First Fruits in the Bible
The Apostle Paul calls Jesus the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. Thanks to Jesus’ resurrection, we can see the prophetic significance of the three main Jewish holidays – Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot. Specifically we want to explore First Fruits in the Bible.
On the outskirts of the old city walls in Jerusalem, close to where Solomon’s temple once stood, there is a beautiful garden. Fruit trees and flowers grow year-round, lovingly tended by volunteers from around the world.
On the north side of the garden, there is a cliff face with inset features. They give the cliff a distinct appearance of a giant skull. And then, a short walk from the cliff is an empty tomb, dating from the first century.
The case that the Garden Tomb is the authentic location of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus, is certainly very compelling, whilst not established beyond doubt.
As I sit writing this article in my Jerusalem apartment, I am barely a mile or two from the site of the resurrection! It is the place where everything changed and a new chapter of the relationship between God and humanity began. It is a remarkable and humbling thought.
The Significance of First Fruits in the Bible
On the day of the resurrection in Jerusalem, Jesus became what Paul describes in 1st Corinthians as “the First Fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Which means, He was the pioneer, and the first of many.
First Fruits is a biblical festival celebrating the first harvest of crops and it is the second of three annual pilgrimage festivals. But what does this ancient agricultural festival have to do with the resurrection of Jesus?
We all know that “firsts” are special. I’m sure we can all remember significant firsts in our lives such as our first car, our first home, and our first date. And firsts are significant to God too – the Bible always singles out the firstborns, for example. That is why First Fruits is a phrase loaded with biblical significance.
In Exodus 4:22, God calls Israel his “first born son”. As His firstborn, the Israelites were commanded to honor God by bringing “the best of the first-fruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God” (Exodus 23:19).
First Fruits in the Bible at Passover
First fruits in the Bible are about giving back from the best of what we have as a thank offering and declaration of faith.
By using the term to describe Jesus, Paul is letting us know that God gave His best for us, He did not hold back. Paul links First Fruits to Jesus’ resurrection, and by doing so implies that it would be of life-altering significance in world history.
Passover commemorates the time the children of Israel were saved from death by the blood of an innocent lamb. It is no coincidence that Jesus’ death and resurrection took place on Passover.
We too are saved by the blood of an innocent lamb – Jesus’ blood.
But the idea of first fruits in the Bible goes beyond Passover. In fact, the entire time between Passover and Pentecost is when God called His people to give Him their first fruits. He asks to entrust Him, in faith, firsts of all they had.
First Fruits in the Bible from Passover to Pentecost
The time between Passover and Pentecost is significant for both Jews and Christians. For Jewish people, it marks the journey from Egypt to Mount Sinai. For believers, it echoes the wait between resurrection and outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
This unique countdown is a season of uncertainty, longing, and expectant faith. First Fruits is about bringing the first of what you have back to God—even after a long wait or after drought.
That is why a First Fruits gift—even a small one—can plant seeds that keep growing all year long. This first step sets the pace for the annual rhythm. It’s a step of faith that produces lasting results. Because the full harvest is still to come!
Diving Deeper at Shavuot
In the Hebrew culture, first fruits are often associated with Shavuot (Hebrew for Weeks), which takes place in late spring or early summer. During this festival in Biblical times, Jews from other regions would travel to the temple in Jerusalem to bring sacrifices and to celebrate.
Like we said, “First Fruits” is about giving, and on Shavuot, God also gave the children of Israel a gift of highest quality – His law (often called “Law of Moses”, because it was received by this friend of God). Again, we see that first fruits is about giving your best.
This is perhaps the most significant event in the history of the Jewish people.
The giving of the law at Sinai has shaped Jewish identity, religious practice and culture for thousands of years since. In fact, Shavuot today is known primarily not as an agricultural festival but as the “birthday of the Torah (law)”.
And yet, this Festival of “First Fruits” plays a key role not only in ancient Jewish history. In fact, it was instrumental in the founding of the church! The New Testament reveals a fascinating and core component of first fruits in the Bible.
There are dramatic parallels between the biblical festival of Shavuot and the New Testament events that took place at Pentecost.
The First Fruits in the Bible at Pentecost
When God gave the law to Moses on Sinai at the time of the Feast of Weeks, the event was accompanied by fire from heaven. Fire also appears as the Spirit fell on the faithful ones in the upper room. The disciples spoke supernaturally in foreign languages, whilst tongues of fire descended upon their heads. (Acts 2:3)
On the day Moses came down from the mountain, three thousand Jewish souls were slain for their sin (Exodus 32:28). In contrast, on the day of Pentecost (Shavuot), weeks after Jesus’ resurrection, three thousand Jewish souls were saved from their sin! What an incredible sign of God’s faithfulness, and of first fruits for God’s kingdom!
The Gospel Spreads
The pilgrimage to dedicate first fruits at this time was the reason why so many Jews happened to be in Jerusalem. Therefore, First Fruits played a key role in the early spread of the Gospel. These early converts heard Peter declare that the barrier between God and man had come down forever.
With Jesus’ resurrection combined with the outpouring of the Spirit, First Fruits turned into a message of the endless fountain of God’s grace.
“All Israel Saved” at Sukkot
Sukkot, known in English as the Feast of Tabernacles, is the festival of the last harvest of the year. It invites us to remember that First Fruits are precisely that – just the first!
During Sukkot, which we could call “Last Fruits”, God commanded the Israelites to live for a week in temporary outdoor dwellings. This tradition is followed to this day by the Jewish people all over the world, but most notably in Israel.
Once a year the streets of Jerusalem and other towns fill with small booths covered in palm branches known as Sukkahs.
These temporary dwellings remind us that this world of struggle, sickness and pain is not our ultimate home. Just as God brought Jesus back to life at First Fruits, and poured out His Spirit weeks later, He will return for us in fulfillment of the Last Fruits.
Paul reminds us that the last harvest will be far greater than any past “fruits”, and that eventually “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26).
Redemption, Grace and Hope: First Fruits in the Bible
The three pilgrimage festivals beautifully illustrate the common thread of redemption, grace and future hope. God has woven them throughout the story of humanity.
Perhaps First Fruits in the Bible’s ultimate significance is in pointing us to the example of God giving His best for us. He did so by laying down the life of His only Son in our place, and then raising Him back to life.
Until Jesus returns, we are to be busy as laborers in the harvest field (Luke 10:2). We echo God’s example by giving our best, our first fruits. The first disciples needed the outpouring of the Spirit to build the early church. In the same way so do we, in order to give our first fruits.
Only with the Spirit’s indwelling power can we sow seeds of life in people’s hearts. That is how we will play a role in God’s salvation story.
As Jesus said in John 15: “Whoever abides in me, and I in him, it is he that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
A Simple Guide Through the Biblical Holidays: Free PDF Download
You may know them as the “Jewish holidays,” but did you know the Bible calls them “Feasts of the LORD”?
We’ve put this guide together for you so that you have all you need to know about these holidays that God calls His own.
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