The Beginner's Guide to First Fruits (Celebrating the Savior's Resurrection the Biblical Way)

In this post we examine the basics of First Fruits, which is a Biblical holiday that happens shortly after Passover within another Biblical holiday, the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This is the day that Jesus rose from the grave! By learning more about this holiday we can worship the Messiah in deeper ways and celebrate his resurrection at the Scripturally appropriate time. We will talk about what this holiday means and share practical ideas for celebrating and taking part in such a joyous occasion!

What is First Fruits? 

First Fruits is one of the Biblical holidays and it happens within another Biblical holiday, the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It is a special part of Unleavened Bread. In Levitical times, it was the day when the priests presented a wave offering of the 'first fruits' of the harvest that year - barley. It's also the day that the Messiah rose from the dead and presented himself to his Father!

Where is First Fruits in the Bible?

Details on First Fruits are seen in Leviticus 23:9-14 (usually spelled Firstfruits).

What Bible verses relate to First Fruits?

Leviticus 23:9-14
Deuteronomy 26
Matthew 28
Mark 16
Luke 24
John 20
1 Corinthians 15:20-28

Biblical events have taken place on First Fruits:

-The resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. (Matthew 28)

-Israel crossed over the Red Sea after leaving Egypt in the Exodus story. (Exodus 3:18, 5:3)

-Israel ate the first fruits of the Promised Land. (Joshua 5:10-12)

-The Temple was cleansed and sacrifices were reinstated under the reign of King Hezekiah. (1 Chronicles 29:17-18)
-Queen Esther foiled the plot of Haman. (Esther 3:12, 5:1)
-Noah's ark possibly came to rest on Mount Ararat after the flood on First Fruits.

-The walk to Emmaus, where the Savior "expounded on all things concerning himself" from Scripture to a couple of his followers. (Luke 24:13-15)

Why celebrate First Fruits?

This is the day that Jesus rose from the dead! If that's not worth our attention and celebration, what is? When he rose from the dead, no one called the day Easter. First Fruits is about doing our best to worship the Messiah in ways consistent with what the Bible teaches.

Who should celebrate First Fruits?

First Fruits should be celebrated by all Bible believers. If you want to celebrate the Savior defeating the grave and coming back to life, the Biblically correct day to do so would be on the day of First Fruits. 

The Bible holidays were given to all of God's people and all Bible believers may take part in them, regardless of ethnicity, spiritual background, ancestry, etc.

How is First Fruits different than Easter?

When it comes to the idea of celebrating that the Savior is risen, the Bible holiday First Fruits is very similar to Christian intentions behind Easter. The difference is that while First Fruits is Biblical, Easter is manmade. They happen at similar times of year (sometimes the same day), but First Fruits does not involve Easter bunnies, egg hunts, or ham.

Is First Fruits the same as Unleavened Bread?

First Fruits is part of Unleavened Bread. While Unleavened Bread is weeklong holiday, First Fruits is one day during that. It happens the Sunday after the Sabbath during the week of Unleavened Bread. The stipulation of not eating leaven still applies during this time, and we still remember and celebrate the spiritual significance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. We remember how God parted the Red Sea and lead his people to freedom, but on First Fruits especially we also remember and celebrate that the Messiah is no longer in the grave and he lives!

How to observe First Fruits:

First Fruits is a joyful day! Praise God for the resurrection of Jesus and have fun! 

Gatherings are not Scripturally required, but you could certainly arrange to get together with friends or attend a service at a congregation that celebrates this.

Note that First Fruits is not considered a Sabbath day, unless it happens to fall on the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 

What should I do to celebrate First Fruits?

-Read the Gospel stories of the empty tomb! This is truly the best part of the Good News - that the Messiah lives - and there's no better time to revisit that. Read Bible passages aloud, revisit the tale in children's books and movies, or do a dramatized version.

-Gather for a festive meal, if you want. Again, this is not a requirement but you certainly can make a special meal and invite loved ones to join in. On First Fruits, the Bible says not to eat leavened bread, so make foods without leaven. I'll link to a list of unleavened recipes at the end of this post to get you inspired.

