Kingdom Economics

What is First Fruit Offering?

215 verses on faith

218 on salvation

2084 verses dealing with stewardship and accountability for money and finance.

16 of the 38 parables deal with money

Matthew 6:21 (NIV) 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart

will be also.

It’s not how much money you have, it is how much money has you

Deut 8:17-18 (NIV)You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives

you the ability to produce wealth, …

Deuteronomy 12:6 (NIV) 6 there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your

herds and flocks.

‘Burnt offerings & sacrifices’ ‘Tithes’ (pl)

‘Special gifts’ ‘What you have vowed to give’

‘Free will offerings’ ‘First born of your herd and flocks’

1. First Fruits (terumah when given) is separate to the tithe.

Neh 12:44“At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, firstfruits and

tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the

Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites.”

2. First Fruits - given to the priest or spiritual father/mother in your life!

Neh 10:35-37“We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the

LORD each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree. 36 “As it is also written in the Law, we will bring the

firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God, to the priests ministering there. 37 “Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of

our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we

work.”

3. First Fruit Offering is given freely

Ex 25:2““Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. [Terumah] You are to receive the offering for me from each man

whose heart prompts him to give.”

Nu 31:41“Moses gave the tribute [Terumah] to Eleazar the

priest as the LORD’s part, as the LORD commanded Moses.”

4. The promise of First Fruit Offerings

Ezekiel 44:30“The best of all the firstfruits and of all your special gifts will belong to the priests. You are to give them

the first portion of your ground meal so that a blessing may rest on your household.”

Prov 3:9-10

‘Honour the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with

new wine.”

5. What about “private means”

Deut 18:3-8“This is the share due the priests from the people who

sacrifice a bull or a sheep: the shoulder, the jowls and the inner parts. 4 You are to give them the firstfruits of your

grain, new wine and oil, and the first wool from the shearing of your sheep, 5 for the LORD your God has

chosen them and their descendants out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the LORD’s name always. ……… 8

He is to share equally in their benefits, even though he has received money from the sale of family possessions.”

6. First Fruits - From OT to NT

Rom 11:16“If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy,

then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.”

1 Cor 15:20

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”