🌾 What Is the Feast of Firstfruits? How This Biblical Feast Points to the Resurrection of Jesus

Ashley Breanne
Jul 7
4 min read

Updated: Jul 22

If you've never heard of the Feast of Firstfruits, you're not alone. It's one of the seven biblical feasts commanded by God in the Old Testament—but it’s rarely taught in modern churches.

Yet this feast is one of the most powerful pictures of Jesus’ resurrection, placed perfectly in God’s calendar with prophetic purpose.

In this article, we’ll explore:

What the Feast of Firstfruits is
When and how it was celebrated
Where it fits in God’s calendar
How Jesus fulfilled it
And what it means for you today

Let’s go straight to Scripture.

📖 What Is the Feast of Firstfruits?

The Feast of Firstfruits is first introduced in Leviticus 23:9–14, where God commands the Israelites to bring the first sheaf of their barley harvest to the priest. This was to be a special offering of the very first produce of the land.

“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest.”—Leviticus 23:10 (ESV)

The priest would wave the sheaf before the Lord as an offering, along with a spotless male lamb, a grain offering, and a drink offering. It was a sacred act of faith and worship, acknowledging God as the source of all provision and trusting Him for the rest of the harvest.

📅 When Was the Feast of Firstfruits Celebrated?

The Feast of Firstfruits was held during the week of Unleavened Bread, specifically “the day after the Sabbath.”(Leviticus 23:11)

Because the Sabbath is Saturday, this feast was celebrated on Sunday—the first day of the week after Passover.

This timing is incredibly significant—because it lines up exactly with the resurrection of Jesus.

✝️ Jesus Fulfilled the Feast of Firstfruits

Jesus was crucified on Passover (the 14th of Nisan), buried during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and rose on the Feast of Firstfruits.

“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”—1 Corinthians 15:20 (ESV)

He is the first to rise from the dead never to die again, raised in a glorified, eternal body. Every other resurrection in the Bible—like Lazarus or Jairus’s daughter—was temporary. Those people died again. But Jesus is alive forevermore(Revelation 1:18).

Just as the first sheaf of the harvest was offered to God and accepted, Jesus was offered and accepted, guaranteeing a greater harvest to come: those who belong to Him.

🔍 Why Does Firstfruits Matter for Believers Today?

Understanding this feast unlocks rich meaning in the Gospel. Here’s why it matters:

1. It Proves God Keeps His Promises

God gave this feast over 1,000 years before Christ—and Jesus fulfilled it perfectly. His death, burial, and resurrection align exactly with the spring feasts of the Lord.

2. It Confirms Our Future Hope

Because Jesus was raised, we too will be raised. His resurrection is the guarantee—the firstfruits of a coming harvest.

“Each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.”—1 Corinthians 15:23

3. It Calls Us to Trust God First

Just like Israel gave God the first and best, we’re called to put Him first in every area of life—our time, our resources, our heart.

🌱 From the Ground to Glory: Firstfruits in God’s Design

The theme of “firstfruits” runs through the whole Bible:

Cain and Abel (Genesis 4) – Abel brought the firstborn of his flock.
Proverbs 3:9 – “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce.”
Romans 8:23 – We ourselves... have the firstfruits of the Spirit.
James 1:18 – “...that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”

This theme reveals God's heart: He desires our first, not our leftovers. And through Jesus, He gave us His best—first and forever.

🧭 How the Feast of Firstfruits Fits into the Biblical Calendar

Here’s a quick overview of the spring feasts:

Feast	Fulfillment in Christ
Passover	Jesus, our spotless Lamb, was sacrificed (1 Cor. 5:7)
Unleavened Bread	Jesus was buried, sinless and pure (1 Peter 2:22–24)
Firstfruits	Jesus rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:20–23)
Feast of Weeks / Pentecost	Holy Spirit poured out—harvest begins (Acts 2)

🎧 Want to Go Deeper? Listen to the Podcast

In the latest episode of my podcast, we explore this feast in depth:

Why it's largely forgotten in modern Christianity
How Jesus fulfilled every part of it
What it means to live as a “firstfruits” people
How to honor God with your “first” today

🎙 Listen now: The Feast of Firstfruits 👉 Spotify

📌 Final Thoughts: Don’t Miss God’s Appointed Times

The Feast of Firstfruits is not just a piece of ancient history. It’s a prophetic appointment pointing directly to the resurrection of Jesus and the coming resurrection of all who are in Him.

Understanding God’s calendar helps us see that nothing in the Gospel was random. Every detail was divinely timed. Every shadow has a substance. And every promise has been, or will be, fulfilled.

So next time you celebrate the resurrection, remember:It happened on Firstfruits—on purpose, by design, for you.