-Spread the good news. First Fruits is a wonderful day for sharing the joy and love of God with others. Send notes of Scripture and encouragement to loved ones, volunteer for a service project, gather donations to give to those in need, and challenge yourself to be extra gracious and kind to everyone you encounter this day.

-Have fun! Even though Easter egg hunts are not appropriate for First Fruits, games can still be played, treats enjoyed, and prizes given. How about making an obstacle course for kids where they have to cross the "Red Sea" and "escape from Egypt"? There are plenty of empty tomb and crucifixion related kids crafts you could make. Put together a scavenger hunt. Make and enjoy matzah toffee or a Red Sea crossing smoothie bowl. 

Related posts:
How to Celebrate First Fruits
Meal Ideas for the Feast of Unleavened Bread
Kids Crafts for Passover and First Fruits
Red Sea Crossing Smoothie Bowls

Things the Messiah Said on First Fruits

First Fruits is probably the Biblical holiday that gets the least amount of attention. Which is surprising because significantly this is the day the Messiah was resurrected on! What better holiday to rejoice in and learn more of? The Messiah himself had a lot to say on this particular holiday and I want to draw attention to some of what he said on First Fruits.

Things the Messiah Said at the Festival of First Fruits:

"Tell my Israelite brothers that they shall see me in Galilee." -Matthew 28:10
The Messiah wants you to know this promise today: you shall see him.

"O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Did not the Messiah have to suffer all these things, in order to enter into his glory?" -Luke 24:25-26
Did you know the famous walk to Emmaus happened on First Fruits? Wouldn't you love to get to listen in on this full discussion of the Messiah explaining how the writings of Moses and the prophets speak of him?! I imagine every question they listeners had was answered beautifully. And isn't it funny that even 2,000 years ago people were slow to believe what Scripture had to say?

"Peace be upon you. Do not be afraid." -Luke 24:36
The Messiah spoke fearlessness and complete peace over his followers. Don't miss that this happened to those who showed up to celebrate First Fruits. Talk about benefit and blessing from keeping the Biblical holidays!

"Why are you troubled? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and understand and see, for a spirit has no flesh and bones, and you can see that I do." -Luke 24:39
Whatever is troubling us today, we know he is alive and will care for us. Give your worries to him.

"Have you any food?" -Luke 24:41
I love that he would ask his. This is First Fruits, right after Passover, and in the middle of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This is feast time. And our Messiah? "Hey guys, can I get a snack over here?" I think it so humble of him to ask. I'm sure he knew that if they saw him eat they wouldn't wonder if he was a vision or whatever. But I think he also just wanted to take part in the set apart times and, perhaps, gently remind his followers what they should be doing at these times as well. Let's not make him ask. Let's keep the feasts.

"All things must be fulfilled which are in the Torah of Moses, and in the Prophets and Psalms, concerning me." -Luke 24:44

Calling attention to the importance of Scripture, he didn't write off the Torah or its commandments. He could have taken this opportunity to start fresh or begin a new church like many people say...but he didn't. When we celebrate his resurrection we need to remember the great weight the Messiah believed the Old Testament proclaimed.

"So it is written, and it was necessary that the Messiah suffer, and rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations." -Luke 24:46-47
May we never forget this great charge we have, to proclaim the forgiveness of sins to all those who repent. The hope of this promise is indeed something to celebrate on this glorious holiday of First Fruits!

"Madam, why do you weep?" -John 20:15
The first words we know of Yahusha speaking after the resurrection are to offer comfort to a woman mourning. Isn't that beautiful and so like him? He had things to do that day; he certainly could have spoken about weightier matters. But he stopped to comfort someone who was hurting. I hope that we never forget that he is there to comfort us when we mourn.

"Miriam." -John 20:16
When he spoke her name Miriam instantly realized it was the Messiah. Have you ever had one of those moments where you hear something from YHWH and even if it's simple it sheds so much light?

