John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. And thou shalt go unto the priest that shall be in those days , etc.] Whose course and turn it would be to minister before the Lord; though, according to the Targum of Jonathan, it was the high priest they were to apply to on this occasion; and so Aben Ezra observes, that this law is obligatory all the time there is an high priest, as if it was not binding when there was none, and all depended on him; who in this case was typical of Christ our high priest, to whom we must bring, and by him offer up, the sacrifice of praise, even the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to God for all his mercies: and say unto him ; what follows, and the basket of firstfruits all the while on his shoulder f470 , even if a king: I profess this day ; it being done once in a year, and not twice, as Jarchi notes: unto the Lord thy God ; directing his speech to the priest: that I am come into the country which the Lord sware unto our fathers for to give us ; and not only come into it, but was in the possession of it, and in the enjoyment of the fruits of it; of which the basket of firstfruits he had brought on his shoulder was a token. The natural and moral use of these firstfruits to the Israelites, and the bringing of them, was hereby to own and acknowledge that God was the proprietor of the land of Canaan; that they had it by gift from him, and that they held it of him, the firstfruits being a sort of a small rent they brought him; and that he was faithful to his oath and promise he had made to their fathers, and which they professed with great humility and thankfulness. The typical use of them was to direct to Christ himself, the firstfruits of them that sleep in him, the first begotten from the dead, the pledge and earnest of the resurrection of his people; to the Spirit of God and his grace, which are the earnest of glory; and to the first converts among Jews and Gentiles, in the first times of the Gospel; to Christians in general, who are the firstfruits of God and of the Lamb, and to their sacrifices of praise and thankfulness they are to offer up to God through Christ, which are acceptable to him through him; and whereby they glorify him as the author of all their mercies, to whom they are to bring their best, and in the first place; (see 1 Corinthians 15:20,23 Romans 8:23 11:16 16:5 Revelation 14:4 Hebrews 13:15).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-11 - When God has made good his promises to us, he expects we should own it to the honour of his faithfulness. And our creature comforts are doubl sweet, when we see them flowing from the fountain of the promise. The person who offered his first-fruits, must remember and own the mea origin of that nation, of which he was a member. A Syrian ready to perish was my father. Jacob is here called a Syrian. Their nation in its infancy sojourned in Egypt as strangers, they served there a slaves. They were a poor, despised, oppressed people in Egypt; an though become rich and great, had no reason to be proud, secure, or forgetful of God. He must thankfully acknowledge God's great goodnes to Israel. The comfort we have in our own enjoyments, should lead us to be thankful for our share in public peace and plenty; and with presen mercies we should bless the Lord for the former mercies we remember and the further mercies we expect and hope for. He must offer his basket of first-fruits. Whatever good thing God gives us, it is his will that we make the most comfortable use we can of it, tracing the streams to the Fountain of all consolation.
Original Hebrew ובאת935 אל413 הכהן3548 אשׁר834 יהיה1961 בימים3117 ההם1992 ואמרת559 אליו413 הגדתי5046 היום3117 ליהוה3068 אלהיך430 כי3588 באתי935 אל413 הארץ776 אשׁר834 נשׁבע7650 יהוה3068 לאבתינו1 לתת׃5414
