The Mystery of the Firstfruits: From the Fourth-Year Fruit in Leviticus to Christ’s Cross and the Bread of Life
Introduction
The fruit consecrated to God in the fourth year in the Book of Leviticus not only revealed that the Israelites were to honor God above all things and offer their firstfruits to Him, but also spiritually foreshadowed the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
After several years of ministry, when “the appointed time had come,” the Lord Jesus fully offered Himself as the Firstfruits and the eternal sacrifice. Through His death and resurrection, salvation was opened to all nations like a flourishing fruit tree, granting humanity the Bread of Life and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit.
I. The Fruit of the First Three Years and the Fourth Year
Leviticus 19:23–25
“When you enter the land and plant all kinds of fruit trees, you shall regard their fruit as forbidden. For three years it shall be forbidden to you; it must not be eaten. But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, an offering of praise to the Lord. In the fifth year you may eat its fruit, so that it may yield more abundantly for you. I am the Lord your God.”
In this passage, the “land of Canaan” spiritually represents the world. The primary teaching of this scripture is that the Israelites were to honor God as holy, dedicate the firstfruits to Him, learn patience and faith, refrain from hastily enjoying the harvest, and acknowledge that both the land and life belong to God.
After the Israelites entered Canaan, God commanded them to plant all kinds of fruit trees. During the first three years, the fruit was not yet mature and therefore could not be eaten. In the fourth year, however, all the fruit was to be consecrated to the Lord as holy and used for His praise.
What, then, do the first three years and the fourth year symbolize? And who was permitted to eat the fruit of the fourth year?
II. “My Time Has Not Yet Come”
John 2:4
Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with Me? My time has not yet come.”
These words were spoken before Jesus turned water into wine. Here, “My time” refers to the appointed moment of Jesus’ death, glorification, crucifixion, resurrection on the third day, and the completion of redemption.
John 7:30
“They sought therefore to seize Him, but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.”
John 8:20
“These words He spoke near the treasury while teaching in the temple; yet no one arrested Him, because His hour had not yet come.”
The repeated phrase, “My time has not yet come,” was spoken during Jesus’ approximately three and a half years of public ministry, indicating that the fruit of redemption had not yet fully matured.
III. “The Hour Has Come for the Son of Man to Be Glorified”
John 12:23
“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”
John 13:1
Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father.
Galatians 1:4
“Christ gave Himself for our sins according to the will of our God and Father, to rescue us from the present evil age.”
1 Corinthians 15:20
“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
These passages reveal that “Christ gave Himself according to the Father’s will,” corresponding spiritually to the fourth-year fruit that was wholly consecrated to God. In the fourth year of Christ’s ministry, He completely offered Himself upon the cross, becoming the perfect sacrifice through His death.
The Scripture also declares that Christ became “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Through His obedience unto death, He glorified the Father, just as the fourth-year fruit was dedicated for the praise of the Lord.
IV. The Priests Partaking of the Fruit Offered to God
1. Priests Partaking of the Firstfruits Offered to the Lord
Numbers 18:12
“All the best of the oil, the new wine, and the grain—the firstfruits of what they give to the Lord—I give to you.”
Under the Old Testament covenant, the priests were permitted to partake of the holy offerings dedicated to God.
2. The Passover Meal and Partaking of Christ
John 6:53–56
Jesus said:
“Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is true food and My blood is true drink. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him.”
This passage reveals that Jesus allowing His disciples to eat His flesh and drink His blood corresponds spiritually to the Old Testament priests partaking of the holy fruit offered to God.
At the Last Supper, the Lord Jesus presented Himself as the true Bread of Life. Thus, the fourth-year fruit being wholly dedicated to God foreshadowed Christ completely offering Himself, after which His disciples would begin to receive His life.
3. Jesus Breaking Bread and Sharing the Cup
Matthew 26:26–28
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is My body.’ Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’”
The bread symbolizes the body of Christ, and the wine in the cup symbolizes His precious blood. Jesus’ breaking of bread and sharing of the cup represented His coming sacrifice on the cross for the redemption of humanity.
To “eat the Lord’s flesh and drink His blood” is not physical in meaning, but spiritual. It signifies accepting Christ’s salvation, being united with Him, receiving Him as the source of life, remembering His sacrifice, and abiding in Him.
From these scriptures we see that the fruit of the first through third years could not be eaten because it had not yet matured. The fruit of the fourth year was set apart as holy and offered entirely to God. These holy offerings were then partaken of by the priests under sacred ordinances. Beginning in the fifth year, the owners of the trees were free to eat the fruit themselves.
When Jesus broke bread and shared the cup with His disciples, He regarded them spiritually as priests, for only priests could partake of the firstfruits dedicated to God.
The spiritual meaning includes acknowledging that all provision comes from God. Humanity should not hastily seek to enjoy the harvest but must first honor God above all things. Offering the “firstfruits” to God is an expression of thanksgiving and faith. God also used the offerings of the people to support the priests and the ministry of the temple.
4. Imitating Christ and Offering Our Bodies to God
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
From these passages, we see that when Jesus broke the bread and shared the cup with His disciples, He was instructing them to “do this in remembrance of me”—that is, to offer their own bodies to God as living sacrifices.
V. From the Fifth Year Onward, People Begin to Enjoy the Fruit
1. The Death of a Grain of Wheat
John 12:24
Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
2. The Father Will Give You Another Counselor
John 14:15-19
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.”
From these Scriptures, we understand that after Jesus ascended to heaven, the gospel began to spread widely. Following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the church expanded rapidly, and people started to enjoy the fruit of Jesus’ salvation.
Jesus promised that the Father would send “another advocate” (Counselor, Comforter, Helper)—the Spirit of truth. The Holy Spirit would be with the disciples, dwell in them, and guide them into all truth.
When Jesus said, “I will not leave you as orphans,” He meant that He would still be with His disciples through the indwelling Holy Spirit. And when He declared, “Because I live, you also will live,” He was referring to the reality that because Christ has risen, those who believe in Him receive new life. This speaks not only of future resurrection but also of the vibrant, renewed spiritual life experienced by His disciples even then.
Conclusion
From the “holy fruit” separated in the fourth year to Christ becoming the “firstfruits,” the Bible progressively unfolds God’s complete plan of redemption. The Lord Jesus, in the time appointed by the Father, offered Himself up and accomplished eternal salvation through the cross. Through the breaking of bread and the cup, He enabled His disciples to partake of His life.
After the Lord’s resurrection and ascension, the Holy Spirit was poured out, and the gospel began to spread to all nations, allowing more people to enjoy the fruit of salvation. Today, God continues to call those who belong to Him to first offer the “firstfruits” of their lives to Him—living in obedience and holiness—so that the life of Christ may bear abundant heavenly fruit on earth, bringing glory to the Father. Amen.
