EV 23{
Introduction
As regards the scope of Lev. 23, it is very broad indeed. The Sabbath's being set forth at the very outset of the chapter, our thoughts are directed back to the time when God's dealings with man on the earth first began. After having prepared the earth for man's habitation and happiness, God placed man upon it and rested from His work; hence, Jehovah's Sabbath. The Sabbath therefore was given to man as a memorial of God's own rest in creation. His rest though was soon marred by the coming in of sin, whereupon He began working all over again. This time though, it was with a view to the bringing in of something far better than that which had just been spoiled. (See Gen. 1:31-2:3; 3:7-10, 17-1931And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. 1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. (Genesis 1:31‑2:3)
7And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. 9And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. (Genesis 3:7‑10)
17And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. (Genesis 3:17‑19); and John 1:29; 5:1729The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)
17But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. (John 5:17).)
After having set forth the Sabbath then, our chapter proceeds on through the seven feasts of Jehovah proper, beginning with the Passover feast and ending with the feast of tabernacles. The former takes our thoughts back to the beginning of Jehovah's dealings with Israel as a nation, and the latter takes them on to the end of those dealings...and even beyond.
As to this latter point, when God's dealings with Israel are over, His dealings with man on the earth will be over as well. At that point, the heavens and earth of Gen. 1:11In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) will pass away to make room for a new heaven and a new earth. This marks an altogether new beginning, called "the day of God" (2 Peter 3:1212Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (2 Peter 3:12)), typified by an eighth day added at the end of the seven days of the feast of tabernacles. (See Lev. 23:36, 3936Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein. (Leviticus 23:36)
39Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the Lord seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. (Leviticus 23:39).) The feast of tabernacles then speaks of the final phase of God's dealings both with man on the earth and with Israel as a nation, and the eighth day of God's eternal day.
As regards the structure of the chapter though, it has five sections or divisions. Each one begins with the words "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying." (See Lev. 23:1, 9, 23, 261And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, (Leviticus 23:1)
9And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, (Leviticus 23:9)
23And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, (Leviticus 23:23)
26And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, (Leviticus 23:26), and 33.) The first section consists of instructions regarding the Sabbath, the Passover, and the feast of unleavened bread; the second, the feast of firstfruits and the feast of weeks; the third, the blowing of trumpets; the fourth, the feast of atonement; and the fifth, the feast of tabernacles.
Verse 5: the Passover Feast EV 23:5{the First of the Seven Feasts of Jehovah Proper Is the Passover Feast. the Passover Lamb Is to Be Slain at Evening on the Fourteenth Day of the First Month of the Year. Its Blood Is to Be Caught in a Basin and Applied With Hyssop to the Two Doorposts and Upper Lintel of Each House. It Is to Be Roast With Fire and Without the Mitigating Effect of Water and Is to Be Eaten Along With Bitter Herbs. at Midnight, Jehovah Will Pass Through the Land of Egypt and Visit Death Upon the Firstborn of Every House Where There Is No Blood. Where There Is Blood However, He Will Pass Over That House; Death Will Have Already Been There.
Looking back on that first Passover night then, all the Israelites were spared; but there was not a single Egyptian house where the life of a firstborn was not taken. That night therefore marked the deliverance of God's people from their Egyptian bondage. Accordingly, they were to remember their deliverance once every year thereafter by keeping the Passover feast.
The Passover feast typifies that stupendous event, without which there could never have been any recovery at all from the ruin sin had brought in. Had that event not taken place, the accomplishment of our over-abounding blessing, with which God's own heart was occupied, could never have been realized either. That event was, of course, the death of Christ upon Calvary's cross, by which God has been infinitely glorified with respect to the question of sin. Accordingly, a righteous foundation has been laid down, whereby God, Who is holy, might come out in blessing to sinful men. (See Ex. 12:1-131And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: 4And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. 5Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: 6And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 7And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 8And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. 10And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 11And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's passover. 12For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. 13And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:1‑13); Luke 22:1-181Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. 2And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people. 3Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. 4And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. 5And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. 6And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude. 7Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. 8And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. 9And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? 10And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. 11And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? 12And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. 13And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. 14And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 15And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 16For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. (Luke 22:1‑18); 1 Cor. 5:77Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: (1 Corinthians 5:7); 2 Cor. 5:14-2114For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:14‑21); Col. 1:19-2219For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: (Colossians 1:19‑22); and Heb. 9:8-10:228The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 10Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. 11But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 18Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. 19For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 22And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 1For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21And having an high priest over the house of God; 22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 9:8‑10:22).)
