' and Jesus was once more in the Temple. We can scarcely doubt that it was the concluding day of the Feast, and not, as most modern writers suppose, its Octave, which, in Rabbinic language, was regarded as a festival by itself.' [3987] [3988] But such solemn interest attaches to the Feast, and this occurrence on its last day, that we must try to realise the scene. We have here the only Old Testament type yet unfilfilled; the only Jewish festival which has …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes - Examination of their Distinctive Doctrines.
APART from the repulsively carnal form which it had taken, there is something absolutely sublime in the continuance and intensity of the Jewish expectation of the Messiah. It outlived not only the delay of long centuries, but the persecutions and scattering of the people; it continued under the disappointment of the Maccabees, the rule of a Herod, the administration of a corrupt and contemptible Priesthood, and, finally, the government of Rome as represented by a Pilate; nay, it grew in intensity …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Chronology
45. The length of the public ministry of Jesus was one of the earliest questions which arose in the study of the four gospels. In the second and third centuries it was not uncommon to find the answer in the passage from Isaiah (lxi. 1, 2), which Jesus declared was fulfilled in himself. "The acceptable year of the Lord" was taken to indicate that the ministry covered little more than a year. The fact that the first three gospels mention but one Passover (that at the end), and but one journey to Jerusalem, …
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

"But if the Spirit of Him that Raised up Jesus from the Dead Dwell in You, He that Raised up Christ from the Dead Shall Also
Rom. viii. 11.--"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." It is true the soul is incomparably better than the body, and he is only worthy the name of a man and of a Christian who prefers this more excellent part, and employs his study and time about it, and regards his body only for the noble guest that lodges within it, and therefore it is one of the …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Jesus Living at Nazareth and visiting Jerusalem in his Twelfth Year.
(Nazareth and Jerusalem, a.d. 7 or 8.) ^C Luke II. 40-52. ^c 40 And the child grew [This verse contains the history of thirty years. It describes the growth of our Lord as a natural, human growth (compare Luke i. 80); for, though Jesus was truly divine, he was also perfectly man. To try to distinguish between the divine and human in Jesus, is to waste time upon an impracticable mystery which is too subtle for our dull and finite minds], and waxed strong [His life expanded like other human lives. …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Healing Peter's Mother-In-Law and Many Others.
(at Capernaum.) ^A Matt. VIII. 14-17; ^B Mark I. 29-34; ^C Luke IV. 38-41. ^c 38 And he arose out of the synagogue [where he had just healed the demoniac], ^b 29 And straightway, when they were come out of the synagogue, they came { ^c entered} ^b into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. [Peter and Andrew had dwelt at Bethsaida (John i. 44). They may have removed to Capernaum, or Bethsaida, being near by, may be here counted as a part, or suburb, of Capernaum. Its name does not contradict …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Attends the First Passover of his Ministry.
(Jerusalem, April 9, a.d. 27.) Subdivision A. Jesus Cleanses the Temple. ^D John II. 13-25. ^d 13 And the passover of the Jews was at hand [We get our information as to the length of our Lord's ministry from John's Gospel. He groups his narrative around six Jewish festivals: 1, He here mentions the first passover; 2, another feast, which we take to have been also a passover (v. 1); 3, another passover (vi. 4); 4, the feast of tabernacles (vii. 2); 5, dedication (x. 22); 6, passover (xi. 55). This …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
(from Bethany to Jerusalem and Back, Sunday, April 2, a.d. 30.) ^A Matt. XXI. 1-12, 14-17; ^B Mark XI. 1-11; ^C Luke XIX. 29-44; ^D John XII. 12-19. ^c 29 And ^d 12 On the morrow [after the feast in the house of Simon the leper] ^c it came to pass, when he he drew nigh unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, ^a 1 And when they came nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage unto { ^b at} ^a the mount of Olives [The name, Bethphage, is said to mean house of figs, but the …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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