The Feast of Weeks – What is it?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), a significant event in the Jewish calendar, required all Jewish males to gather in Jerusalem annually. Mentioned first in Exodus 34:22–23, it celebrated the first fruits of the wheat harvest and was observed fifty days after the Feast of First Fruits. Also known as Pentecost, it involved offerings of grain, young livestock, and provisions for the poor. In Acts 2, Pentecost became pivotal for Christians as the Holy Spirit descended, enabling the early church to evangelize effectively, resulting in a notable conversion of three thousand people. This event conveys God's ongoing provision and redemptive plan, bridging the Old Testament agricultural festival with spiritual harvest in the New Testament era.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Jewish holiday calendar in the Old Testament included solemn feasts that all Jewish males were required to attend each year in Jerusalem. The Feast of Weeks was the second of these events.
• The Feast of Weeks is first mentioned in Exodus 34:22–23 which states, "You shall observe the Feast of Weeks, the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the year's end. Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the LORD God, the God of Israel." The Hebrew term for this special time was shavout meaning "weeks."
• The Feast of Weeks took place seven full weeks (or the fiftieth day) following the Feast of First Fruits. It was also known as Pentecost, a word meaning fifty.
• The Feast of Weeks commemorated the first fruits of the wheat harvest, a celebration of God's provision. As one of the harvest feasts, God's people were instructed to present grain offerings to the Lord (Leviticus 23:16). In addition, they were to offer several one-year-old lambs without blemish, one young bull, and two rams, in addition to other offerings. Interestingly, the field harvesters were to leave the corners untouched in order for the poor and immigrants to gather food for themselves: "And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God" (Leviticus 23:22).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The Feast of Weeks was a day that would later become important to Christians as the birth of the church in Acts 2 (Pentecost).
• The Pentecost following Christ's resurrection was certainly the most memorable. Acts 2 tells the account of the 120 early followers of Jesus praying in an upper room when the Holy Spirit came upon them, enabling them to speak in languages known by those from a variety of people groups. The Spirit convicted the crowd through their teaching, and three thousand were added to their number that day (Acts 2:41). What a plentiful harvest!

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Reflecting on the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) from both the Old and New Testaments reveals profound truths about God's provision and His redemptive plan. Just as ancient Israel celebrated the first fruits of the wheat harvest with offerings and provisions for the needy, Pentecost in Acts 2 shows God's continuous care and provision for His people through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This event not only birthed the Christian church but also empowered believers to boldly proclaim the gospel, resulting in a significant harvest of souls. Today, it reminds us of God's faithfulness in providing both materially and spiritually. It challenges us to joyfully offer our "first fruits" to God— time, talents, and resources—and to be sensitive to the needs of others, just as God commanded in the Old Testament. Pentecost teaches us to eagerly anticipate the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the lives of those around us, trusting in God's ongoing provision and redemptive work in the world.

UNDERSTAND

• The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) celebrated the wheat harvest and required offerings to God, including provisions for the poor.
• Pentecost in Acts 2 marked the birth of the Christian church, with the Holy Spirit empowering believers to spread the gospel, resulting in 3,000 conversions, a major harvest.
• Pentecost connects the Old Testament harvest festival to its fulfillment in the spiritual harvest of souls, demonstrating God's ongoing provision and redemptive plan.

REFLECT

• How does the concept of offering "first fruits" inspire your gratitude and generosity toward God today?
• Reflecting on Acts 2, how has the Holy Spirit empowered your spiritual harvest?
• In what ways can you practically extend God's care to the marginalized and needy in your community today?

ENGAGE

• Because it occurred fifty days following the Feast of First Fruits, the date of the Feast of Weeks varied from late May to early June of each year. Many have used this important aspect of chronology to help determine the year of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Though debate remains, chronologists using the dates regarding the First Fruits and Pentecost often agree on AD 33 as the year of these events, while some remain convinced of the more traditional AD 30 date.
• What connections can we make between the Feast of Weeks and physical harvest and the Feast of Weeks (or Pentecost) and spiritual harvest?
• How does the symbolism of the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) resonate with the mission and purpose of the church today? How can understanding its significance deepen our commitment to spreading the gospel and caring for others in our communities?