We know that Shavuot, called Pentecost in Greek, is commemorated as the birth of the church in the Christian world. It is the day that the Lord poured out His Holy Spirit on the disciples who were waiting for the promised Helper.
The Jewish people celebrate Shavuot as a commemoration of the giving of the law on Sinai, when the commandments were written on stone tablets by the finger of God. However, in Jeremiah 31:33, and reiterated in Hebrews 8:9, the Lord promises that the law will be written on their hearts. From stone tablets to our hearts - this is another fulfullment of Shavuot!
Shavuot had been kept by the Jewish people for 1500 years prior to Yeshua's appearance. It was one of the three commanded pilgrimage feasts, for which the Israelites were required to journey to Jerusalem. (Passover, Shavuot, and Tabernacles are the three).
It is amazing that God arranged for Jerusalem to be FULL of His chosen people while Yeshua was literally fulfilling His spring feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, and Passover. Even so, it was missed by so many!
Back at the time of the first Shavuot, the giving of the Torah, 3000 died following the golden calf incident.
Isn't it interesting that when Yeshua fulfilled Shavuot by sending His Holy Spirit, 3000 were saved on that day.
Shavuot was also the celebration of the firstfruits of the wheat harvest. Yeshua had risen on the feast of Firstfruits of the barley harvest. So this is a different harvest. The offering was to include two loaves of bread, of fine wheat flour, with leaven. Remember that leaven represents sin. The loaves signify that we can come as we are! He will clean us up.
Throughout scripture, you will see that there is a requirement of at least two witnesses in order to establish a matter. In Matthew 18, Yeshua sent out His disciples two by two. The two loaves are a beautiful picture of Jews and gentiles, unified together in Messiah!
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