Verses 6-8: the Feast of Unleavened Bread EV 23:6-8{in Immediate Association With the Passover Feast, There Is the Feast of Unleavened Bread. During the Seven Days Immediately Following the Passover, No Leaven Whatever Is to Be Found in the Habitations of Jehovah's People. in the Scriptures, Leaven Always Typifies Evil, Whether Moral, Doctrinal, or Ecclesiastical; and Seven Is Always the Number of Perfection or Completeness.
The feast of unleavened bread therefore typifies our death with Christ and the manner of life that becomes those who have died with Him. If Christ has suffered, bled, and died to put our sins away, then how can we possibly just go on sinning the way we always used to do? God has "condemned sin in the flesh," and if He has condemned it, then we should condemn it as well. (See Rom. 8:33For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Romans 8:3) and 1 Peter 4:11Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; (1 Peter 4:1).) After all, when Christ died, He died "unto sin" and we died unto it with Him. (See Rom. 6:10-1110For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:10‑11).) Together then, the Passover feast and the feast of unleavened bread typify the death of Christ relative to sin on one hand and our death to it with Him on the other. Death is the ultimate liberation from sin and sinning. Sin shall not have dominion over the man that has died. A dead man is "freed from sin." (See Rom. 6:7, 147For he that is dead is freed from sin. (Romans 6:7)
14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:14).)
Verses 9-14: the Feast of Firstfruits EV 23:9-14{Next, the Day After the First Sabbath Following the Gathering in of the Barley Harvest, Which Is Also the First Day of a New Week, a Sheaf of the Firstfruits Is to Be Brought to the Priest and Waived Before Jehovah. the Lord Was Put to Death on a Friday, After Which He Spent the Entire Sabbath in the Tomb. Then, Early the Next Day, the First Day of the Week, He Arose From Among the Dead and Became "the Firstfruits of Them That Slept" (1 Cor. 15:2020But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. (1 Corinthians 15:20)). Accordingly, the Feast of Firstfruits Speaks of Christ's Resurrection From Among the Dead. It Was the Day He Gained the Victory Over Death and Everything That Was Against Us.
What is meant though by waving the sheaf of firstfruits before Jehovah? Why is it done? As the Son was in His lifetime, the Father's delight, so is He now in resurrection life as well. Therefore, it gives the Father pleasure to have Him thus presented before Him. The former is seen in the meal offering of Lev. 2, and the latter in the sheaf of firstfruits in our chapter. Since death is in view in neither of them, but rather, life, they are both meal offerings.
Verses 15-22: the Feast of Weeks
EV 23:15-22{Then, beginning with the first Sabbath after the feast of firstfruits, the people are to count seven Sabbaths—or 49 days in all. Then, on the day after the forty-ninth day, they are to count to themselves still one more day—that is, a fiftieth day. Fifty days after the sheaf of firstfruits is waved then, the feast of weeks is to be observed. Taking place, as it does, seven weeks after the feast of firstfruits, which occurred at the time of the barley harvest, this one takes place at the time of the wheat harvest. This feast is a feast like none other among the ordinances of the Israelites and is spoken of as a "new meat offering." It is therefore typical of a new thing that Jehovah will be doing. On that day, they are to wave two loaves of leavened bread baked in an oven before Jehovah.
Fifty days after the Lord's resurrection from among the dead, something happened, the likes of which had never happened before. On that day, something came into being that never had an existence before. It was the assembly. The Spirit of God was sent down from heaven on that day and took up His abode in the believers that were gathered together in Jerusalem. His presence being in them, they were all joined together as members of one body and were joined to Christ as their Head in heaven.
Nevertheless, since, in the Scriptures, two is always the number of adequate testimony, the two loaves are a figure for the assembly not in its "one-body character," but in its "testimonial character." Also, because the two loaves are a figure for the assembly itself, there is leaven in them as well. Although the believer doesn't have his sins on him anymore, he does still have the principle of sin within himself. It's worth noticing though that, as baking stops the action of leaven in bread, even so, the believer's death with Christ is sufficient to stop the action of sin within him. They are to be baked with leaven. (See also Lev. 7:12-1312If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried. 13Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings. (Leviticus 7:12‑13).)