"Shalom alecheim: as my Father has sent me, even so I send you." -John 20:21
Peace be upon you. He speaks so much of comfort and courage during these set apart times. The Biblical holidays are a chance for us to have our capacities for peace and bravery fortified, so that we would be prepared for wherever he is sending us to spread his good news. Real empowerment and encouragement happen when we take part in these set apart times!

"Receive the Holy Spirit." -John 20:22 
And then he literally breaths the Holy Spirit onto his followers that were there with him, taking part in First Fruits! Isn't that amazing? Who doesn't want more of the Holy Spirit's wisdom and joy and comfort in their life? You have an opportunity during First Fruits and the Feast of Unleavened Bread to receive more of the Holy Spirit in your life!

"If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven." -John 20:23
What a testament that our actions are so powerful. Never forget that what you choose to do truly does matter, and impacts those in your life. You are not the only one that benefits when you are obedient to the Scriptures that tell us to keep First Fruits and the other feasts of YHWH.

More on First Fruits:
How To Celebrate First Fruits
First Fruits Celebration Photos

First Fruits Celebration

This time of year I usually post pictures from Passover but I thought it would be fun to mix it up and share some from a First Fruits celebration I attended. First Fruits is when Israel historically presented the first of the barley harvest to YHWH, and it is also when Yahusha was raised from the dead. What reasons we have to celebrate this Biblical holiday!

It was a simple get together; just an informal 'bring a snack or dessert.' We turned on some music, ate and chatted. Then talked about the Messiah's resurrection and read Scripture related to that.

Since the omer count begins on First Fruits, some sort of omer counter makes the perfect party favor! You could also make your own counters at the party for a fun group activity.

Here's a great idea for Matzah Week: if you're making homemade matzah, try rolling it into smaller pieces to use like you would crackers. It can still be soft or you can bake it longer to have it be crunchy. It's great with hummus and other spreads like this smoked salmon dip.

I love getting to celebrate this truth with a group of believers and would definitely encourage everyone to do so as well! Messiah rose from the grave = best day ever, right?! As Paul said, "Let us keep the feast!" (1 Corinthians 5:8)

Do you guys know about resurrection cookies? They are a meringue cookie and each step of the recipe symbolizes the story of the Messiah's death and resurrection, like beating the walnuts to symbolize how Yahusha was beaten by soldiers. You leave them in the oven over night and then they are empty when they are finished. I can share the recipe if anyone is interested.

Happy First Fruits everyone! What do you guys do to celebrate?

How to Celebrate the Biblical Holiday of First Fruits (The Day the Messiah Rose Again!)

Let's talk about First Fruits! The third Biblical holiday of the year, First Fruits often gets overlooked in the shadow of Passover and Unleavened Bread. While it actually happens during the Week of Unleavened Bread, it deserves attention and celebration of its own.

As believers in Messiah, First Fruits is one of the most joyous days of the year because it commemorates Yahusha being raised back to life! After being killed on Passover, the Messiah rose from the dead three days later on the feast of First Fruits! When Paul mentions that the Messiah is the "first fruits of the dead" in 1 Corinthians 15:20 he's not only saying that Jesus was the literal first fruits offering to YHWH, but also that the Messiah is the third festival of the year.

What is First Fruits? Historically it has been a day when the first of the barley harvest is gathered in the land of Israel, which makes it similar to the harvest celebrations of Shavuot and Sukkot. The theme of celebrating what YHWH provides is significant throughout Scripture, and should be central in our lives. Most of us aren't barley farmers, but we can still celebrate the provision that YHWH supplies us in the form of jobs, finances, a place to live, groceries, a garden, days of rest, friends and community, etc. Of course the ultimate provision is forgiveness for our sins...no matter how ugly or awful, forgiveness is available to us through the Messiah's sacrifice.

What should you know about First Fruits? It happens on the day after Shabbat during the Week of Unleavened Bread. Because Passover doesn't always land on the same day of the week (on most calendars), it's important to note that First Fruits doesn't always land three days after Passover - but it did when the Messiah was executed. The Festival of First Fruits is the kickoff for the counting of the omer, where we count fifty days to get to the next set apart time, Shavuot.

