AMC, 21.09.2025
Text: Exodus 22:28-30
Theme: Give Your First Born
Greetings: The Lord is good and his love endures forever!
Introduction: The giving offerings are classified into four according to the Bible, such as Tithe, Offerings, First Fruits and First Born, and Alms giving. We have learned over the weeks in this month about Paying Tithe, and Offerings.
Today, I would like to share with you about the Offerings, especially on the First-Fruits and First Born Sons. Our meditation and my thoughts are based on Exodus 22:29: “You must give me the firstborn of your sons. Do the same with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day.” Let me share with you three things of the firstborn:
- The rights of the First Born
- The responsibility of the First Born
- The redemption of the First Born
1. The Rights of the First Born
The Septuagint (LXX) translates the Hebrew word “bekor” “firstborn [male]” with Greek the word prototokos (from protos = first, foremost, in place order or time; rank dignity + titko = beget, to bear, bring forth) can mean first-born chronologically (Luke 2:7), which is the sense it is used in Exodus 22:29.
The expression "first-born" refers only to “the first-born son of the father”, and not to "the first-born of the mother". He always had the rights of the first-born, whether he was a legitimate or an illegitimate son.
According to Deuteronomy 21:15–17, a father was obliged to acknowledge his firstborn son as his principal heir, and to grant him a double portion of his estate as inheritance. But Roman law emphasised only legitimate can enjoy the inheritance. In order to enjoy the first-born right he had to be born naturally.
The firstborn male was important because he was believed to represent the prime of human strength and vitality (Genesis 49:3, psalm 78:51) as the “opener of the womb” (Exodus 13:2, 12,15, Numbers 18:15; Luke 2:23). The Firstborn, the oldest son, with the associating meaning of prominence in the clan and privileges pertaining to clan and inheritance (Genesis 43:33, Nehemiah10:37). The first son born to the father occupied a prominent place in the Hebrew family (Genesis 27:19, 35:23, 41:51, 43:3; 2 Samuel 3:2). The first-born Son will be the principal heir and successor of his father as head of the family.
The firstborn was always regarded as the best, Israel was regarded God’s FIRST BORN, His favoured people. “Israel is My son, My firstborn” (Exodus 4:22). Rashi understands “Israel my firstborn son” as God honouring Jacob with the birthright to which Esau had been born.
The specific law relating to the firstborn of living creatures was brought out in a strong light in connection with the deliverance from Egypt and God spared their firstborn while He killed the firstborn of Egypt. (Exodus 13:2, 13:12-13, 23:19; Leviticus 22:27; Deuteronomy 26:2-11; Nehemiah 10:35). Exodus 13:11-12, commands to obey when they come into the land of Canaan. Most of the mosaic Law didn’t make much sense for Israel in the wilderness but it’s a life principle in Canaan
2. The responsibilities of the First Born
The Hebrew Scriptures portray the birthright as bestowing not only a double portion of inheritance but also a special blessing, priestly office, the position and authority of lordship, and procreative power.
The firstborn’s birthright involved a double portion of the household estate and the leadership of the family if his father became incapacitated or was absent for some reason (Deuteronomy 21:17) After his father’s death, the eldest son usually cared for his mother until her death and provided for his unmarried sisters.
Cain lost the Birthright. Ishmael lost the birthright Paul refers to this event in Galatians 4:21–5:1. Esau’s loss of the birthright explain that Esau initiated forfeiture by a deliberate decision to sell his birthright. Jacob said, ‘Swear to me first.’ So he swore [an oath] to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob” (Genesis 25:31–33). Reuben lost the Birth right. Reuben was “the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel” (1 Chronicles 5:1–2). Jacob apparently, at least in practice, removed the birthright from Reuben at the time he adopted Joseph’s two sons (Genesis 48:5, 16). Absolam lost the birthright. They lost their birthrights alongside their responsibilities in the family.
Matthew Henry: ‘There is danger, if we delay our duty or wholly omit it. When we avoid the first opportunity, in expectation of another, we may be cheated by Satan to miss the mark. Let not young people delay to offer to God the first-fruits of their time and strength. The delays at last turned to be denials and the deceitfulness of sin.’