As we have noticed above, the Passover feast and the feast of unleavened bread are intimately associated with one another. This is intended to illustrate the connection between the death of Christ and our death with Him. Such is also the case with the feast of firstfruits and the feast of weeks. These feasts are intimately associated with one another in order to show the connection between the resurrection life of Christ and our resurrection life with Him. The feast of firstfruits and the feast of weeks then are both meal offerings, derived from that which was sown in death and brought forth again in life. They are figures therefore of Christ and of those who are His own—not in death, but in resurrection life. It is the "more abundant life" of John 10:1010The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10). (See also John 12:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24); and 1 Cor. 15:3636Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: (1 Corinthians 15:36).) This is why the Passover feast and the feast of unleavened bread are both found together in one division of the chapter, while the feast of firstfruits and the feast of weeks are also both found together in still another division of the chapter.
One remark needs yet to be made relative to this feast of weeks and its two wave loaves. Connected with that feast is Lev. 23:2222And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 23:22), which is somewhat puzzling to some minds. When the people of God reap their fields, they are neither to go back and clean out the corners of their fields nor to go back and gather up the grains that have fallen to the ground from their already harvested crops. As we have already seen, the two wave loaves are a figure for the assembly, which is God's heavenly people. These crops then are the firstfruits of that harvest from which the two wave loaves are made.
The question therefore is: Who are the crops that remain behind in the corners of the fields and those grains that have fallen to the ground? Are they a part of the assembly too? The answer is: No, they are not a part of the assembly; but, like the assembly, they are among the heavenly redeemed. After the assembly has been caught up to be with Christ in the Fathers house above, then God will again take up His ancient people, Israel. Then, when Israel's Messiah returns, to set up His millennial kingdom, all who are alive in that day and have faith will go into the kingdom and will remain a part of His earthly people.
In the meantime though, many of His saints will have died, some of them having been martyred. Accordingly, even as Christ is returning to set up His kingdom, they will be raised from among the dead and caught up to join the heavenly hosts. Then, having been thus caught up, they will join Him as He continues His descent to set up His earthly kingdom. They will forever remain among the heavenly families and will be associated with Christ as He reigns over His kingdom. Thus, throughout all the ages of eternity, they will remain a part of the heavenly throng, but not a part of the assembly. Their position will be much the same as that of the Old Testament saints, who will be raised and caught up together with the assembly at the Rapture, but without becoming a part of the assembly. (See Rev. 6:9-11; 11:2-129And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. (Revelation 6:9‑11)
2But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 3And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. 7And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. 11And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 12And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. (Revelation 11:2‑12); and 20:4.)
Verses 23-25: the Feast of Trumpets EV 23:23-25{on the First Day of the Seventh Month, Which Is the Time of Grape Harvest, Jehovah's People Are to Observe the Feast of Blowing of Trumpets.
Prophetically, it will be a time of Israel's moral awakening. (See also Num. 10:22Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. (Numbers 10:2).) After the assembly has been caught up and taken out of this world to be with Christ in the Father's house, God will by His Spirit start working afresh in the hearts of His ancient people, the Jews. The blast of a trumpet is the figure used for the commencement of this work of the Spirit in their souls. Morally and in substance, it corresponds to the ministry of John the Baptist and to that of the Lord Himself after John had been cast into prison. (See Matt. 3:2, 5-62And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 3:2)
5Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. (Matthew 3:5‑6); and ch. 4:17.)
Having been thus aroused by the action of the Spirit in their hearts and consciences then, a faithful remnant among them will begin to repent of their moral departure from Jehovah, their God. It will mark the beginning of a work in their souls, but that work will not reach its perfection until they see Christ coming "in His glory" (Matt. 25:3131When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: (Matthew 25:31) and Zech. 12:1010And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10)). More on this however in the next feast below.
Now as to the significance of this being the time of grape harvest, everywhere in the Scriptures, Israel is typified as Jehovah's vine. When He comes to claim the fruit that is rightfully His though, they bring forth only wild grapes. This is what happened when Messiah came to them the first time; but when He comes to them the next time, their hearts will be willing and He will once again drink of the fruit of the vine. In the meantime though and until then, His interests are elsewhere-that is, with His assembly. (See Psa. 80:8-11;110:38Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it. 9Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land. 10The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars. 11She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river. (Psalm 80:8‑11)
3Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. (Psalm 110:3); Isa. 5:1-71Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. 3And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. 4What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? 5And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: 6And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. (Isaiah 5:1‑7); Matt. 21:33-9; and 26:29.)
Verses 26-32: the Feast of Atonement EV 23:26-35{the Feast of Atonement, Like the One Before It, Falls in the Seventh Month of the Year. on the Tenth Day of That Same Month, the Israelites Are Told Three Times Over They Are to Afflict Their Souls and to Do No Work in That Day. It Is a Feast of Atonement. If Any Is Not Afflicted or If Any Does Do Any Work in That Day, He Will Be Cut off From Among His People and Destroyed.
