The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 81

him, we proceed to consider the offering of the firstfruits, which is still the minchah under yet another form. The text brings before us- I. THINGS PECULIAR TO THE OFFERING OF THE FIRSTFRUITS, These are: 1. Tlie matter of the offering. (1) It is specified as " green ears of corn." Still observe it is of the nature of bread, and so still typifies Christ, the Bread of Life. (2) But i; this case the life is in the grain. In this view Christ compares himself to a corn of wheat (John xii. 24). In this passage there is also a reference to Ps. lxxii. 16, which is con- strued ~y l~arned J e'!s thu~ : "He s,?all be a _coi:~ of wheat in the earth on the top of the mountams. (3) It 1s specified as firstfrmts. As the firstborn of every animal was the Lord's (Exocl xii. 29; xiii. 12, 13; Numb. xviii. 16), so did he claim the vegetable firstfruits. And as Christ is "the First born of every creature" (Col. i. 15), the Anti- tfPC of ev~ry firstborn,-so is he the Firstfruits of everythi?g in the creation. Through him all thmgs are blessed to our use and benefit. (4) In this character Jesus will come out in full form in the resurrection. He is the "First-begotten from the dead" (Rev. i. 5). The "Firstfruits of them that slept" and still sleep (1 Cor. xv. 20 23 • 1 Thess. il". 14). Thus is he " the Beginning [or Chiel] of the [ newJ creation of God:, (R:v. iii. 14). 2. The treatment it received. (1) The corn was dried by the fire. It was not allowed ,to dry gradually and gently in the air, but was violently scorched. Here was set forth expressively that fire of grief and sorrow which parched the soul of Jesus. The fires of his zeal for the glory of God, which was outraged by the sinfulness of men, entered into his very soul (Ps. cxix. 139). So did the corresponding flames of sympathy for that humanity which he had so wondrously assumed; consuming, because of its sinfulness, under the fires of God's anger. (2) It was beaten. This threshing of the wheat represented the severity with which Jesus was treated, (a) in the court of -Caiaphas; (b) in the hall of Pilate; (c) at the place called Calvary (Isa. liii. 5, 8). II. THINGS COMMON TO THE FIRSTFRUITS AND OTHER FORMS OF THE MINCHAH. 1. It was offered upon tM altar of burnt offerings. (1) Touching the altar, it became a. sacrifice to God. (2) Consumed in the fire, it was accepted by God. 2. It was offered with oil. (1) The natural use of this was that the offering thereby became more readily consumed. The flame of oil is bright and fervent. (2) This was a symbol of the Holy Spirit's grace, which without measnro rested upon Christ (see Ps. lxix. 9; John ii. 17). 3. It was offered with frankincense. (1) The physical use of this would be to take away from the tabernacle the smell of a slaul!:hter-house, and to fill the courts with a grateful odour. (2) The spiritual use was to prefigure the fragrance of the merits -of Jesus, (a) in his sacrifice (Eph. v. 2); (b) in his intercession (Rev. viii. 3, 4). Thus the offensiveoess of the flesh in us is destroyed, and the living sacrifice becomes .acceptable (Rom. xii 1).-J. A. M. Vers. 1-16.-0ur re«Jgnition of the hand of God in tM blessings of life. The fact that the law of the meat offering follows that of the burnt offering is itself significant. It suggests- L THE TRUE onDER OF THE DIVINE LIFE IN MAN. It is, indeed, a mistake for the human teacher to attempt to lay down precise lines of thought and feeling along which souls must move. "The progress of religion in the soul" varies with indi- vidual experience. The action of God's Spirit is not limited, and while we should seek to lead all souls to walk in the road by which we aro travelling, we should not be anxious that they should tread in our own steps. On the other hand, there is an order of thought and experience which may not be inverted. First the burnt offering, then the meat offering; first the soul's presentation of itself as a sinner to ask forgive- ness and to offer itself to God, then the service of recognition of him and gratitude for bis gifts. It is a. serious, and may be a fatal, spiritual error to attempt to gain God's favour by doing those things which arc appropriate to his children, without having first sought and found reconciliation through a crucified Saviour. Start at the starting- point of the Christian course, lest, when the goal is reached, the crown bo not placed upon the brow. II. OUR GRATEFUL RECOGNITION OF GoD's CONSTANT GOODNESS TO us. The meat offering was a sacrifice in which the worshipper acknowledged that the various bless- i.ogs of his life came from God and belonged to him. He brought fine flour (ver. 1), l.lld oil (ver, 1), also wine as the accompanying drink offering (eh. xxiii. 13). The chief OH, II. 1-16.] THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. 37