Today, we delve into the unique offering on Pentecost, focusing on the two wave loaves baked with leaven, as described in Leviticus 23. These loaves form the centerpiece of a divine parable, presenting a profound question due to leavening's typical representation of corruption in Scripture. Their presence in a holy day offering seems contradictory, creating a tension that demands resolution. These two loaves, made from fine flour of the first part of the wheat harvest, are identified as a grain offering. Unlike other offerings, the grain offering symbolizes the fruit of one's labors dedicated to God and man, reflecting service and generosity from what God has provided. The fine flour signifies striving for the highest quality in service to others, yet the leavening indicates that even our best efforts are tainted by inherent corruption. The number two suggests difference, often leading to division or enmity when coupled with carnality, as symbolized by the leaven. This raises the question of how God could accept an offering characterized by such imperfection. Notably, these loaves are not placed on the altar, as God does not partake of the leavening. Instead, the priest waves them before the LORD, implying close inspection and conditional acceptance, but only for the priest's use, not for God's table. The wave loaves are not presented alone but as part of a compound offering, including a substantial burnt offering of ten animals symbolizing divine order and perfection, a sin offering for cleansing, and a peace offering for fellowship between God and man. The priest waves the loaves alongside portions of these other offerings, indicating that God's acceptance of the leavened loaves depends on the accompanying sacrifices. This illustrates that our imperfect works are accepted only through the greater, perfect work of Jesus Christ, our High Priest, who fulfills the burnt, sin, and peace offerings with His unreserved devotion, sinless sacrifice, and mediation for fellowship with the Father. The symbolism of the wave loaves relates to this life, where differences and corruption persist, rather than the resurrection, where incorruption will prevail. The number two reflects ongoing divisions among God's servants, evident even in the early church with disputes over preeminence and cultural differences between Jews and Gentiles. Yet, through Christ's work, God accepts these imperfect labors, as seen on Pentecost in Acts 2, where unity began to emerge despite differences, facilitated by the firstfruits of God's Spirit. The wave loaves also remind us of present-day differences within the church, such as varying understandings of counting to Pentecost. Despite earnest efforts, corruption in understanding persists, requiring resolution from above through Jesus Christ. The accompanying offerings teach us to focus on devotion to God, value the peace Christ provides, and remember our shared need for forgiveness, fostering unity even amidst disagreement. Ultimately, the two leavened wave loaves underscore the corruption that remains in us, affecting all our works. Yet, God's acceptance highlights the surpassing perfection of Jesus Christ's work, ensuring that Pentecost remains a Feast to the LORD, glorifying Him above all.

The unique offering on the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) serves as a parable that teaches about the Messiah. The two loaves baked with leaven form the centerpiece of this offering. These loaves pose a serious question because leaven universally symbolizes corruption in Scripture, yet here it appears in a holy day offering. This introduces a tension that must be resolved to understand the offering. The mystery deepens with the presence of not one, but two leavened loaves, suggesting a difference, as the number two signifies that there is another. This difference may not be benign, as the priest bakes the loaves with leaven, symbolically indicating corruption. Differences with carnality often produce division, if not enmity. Thus, the presentation of two different, leavened objects to the holy God raises the question of how He could accept such an offering.

Like the two leavened loaves of the Pentecost offering, even converted Jews and Gentiles had significant differences, yet God's intent from the beginning was to bless all families of the earth through Abraham and His Seed. The two leavened loaves also remind us of the corruption—the law of sin and death—that remains in us even after baptism, affecting all our works. Despite this, God's acceptance of our imperfect works through the Pentecost offering highlights the greater, perfect work of Jesus Christ.

On the Feast of Weeks, a unique offering is presented, centered around two loaves known as Wave Loaves. These loaves, curiously, include leaven, which stands as a symbol of corruption throughout Scripture, raising questions about their place in a holy day offering. As a grain offering, detailed in Leviticus 23:16-17, the Wave Loaves are not substitutionary but represent the fruit of one's labors from God's bounty, offered to Him. Only a memorial portion is burned on the altar, with the bulk benefiting humanity through the priest, symbolizing devotion and generosity to others. This offering ties directly to the instruction in Leviticus 23:22, which commands leaving portions of the harvest for the poor and the stranger, reflecting the essence of giving what is due to fellow man. Additionally, these loaves are called firstfruits in Leviticus 23:17, signifying an early, abundant sample of the harvest, though not its completion, and highlighting the labor and abundance provided by God.

The Pentecost offering, symbolized by the two leavened loaves, embodies the concept of difference among God's servants. These Wave Loaves represent the imperfections and varied approaches within the church, as even the disciples displayed differences in their service, ranging from boldness to unobtrusiveness, and struggled with issues like striving for preeminence. Despite such flaws, the High Priest can use their imperfect works because God accepts the leavening in conjunction with Christ's perfect work as Priest. In the Pentecost offering, the two loaves, though distinct, form a single offering, mirroring how differences are divinely overcome in the church, as seen in Acts 2 where the apostles were of one accord and received the Holy Spirit, uniting them in purpose despite their individual disparities.