The sheaf of the first fruits to be offered unto the Lord had much of Christ in it. (Lev. 23. 10 - 12.) Christ is the first in every thing. But as the first fruits of the harvest, Christ was eminently so here, for by his resurrection from the dead, we are told that he thereby became the first fruits of them that slept. (1 Cor. xv. 20.) The sheaf was to be waved before the Lord, not only to acknowledge him as the Lord, proprietor of all the earth, but also to have an eye to the Lord in Christ, as sanctifying and blessing all our enjoyments.Hence, the Priest was to receive the first fruits of the sheaf, and to wave it before the Lord: and then and not before, the people had liberty to use it. Sweetly teaching us that Christ is first to be eyed in the blessing and then he will be enjoyed in the blessing; so that both law and gospel hold forth the same blessed teaching; Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase; so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." (Pro 3:9, 10.)
After the feast of the passover the Jews brought a sheaf into the temple, as the first fruits of the barley harvest, Lev 23:10; Lev 23:12; and these were the ceremonies that were then performed. On the 16th of the month Nisan, in the evening, when the feast day of the passover was ended, and the second day was begun, which was a working day, the house of judgment deputed three men to go in solemnity, and gather the sheaf of barley. The inhabitants of the neighbouring cities came together, to be present at the ceremony. The barley was gathered in the territory of Jerusalem. The deputies demanded three times successively if the sun was set; and were as often answered that it was. Then they demanded three times if they might be permitted to cut the sheaf, and permission was as often granted. They reaped it out of three different fields, with three different sickles, and put the ears into three boxes to carry to the temple. This sheaf was threshed in the court; and of the grain they took a full omer, and after it had been winnowed, parched, and bruised, they sprinkled oil over it, and added a handful of incense; then the priest who received the offering, waved it before the Lord to the four quarters of the world, crosswise; he cast part of it upon the altar, and the rest was his own. After this every one might begin to reap the harvest.