Tabernacles, we mentioned, celebrated the maturing and harvesting of the whole crop.  Often, the idea of harvest is associated with evangelism, “reaping” souls for the kingdom of God.  But evangelism is probably more like scattering seed and conversion like seed sprouting.   No one harvests seeds or sprouts.  Only mature plants bearing grain or fruit are harvested.

In the parable of the sower, seed is scattered over all kinds of soil.  What distinguishes the good soil is that it produces a crop of 30, 60, or 100-fold (Matt. 13:23).  Jesus taught that many people receive the word and are converted for a time.  But seeds and sprouts only fulfill their purpose if they produce fruit worth harvesting.  Additionally, fruit from individuals is welcome but does not constitute a full harvest.  Ephesians 4:13 gives us a sense of the harvest God is looking for: “…until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”  It is the whole measure of the fullness of Christ in His body that the Feast of Tabernacles foreshadows.  This is the harvest God desires.

Ephesians 4 also describes how we grow into the full harvest of Christ.  It starts with holding to each other, keeping the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace (Eph. 4:11, 16).  As we hold to each other, we function in the measure of grace apportioned to us (Eph. 4:7).  Grace is given to each of us so that we can pass it on to those around us.  For some of us, this means moving in the ministries Paul mentions—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (Eph. 4:11).  But we shouldn’t limit the manifestation of God’s grace to five ministries, as if Paul is giving a definitive list.[1]  Leaders and ministers are important but we will by no means attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ if only leaders contribute.  We can only grow and build ourselves up in love “as each part does its work” (Eph. 4:16).  That means every member of the church has grace from God that is vital to the growth of the church.  In this vein, Paul gave the Corinthians the following guidance about their services: “When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.  Everything must be done so that the church may be built up” (1 Cor. 14: 26).

Completion

Completion is an overarching theme of Tabernacles.  As the seventh and last feast, it completed the Jewish calendar year.  Scripture also associates Tabernacles with the completion of the exodus, the harvest, and the temple (2 Chron. 7:5, 8-10).[2]

Spiritually, Tabernacles shows us all of God’s plans and desires coming to fruition and fullness in Christ.  The progression of the feasts—Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, and so on—shows how God’s work in Christ progressed from Jesus’s death to the indwelling prefigured by Tabernacles.  This indwelling is the goal and completion of God’s eternal plan.  John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us.  We have seen his glory….”  As the Tabernacle of God among men, Jesus was a prototype of what God wanted on a corporate scale: a people in whom His glory could dwell and be seen.  Individual Christians and the church exist to house and display the living God so that He can be known.  As Jesus prayed, “I in them and you in me.  May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me” (John 17:23).