1 CORINTHIANS 15
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. – 1 Corinthians 15:20-28
1 CORINTHIANS 15 CHRIST IS THE FIRSTFRUITS
In Leviticus 23:9-14, the feast of the firstfruits was mention. The Lord instructed the people through Moses that when they come into the promised land and reap its harvest, they shall bring the bunch of the firstfruits of their harvest to the priest and he shall wave this bunch before the Lord, in order that they will be accepted. It is on the Sabbath day that the priest will wave it. On that same day that they offered the bunch of firstfruits, they will offer a male lamb a year old without blemish as their burnt offering. The grain offering that goes with it shall be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, a food offering to the Lord with a pleasing aroma and the drink offering with it shall be of win. They were instructed not to eat neither the bread nor grain until they had brought the offering to God. It will be a statute forever throughout generations in all their dwellings.
Paul reminds the Corinthian church of the importance of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross which made him the firstfruits of the resurrection. Paul wanted to stress that promise of new life again to all believers in this letter. According to a commentary from studylight.com The “first-fruits were a sign of the harvest to come; and the Resurrection of Jesus was a sign of the resurrection of all believers which was to come. Just as the new barley could not be used until the first-fruits had been duly offered, so the new harvest of life could not come until Jesus had been raised from the dead.”
REFLECTION
- Why is it important for us Christians to meditate on Christ as the firstfruits?
