Deuteronomy 16:9-10 & Exodus 34:22
Introduction
From the day after Passover to Pentecost (Shavout) there are seven weeks (Leviticus 23:15-21), or fifty days. The word 'Pentecost' means 'fifty.' Since Pentecost begins on the fiftieth day some Jewish groups recite Psalm 67 which has forty-nine words in Hebrew. Pentecost has various applications both for the Jew and the Christian.
The Jewish holiday
There are two basic views amongst the Jews regarding this feast. The first considers it to be the concluding ceremony of the Passover season. The second idea sees it as an independent festival. From a Biblical understanding of Pentecost it is better to view it as the conclusion of the fifty day Passover celebration. To divorce it from Passover is to lose the spiritual significance of the whole season.
The themes
The first major theme of Pentecost is of revelation. On this day the Ten Commandments were given to the Israel (Leviticus 23:15-21), exactly fifty days after they had crossed the Red Sea. Therefore Pentecost is the day that God revealed Himself and His will to His people.
The second major theme is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; 2:1-18). The resurrection of Christ took place on the Feast of First Fruits, fifty days later the Holy Spirit was given to His followers.
Comparison between the Old and New Covenant in light of Pentecost
|
Old
Covenant |
New
Covenant |
|
Exodus
19 |
Jeremiah
31:31-33 |
|
On the
fiftieth day |
On the
fiftieth day |
|
Commandments
written on tablets of stone (Exodus 24:12). |
Commandments
written on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Hebrews 8:10). |
|
Written
with God’s finger (Exodus 31:18). |
Written
by God’s Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:3; Hebrews 8:10). |
|
Three
thousand slain (Exodus 32:1-28). |
Three
thousand baptised (Acts 2:38-41). |
|
The
letter of the Law |
The
letter of the Spirit (Romans 2:29; 7:6; 2 Corinthians 3:6). |
|
Mount
Sinai (Exodus 19:11) |
Mount
Zion (Romans 11:26; Hebrews 12:22; 1 Peter 2:6). |
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost
In Exodus 19:19 we read that there was a trumpet blast that increased with strength. In Exodus 20:18 we read that the people heard great thunderings coming from Mt. Sinai. The followers of the Lord Jesus Christ experienced spectacular manifestations also (Acts 2).
The Old Testament Pentecost speaks of the birth of Israel as a nation, but in the New we see it as the birth of the Church. The bread that was used on this day was burned upon the altar (Leviticus 23:15-17), and we see the sanctifying fire of the Holy Spirit falling on those in the Upper Room, sometimes referred to as 'the baptism of fire' (Luke 3:16). Pentecost was meant to lead Israel into a deeper relationship with God and a greater understanding of His Word. This is precisely what Pentecost in the New Testament is all about.
Conclusion
Pentecost could not be celebrated without Passover lamb being slain fifty days previously. The baptism in the Holy Spirit cannot be experienced by those who have never come to Christ for salvation. There could have been no outpouring of the Holy Spirit if the Lamb of God had not poured out His blood for us.