Meaning of FIRSTFRUITS

(a) Just as God affirmed His ownership of the firstborn of man and animals, He also demanded the first fruits of labor in the field (Ex. 23:16, 19), in recognition of God as the giver of them and in token of gratitude for His gifts.

All men had to appear before God three times a year, and they were at the time: of the barley harvest (at the Feast of Unleavened Bread); of wheat (at the Feast of Weeks) and at the vintage (the Feast of Tabernacles) (Ex. 23:16, 19; 34:22, 26; Deut. 18:4; 26:10; Ezek. 58: 14).

(b) Christians are said to have the first fruits of the Spirit: they have the pledge of an even greater future blessing (Rom. 8:23; 2 Cor. 5:5; Eph. 1:14).

(c) Those gathered to God in any dispensation are called firstfruits (Rom. 11:16; 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:15; Jas. 1:18; Rev. 14:4). (d) Christ, having been raised from the dead, is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Cor. 15:20, 23). "First fruits" necessarily implies that there must be more like them to follow later.