Significant events have taken place at First Fruits:
-Israel crossed over the Red Sea after leaving Egypt in the Exodus story. (Exodus 3:18, 5:3)
-The Temple was cleansed and sacrifices were reinstated under the reign of King Hezekiah. (1 Chronicles 29:17-18)
-Israel eats the first fruits of the Promised Land. (Joshua 5:10-12)
-Queen Esther foiled the plot of Haman. (Esther 3:12, 5:1)
-Noah's ark possibly came to rest on Mount Ararat after the flood on First Fruits.
-The resurrection of Yahusha the Messiah. (Matthew 28)
-The walk to Emmaus, where Jesus "expounded on all things concerning himself" from Scripture to a couple of his followers. (Luke 24:13-15)

All of these amazing events are a fresh start. Seeing your slave drivers swept away into the sea and leaving their land is a new beginning. The ark finally setting back down on the earth is mankind's second chance on the earth. Cleaning out the Temple, being saved from annihilation, eating from the Promised Land for the first time, and most importantly, the Savior being brought back to life? The freshest of starts, a blank slate. The trees bud, the flowers come up, and creation awakens. We are reminded that life starts all over again in the spring.

First Fruits is a time for:

1. Reading Scripture. Check out the stories of the empty tomb and read about the Messiah coming back to life. What did he have to say on the day of his resurrection? Wouldn't it have be amazing to hear him speak on the walk to Emmaus? Leviticus 23:9-14, Deuteronomy 26, and 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, would also be good to read.

2. Celebrating that the Messiah is alive! The greatest moment in history happened on this day. Rejoice and be glad! Spread the truth of this amazing act.

3. Recognizing and thanking YHWH for provision. Make a list of how much he really provides: material possessions, spiritual health, friends, physical nourishment, the positives of your environment, small things that make you smile. It's easy to overlook the many good gifts from him, make it a point to stop and acknowledge those today. Also remind yourself that he is providing for the needs of tomorrow as well.

4. Giving an offering. Pray about and discuss how you can offer first fruits of your own harvest. Tithing or donating money, giving your time to a good cause, and sharing your possessions are all ways to do that.

5. Remembering your heritage. Deuteronomy 26:5-11 gives the example of literally reciting the Israelite heritage of being rescued from slavery by YHWH when a person would hand their First Fruits offering to the priest. First Fruits is a time to remember both the story of the redemption of Israel as a whole, and also your personal story. Something along the lines of, "My life used to be like ______, but now YHWH has brought me blessings and - look - here I am able to celebrate his set apart times" fits well with the passage in Deuteronomy.

6. Blessing your spiritual leaders, foreigners, orphans and widows. Right after the above passage in Deuteronomy, Scripture makes mention of the tithing to the Levites, strangers in the community, and orphans and widows. What can you do to help these groups of people? Pastors, mentors, ministries, etc. all work hard to support your spiritual health, often at immense cost. Could you give them a gift or at least take the time to express your gratitude? How about those that could use support from you? What could you do to show them that they are loved and welcomed in YHWH's kingdom? 

7. Worship. Have a dance party to great praise music or fall to your knees in awe and reverence of YHWH. Celebrate the Messiah's victory and the amazing plan of redemption he has for us. Worship him on one of the greatest of days.

8. Feasting. The first harvest of the year is a big moment. Long before grocery stores, you lived off of the fruits of your last harvest until the next year. That could be scary when supplies start to dwindle and you're a ways out from the abundance of summer. The barley harvest was a collective sigh that even if there wasn't a lot in that moment there was more provision coming. Celebrate that with a special meal. If you're a gardener include the first bits of produce that are starting to come up in your part of the world. Depending on the year that's usually green onions, herbs, sorrel, fiddle heads, and asparagus for me.

9. Counting the omer. First Fruits is day one of the counting of the omer. Make a fun calendar or counter and mark off the first day as we lead up to Shavuot.

Happiest of First Fruits to you! Enjoy this amazing day of celebrating the unquenchable life to the Messiah!