Leviticus 23:20

And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the Lord, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the Lord for the priest.

Leviticus 23:20 (KJV)

Context

Leviticus 23 lists Israel’s appointed feasts, including the Feast of Weeks, also called Pentecost. This feast came fifty days after Firstfruits and marked the end of the grain harvest. On that day the people brought two loaves baked from the first wheat and two lambs. The priest waved these before the Lord as a wave offering, a gesture that presented them to God and acknowledged His ownership of the harvest.

Meaning

The wave offering showed that the first and best of the harvest belonged to God. The bread of firstfruits expressed gratitude for His provision, while the two lambs pointed to the need for atonement. The verse declares that both were holy to the Lord, set apart for sacred use. Then they were given to the priest, showing that God provides for those who serve Him. This connection between consecration and provision is central to the verse.

Biblical connections

The two loaves are the wave loaves from Leviticus 23:17, part of the same ceremony. In the New Testament, the Feast of Weeks finds fulfillment at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the church (Acts 2). That event gathered the firstfruits of believers and empowered them for mission. The offerings also point to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who offered Himself as the perfect atonement for sin.

Application

This verse teaches believers to give God the first and best of what they receive, not the leftovers. It also reminds them that God cares for His servants, providing for those who devote themselves to His work. Honoring God with the first portion of time, talent, and treasure is a practical expression of trust in His continued care.

Reflection

Consider how you treat the first part of your income, your week, and your energy. Do you offer them to God as holy, or do you give Him what remains? The wave offering was a joyful acknowledgment that all provision comes from Him. Let that same gratitude shape your giving and your service, knowing that the God who received the firstfruits still provides for His people today.