COMMENTARY

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Upon entering the Promised Land the people are to present the first fruits and to rejoice in Yahweh's goodness. Deuteronomy deals with the time of King Josiah's reforms in 621 B.C. One of the reforms was the centralization of worship in Jerusalem's temple. One of the three compulsory pilgrimages to Jerusalem was the Feast of Weeks when a basket of first fruits was presented to the priest, placed before the altar, and the worshiper responded by re-telling the account of the Exodus. After reciting this "creed" the faithful were to worship with rejoicing and thanksgiving. Biblical scholars claim that this is the most important passage in the Old Testament because it summarizes the mighty acts of Yahweh in Israel's behalf.

Epistle: Romans 10:8b-…