Matzah

16th Aviv 5781

Shalom,

Today is the day after the high Shabbat of Matzah on the 15th Aviv. John 19:31 said, " for that Shabbat was a high one". That is, that shabbat was the annual shabbat and not the weekly Shabbat.

The day after the high Shabbat of Matzah is "Reshit katzirchem" or First Reaping. This has been commonly translated as Firstfruits. But Firstfruits, which is from the Hebrew word "habbikkurim" is only mentioned in relation to Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks. For that was the time of the major harvest of wheat.

On the day after the high Shabbat of Matzah, the "omer resit qesirakem" or the sheaf of the first reaping was given to the priest to be waved before Yahweh Elohim for their acceptance. And in 1 Corinthians 15: 20 it is written, " But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, and has become the first-fruit of those having fallen asleep." For Yeshua HaMashiach had to die to defeat death by the resurrection to life . For the penalty of sin is death (Genesis 2:16). So now, all who died in Yeshua the Messiah can have the hope of resurrection to eternal life. For Yeshua HaMashiach ascended to the heavens and appeared before Yahweh Elohim to intercede or to plead for us, as our Great High Priest.

Beside bringing the sheaf of the first reaping to the priest, they have to bring the burnt offering, the grain offering and the brink offering. But since there is no temple in Yerushalayim, no korbanot or offering can be offered. However, one day the temple will be rebuilt. For Yeshua HaMashiach is coming back to reign as the King and as the Kohen HaGadol. And there cannot be a High Priest without a temple. Once the temple is rebuilt, the korbanot will be reinstated. 

The burnt offering speaks of our total obedience or complete dedication to Yahweh our Elohim. Just as our Master Yeshua HaMashiach obeyed Yahweh Elohim totally and completely, even unto death. The grain offering is to acknowledge that Yahweh our Elohim is the source of our total supply. And the drink offering speaks of joy, of rejoicing in the presence of Yahweh Elohim. For the joy of Yahweh is our strength. 

From the day after the high Shabbat of Matzah, we are to count 7 weeks and the fiftieth day will be Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks. Also commonly called Pentecost, which means fifty in Greek.

So Yeshua HaMashiach died at Pesach on Aviv 14th and not on Friday. He was buried before sundown as after sundown was the beginning of the 7 days Feast of Unleavened Bread, from Aviv 15th to the 21st. And the day after the high Shabbat of Matzah is Reshit Katzirchem or First Reaping. They are three different Moedim.

Happy Feast of First Reaping.