The New Testament describes Christ as the firstborn (Hebrews 1:2, 6). Spiritually, Jesus is the “firstborn among many brothers and sisters” in the body of Christ (Romans 8:29) and in Colossians 1:15, the apostle Paul writes, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” This echoes the wording of Psalm 89:27-29), where God says of King David, “And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail. I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure.”
3. The Redemption of the First Born
Translations: “You must be prompt in giving me the tithe of your crops and your wine, and the redemption payment for your oldest son” (TLB). “Thou shalt not tarry to offer to the Lord thy tithes, and thy first fruits. Thou shalt give to me the first begotten of thy sons” (WYC). “Thou shalt not delay to offer” (KJV1), “You must not hold back” (CSB), “Don't fail to give me” (CEV), “Do not refuse to offer” (EASY). “Never withhold your best” (GW), “Don’t be stingy” (MSG).
Although this passage does not use any of the common terms for sacrifice, it draws a clear correlation between the act of “giving” firstborn children to God and “giving” firstborn cattle and sheep, which are presumably destined for slaughter. Nothing in the text suggests that firstborn humans or animals are to be treated any differently from one another. (Dr. Eve Levavi Feinstein, Hebrew Bible Scholar).
Exodus 34:19-20: “Every first issue of the womb is Mine, from all your livestock that drop a male as firstling, whether cattle or sheep. But the firstling of an ass you shall redeem with a sheep; if you do not redeem it, you must break its neck. And you must redeem every firstborn among your sons. None shall appear before Me empty-handed.” God, who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all.
The giving of the First Born Sons were done through redemption, the giving of money to substitute for the son (Exodus 34:19-20). Money was also substituted for the firstborn among unclean animals, but the firstborn among clean animals was sacrificed to the LORD. Numbers 3:51: “And Moses gave the money of their redemption to Aaron and his sons.” Whenever you give the money as required, I count it as if you gave it to me directly, and whenever you don’t give it as required, I count it as disobedience.
Bible teaches to the firstborn belongs to God. This speaks of giving proper priority to honouring God with one's offerings to Him, offerings are to be rendered to God, and at the right time. Give not leftover, but the first and the finest. It is very clear that God keeps the offering records of each person. Those who are right with God want to give God their best. They want God to have the best.
The Jewish Rabbis suggest that an alternative interpretation of this verse is that the firstborn are being commanded to serve God, in the way Priests and Levites do. The best example is in 1 Samuel 1:11, where Hannah promised God to give her First Born to serve God in the Temple.
The Hebrew narrative develops the importance of the firstborn in three ways. First, the special holy status of all firstborn sons by consecration, as sacred and holy (Exodus 13:2, Numbers 18:17). Second, the Hebrew Scriptures portray an ongoing need for redemption of the firstborn son (Exodus 13:14–15). Finally, the Hebrew narrative explains that the firstborn’s consecration initiates a different kind of sacrifice.
Paul will later call this a “living sacrifice,” which he defines as “spiritual service of worship” (Romans 12:1). Paul’s exhortation is compatible with the Hebrew Scriptures, for in the Exodus account God repeatedly commands, “Let my people go that they may worship me.” The Hebrew word that is translated “worship” is avad, from which the word for servant derives (eved). In Hebrew, humble service acknowledges the one true God in proper worship.
One of the ways to honor God is by giving Him whatever is due to Him. When we are commanded to give something to God, it is a sin if we don’t give it or delay in giving it. Delay would show a grudging spirit. “True obedience is prompt and present, ready and speedy, without demurs and consults.” (Trapp).
Abel’s offering was one of the firstlings of his flock(Genesis 4:4), and Cain’s was the first fruits. Both are acceptable but the attitude of the giver differentiated the offerings in the Genesis. The Historian Pliny expresses that the Romans never tasted either their new corn or wine, till the priests had offered the FIRST-FRUITS to the gods.
Conclusion:
What about you? Are you enjoying the birthright in Christ to enjoy the honour, privilege at the same time with respect and responsibility.
