JEWISH CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS.
By F. C. Gilbert
“The Feast of Harvest,” or Pentecost.
THE second in the series of feasts noticed in our last is named in the heading above. When it was first instituted, it was known as “the feast of harvest,” because at that time the people brought of their first-fruits unto the Lord, as an appreciative token for the abundance of his blessings to them. Later it was called “Pentecost,” because of the time that determined this feast. The first Sabbath after the Passover, or rather the day following the first Sabbath after the Passover, the people were to offer the wave sheaf unto the Lord; and from the time this offering was rendered, seven full weeks, or fifty days, were to be numbered, till this feast was come. Lev. 23:9-21; Deut. 16:9-11; Num. 28:26. It is by this latter name—Pentecost—it is known in the New Testament. At this feast the people gathered from all parts of the country, and assembled at Jerusalem, there to present their offerings unto the Lord for the abundance of crops he had given them, and also to recognize him, by their expression, as the giver of all their bounties. This was the first fruit they gathered in the year. The true significance of this feast we find fulfilled to the disciples fifty days after the ascension. The record is as follows:— “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4. Christ labored upon the earth for three and a half years, and of his labors scarcely any fruit was to be seen. The entire Jewish nation had united in demanding his life; the Romans did their share in condemning him; the disciples had forsaken him; one had betrayed him, another had denied him, and the rest of them had their hopes blasted concerning him. This was the condition of things when Jesus cried on the cross, “It is finished.” But God had said that the words which proceeded from his mouth would not return unto him void, but would accomplish his design. Christ was raised from the dead as the first-fruit of God’s labors, to vindicate the truth that all men5would be raised. And now, on this day of Pentecost, the Lord sends upon his disciples the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, that the words which Jesus spoke while here upon earth might be fastened upon the hearts of the people, they be convicted of sin, and some results of Jesus’ labors be manifested. And on that day 3,000 souls accepted the Saviour of the world as their Messiah, and God was glorified. What a beautiful crop of first-fruits to the Lord this was! And I doubt not that the heart of Jesus, the angels, and all the disciples were made glad at the abundant harvest for the kingdom of God. The labor had been bestowed; God was now giving the increase. This, as God designed to teach his ancient people, was the meaning of the “Feast of the Harvest,” or Pentecost. And the promise of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was not a new thing in the Bible; it had been mentioned many times in the days of the prophets, and all could have known if they would only have sought. But the Jews, having lost sight of the truth of this feast, were ready to disbelieve the work of God as soon as it was not in harmony with their ideas. They had come to Jerusalem, as aforetime, to go through their round of service, but they did not see in it the purpose of God. Acts 2:5-13. They have entirely repudiated God’s original plan concerning this festival. A belief has grown up among them that the chief reason for “Pentecost” is the giving of the law at Sinai. They teach that God gave the law to Israel fifty days after their exode from Egypt, and thus the day is commemorated. And in view of this belief volumes have been written of legends, traditions, and stories, which lead the minds of the people away from the Word of God to their own traditions. And, as mentioned in our last article, instead of simply having one day for this feast, an additional one is observed. In their prayer-books for this holiday, the greater part is filled up with ideas concerning the law, and the rabbis’ ideas concerning the same. In the Pentecostal prayer-book, page 87, we read:— And every generation, and its governors that existed before them, and those that rose after them, were all placed at Mount Sinai with them, to let them know that the intelligent generation was more acceptable than them; to make them understand good judgment and knowledge; there was no blemish in them, for they were entirely perfect. And in the same book, page 150, we read:— Dread seized the holy hosts when thou didst turn the mountain over them like a tub; they received the pure law with fear and tremor. Not a text of Scripture can be adduced to support an idea contained in these quotations, yet scores of other passages might be quoted to show how they regard this festival, and what they say concerning the law. And they even go so far as to blame God if people did not keep the law. And, too, they make God responsible for the ignorance of the Gentiles in not knowing God’s law, as they were not there at the time the words were spoken. In view of these things we wonder not at these words of Jesus: “He that is of God heareth God’s words; ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” “Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye can not hear my word.” John 8:47, 43. The words of Jesus were foreign to them, because they had been so accustomed to devise cunning fables and follow them, as well as allure others into believing them. They could not stand wholesome doctrines, and they would not allow others to believe them. Thus, by teachings which depreciated the Word of God, they brought the strong denunciations of Christ upon them. Reader, are you not thankful that the Lord has given you of his Spirit to reveal the true teaching of his Word, and that the true idea of Pentecost has been revealed to you? Then remember you are debtor to God's ancient people, who are honest, and yet in darkness on these things, and whose hearts are hungering for the truth, even the truth as it is in Jesus.
F. C. GILBERT.