CONSECRATION OF THE FIRST BORN
In Jewish law, the firstborn son held a unique status with distinct responsibilities and privileges. According to Deuteronomy 21:17, he was entitled to a double portion of his father’s inheritance. This special status reflected a broader belief that the firstborn males and animals were consecrated to God. The Lord commanded, “Consecrate to me every firstborn. The first to open the womb among the Israelites, whether human or animal, is mine” (Ex 13:2). This consecration required parents to offer their firstborn child to God and then redeem him, as outlined in Numbers 18:15-16, by sacrificing an animal and giving five shekels to a priest – approximately a month’s wages.
This practice supported the priests who dedicated their lives to God’s service in place of the firstborn sons of Israel (Num 3:11-13). The non-Levites would redeem their firstborn sons with five shekels, fulfilling this obligation on the 40th day by presenting the child to a local priest and making the payment (Num 18:16).
Historical Context
The consecration of the firstborn was deeply rooted in the history of the Israelites. God instructed Moses to remind the people of the significance of this practice: “As Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD slew every firstborn in Egypt, of man and beast alike. That is why I sacrifice to the LORD all the males that open the womb, but the firstborn of my sons, I redeem” (Ex 13:15). This act of consecration commemorated God’s deliverance of the Israelites’ firstborn during the original Passover when the angel of death spared their lives but struck down the firstborn of the Egyptians (Ex 12:12).
The Presentation of Jesus
In adherence to this law, Joseph and Mary brought the infant Jesus to the Temple to present Him to God as the firstborn. This presentation, recorded in Luke 2:22-24, underscores Jesus’ fulfillment of the law from His infancy. The lack of mention of a redemption payment in the Bible highlights Jesus’ unique role. As the ultimate High Priest, He dedicated His life entirely to God’s service. Later, Jesus sacrificed Himself as both priest and lamb for the redemption of humanity’s sins, aligning with His role as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29).
The presentation of Jesus and Mary’s purification occurred 40 days after His birth, leading to the celebration of this event on February 2nd in the Christian liturgical calendar.
REFLECTION
For Christians today, the concept of the firstborn consecrated to God takes on a broader, spiritual meaning. According to Hebrews 12:23, all members of the church are part of “the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven.” This signifies that through Jesus, the ultimate Firstborn, all believers are consecrated to God. The redemption of the firstborn in Egypt foreshadows our redemption through Christ’s sacrificial death.
Paul exhorts us in Romans 12:1-2: “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” As Christians, we are called to live lives of continual consecration, offering ourselves wholly to God in gratitude for our redemption.
The practice of consecrating the firstborn in the Old Testament serves as a powerful reminder of God’s deliverance and our ongoing need to dedicate our lives to Him. Just as the Israelites redeemed their firstborn as an act of worship and remembrance, we, too, are invited to live lives marked by sacrifice and devotion. By offering ourselves as living sacrifices, we honor the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ and align our lives with God’s will.
Let us reflect on the profound gift of redemption we have received through Jesus. May we continually seek to renew our minds and discern God’s good and perfect will, living in a way that is holy and pleasing to Him. As members of “the assembly of the firstborn,” let our lives be a testament to the grace and mercy of our loving Father, who has redeemed us and called us His own.