The First Born Series

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.’