Significance:
· Points to the Giving of the Holy Spirit
{As we start, let’s remind ourselves that these are NOT solely JEWISH celebrations or feasts but rather these are the LORD's appointed times.}
*Remember that the Spring "Feasts" have already been fulfilled by JESUS our Messiah.
The LORD’s Prophetic Time Clock
- Crucified – Passover
- Buried – Feast of Unleavened Bread
- Resurrected – Feast of First Fruits
N O W . . . let’s see how JESUS fulfills the Feast of Weeks…
PENTECOST
Pentecost is also Known As:
- Shavu’ot [which is Hebrew for “weeks”]
- Feast of Weeks
- The Festival of the Giving of the Torah - in Hebraic circles
As a side note Pentecost is a Greek term meaning Fiftieth; since Pentecost occurs on the Fiftieth day.
NOTE:
From Passover to Pentecost / Shavu'ot we have the counting of the Omers...
An omer is simply a Hebraic term referring to a unit of dry measure
· An omer of flour for example
The counting of the Omers signifies a count-down [7 weeks; 49 days] until Shavu’ot; hence Feast of Weeks.
IMPORTANT:
For the Hebrews:
· Passover commemorates the Exodus
· Shavu'ot commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai .
· The Counting of the Omers commemorates the link between the two Feasts / Events.
TORAH
· A Hebrew word meaning
“Instruction or teaching”
· From the root YARAH meaning
to direct; as in directing or shooting an arrow to the “target”
...Counting the Omers
· Seven weeks of repentance, introspection, prayer as they prepare for their ENCOUNTER with GOD
Leviticus 23 : 15 - 16
[15] “You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering.
· 7 full weeks or shavu’ot – hence the term Feast of Weeks
[16] You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. {{Then you shall present a grain offering of NEW grain to the LORD.}}
New Grain
The “Grain” of the Spring Feasts is BARLEY
The Grain of Pentecost is WHEAT
It is interesting to Note that in Exodus 9 : 32 the “wheat” was not destroyed by the hail
FEAST OF WEEKS
[17] You shall bring from your dwelling places two loaves of bread to be waved, made of two tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour, and they shall be baked with leaven, as first fruits to the LORD.
A quick note on Leaven:
Passover – No Leaven [representative of sin]
Pentecost – Leaven [Sin made acceptable]
What made leaven acceptable? Or WHO erased the connotation?
FEAST OF WEEKS
Takes place in the THIRD Month
[1] In the third month after the people of
o Sinai means “Thorny”
o The Law can be a thorn to us if we do not have the right perspective!.
Giving of the TORAH…
Exodus 24 : 12
What was given to Moses on
- The Tablets of Stone
- The TORAH - Teachings or Instructions
- The Mitzvah
- Mitzvah is a word used in Judaism to refer to the 613 precepts / commandments which the Pharisees prided themselves in keeping.
Exodus 24 : 17 – 18
[18 ] Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
~Hebrew Mindset~
- To remind them that the redemption from slavery was not complete until they were given the Torah.
- NOW they were a unique, separate people…
“Pentecost” Is The Epitome of Passover
For the Hebrews:
• DELIVERANCE WAS GIVEN FOR THE SAKE of the REVELATION OF THE TORAH
• IT SIGNIFIED RESTORATION to GOD
PAY ATTENTION: The LAW Brings DEATH & JUDGEMENT
PAY ATTENTION: The LAW Brings DEATH & JUDGEMENT
Exodus 32 : 28
[28] So the Sons of Levi did as Moses instructed and about three thousand men of the people fell that day.
Note this is the result of the Gold “Bull” Calf story
JESUS & PENTECOST
“Pentecost” Is The Epitome of Passover
For Followers of JESUS
- Passover commemorates JESUS' crucifixion
- Pentecost commemorates the giving of the Holy Spirit.
Remember the Promises of the NEW COVENANT
Jeremiah 31 : 33 - 34
1. I will put my TORAH within them, and I will write it on their hearts.
2. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
3. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD.
4. For I will forgive their iniquity, and
5. I will remember their sin no more.”
Only the in-dwelling of the HOLY SPIRIT can make this POSSIBLE, and only the BLOOD of JESUS can fulfill what GOD has ordained !
PICTURE IT . . .
• On the one hand, we have the Jews from all ends of the earth gathered in Jerusalem
• On the other hand, we have the Holy Spirit being poured upon Israel
• NOW we have the TORAH written by God’s Spirit on our hearts.
ACTS 2 : 1 – 4
[1] When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.
[2] And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
[3] And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.
[4] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2 : 15 , 41
[15] …the Third hour of the day
[41] So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
PAY ATTENTION NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE PAY ATTENTION
Look What Happened [verse 41]
G R A C E BRINGS L I F E
For the LAW was given through MOSES; GRACE and TRUTH came through JESUS CHRIST.
• LAW GRACE
• Torah on Stone Torah on our Hearts
• Flesh Spirit
• Death Life
• Motivated by Duty Compelled by Love
~ MINISTRY OF GRACE ~
[3] And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
[4] Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.
[5] Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,
[6] who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
[7] Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end,
[8] will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?
[9] For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.
[10] Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.
[11] For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
Two Mind-Sets
1. Fleshly Motivated
o Ministers of LAW and condemnation
2. Spirit Driven
o Ministers of GRACE and righteousness
~ JESUS is THE Divine Fulfillment of Scripture!
~ Love Much…Forgive Often…Seek Earnestly!
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