In the meantime and little by little, the repentance that was begun by what is typified as the blowing of trumpets will have been deepening. Then, when Jesus appears in glory, they will behold the wounds of Him Whom they had pierced so many centuries before, and will realize it was He Whom they had rejected and crucified. That realization will produce a still deeper sense of guilt and repentance in their souls. Accordingly, they will afflict their souls as never before and will mourn for Him as for an only son. This will be the point at which the Spirit's work of repentance in their souls will have been perfected.
Their great sin of having rejected their Messiah and of having manipulated the Romans into crucifying Him, as well as all their subordinate sins, will then be forgiven; and they will be fully restored to Jehovah, their God. Today, they are "a vessel wherein is no pleasure" (Hos. 8:88Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure. (Hosea 8:8); Matt. 26:2929But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. (Matthew 26:29)a); but in that day, He will "rejoice over [them] with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over [them] with singing" (Zeph. 3:1717The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17); Matt. 26:2929But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. (Matthew 26:29)b).
Verses 33-43: the Feast of Tabernacles EV 23:33-43{on the Fifteenth Day of This Same Month, When They Have Brought in the Fruit of the Land, Which, As We Have Seen, Is the Grape Harvest, Israel Is to Set Apart Seven Days for the Observance of the Feast of Tabernacles. on Each of the Seven Days of This Feast, They Are to Offer an Offering Made by Fire Unto Jehovah. They Are Also to Take Boughs of Goodly Trees, Branches of Palm Trees, Boughs of Thick Trees, and Willows of the Brook, From Which They Are to Frame Booths for Themselves. Then, They Are to Dwell in Those Booths for the Duration of the Feast.
This feast typifies the rest that Israel will enjoy during the millennial kingdom, which will follow upon their restoration discussed in the feast of atonement above. Messiah's reign then will be one of righteousness and peace, the fear of God and His worship, material and spiritual blessings, harmony among men and animals, and liberation from sickness and disease. The world will never have seen a time like it before. Even Satan will be bound for its duration and will no longer be at liberty to deceive and entice men to evil.
Like the feast of unleavened bread, this one lasts seven days; but unlike that one, this feast will include an eighth day at its end. As we have seen, the number seven denotes perfection or completeness. In this feast, the seven days denote the entire period of the millennial reign of Christ. The eighth day then embraces that which follows that period of unequaled earthly rest and blessing and, therefore, goes on into and becomes the eternal state.
Summary
In its broadest view, this chapter takes our thoughts all the way from the beginning of God's dealings with men on the earth to the end of those dealings. In its narrower, but more detailed view however, it takes our thoughts from the beginning of God's dealings with His earthly people, Israel, to the end of those dealings... and beyond. It is most comprehensive indeed!
These latter dealings are comprehended in the seven feasts of Jehovah. They begin with the Passover feast, typical of the death of Christ; the feast of unleavened bread, typical of the deliverance from the power of sin His death gives to those who have died with Him; the feast of firstfruits, typical of the resurrection of Christ; and the feast of weeks, typical of the assembly and its resurrection life with Christ.
These are all either past or present. The following three feasts are yet future. They are as follows: The feast of trumpets, typical of the spiritual and moral awakening of His earthly people, Israel; the feast of atonement, typical of that people's repentance for their rejection and crucifying of Messiah; and the feast of tabernacles with its eighth day, typical of the millennial reign of Christ over the earth and that which follows—that is, the eternal state, the foundation of which was laid in the death and shed blood of Christ upon Calvary's cross. As to this latter, eternal state, it is what Peter calls "the day of God, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:1313Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13)). The first heaven and the first earth will have passed away in order to make room for "a new heaven and a new earth." (See Gen. 2:1-31Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. (Genesis 2:1‑3); 2 Pet. 3:10, 1210But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10)
12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (2 Peter 3:12); and Rev. 21:1-61And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. (Revelation 21:1‑6).) There will be nothing further to be accomplished. All God's counsel will have been brought to full fruition. His holy heart and mind will be altogether at rest. He will forever enjoy the company of His heavenly and earthly redeemed alike. A day in which all will be in conformity with the pure and holy nature of God, it will be a scene of unimaginable bliss and glory, where there is only light and love, and where joy will fill our hearts and song our lips. God's love will fill the place, the Lamb that was slain will be its Center, and the hearts of the redeemed will be forever bursting with joy and praise.