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The twenty-third chapter of the Book of Leviticus presents the appointed festivals to the Israelites, one of which is the offering of the firstfruits.
This offering should be performed when they arrive at the Promised Land, plant and reap its harvest; it is the firstfruits of barley
Each one is to bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain harvested.
A sheaf is a bundle of stalks that could be held in one’s hand, and the priest will lift it before the Lord so it may be accepted on their behalf
On the same day, they are to offer sacrifice with a one-year-old male lamb without defect as a burnt offering to the Lord.
This is to be accompanied by the measurements for grain offering, to be a sweet-smelling aroma to God.
The new grain can only be eaten when this offering completed.
The second lesson is a parable about the kingdom of heaven likened to a man who sowed good seed on his field, but while everyone was sleeping his enemy sowed weeds among the wheat.
Upon discovery, the farmer forbids his servant to pull out the weed because they might uproot the wheat in so doing; instead, the wheat and weed should grow together until the harvest.
Although by this, the farmer is taking a greater risk of allowing the wheat to grow with the weed till harvest, at the same time affirming his confidence that the good seed will bear fruit for harvest nonetheless.
The Farmer is Jesus, the field is the world, the good seed is the people of the kingdom, the weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil.
The people of the kingdom will flourish and enter God’s rest while all who do evil are doomed to destruction