The Symbolism of Number 5

Acts 15:11 "We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”

Acts 20:23 32 “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself."

I.                      INTRODUCTION

The Genealogy of the Number 5

The English word "five" used for the Number 5 is recorded 345 times in the King James Bible verses. 300 of these appearances appear in the Old Testament, while 45 are written in the New Testament.

1. Jesus is born in the fall of 5 B.C. This feast in 5 B.C. is the first day of the Hebrew civil year 3757.

2. The number "5" symbolizes God's grace, goodness, and favor toward humans often. Since five represents grace, when multiplied by itself, it produces "25," which means "grace upon grace."

3. The Ten Commandments contain two sets of five commandments. The first five commandments relate to our treatment and relationship with God, and the remaining one concerns our relationship with other humans.

4.  It’s opined that perhaps man turned from the study into the realization that he was living in a ‘Crude and Cruel’ age where many were maimed and crippled through Disease, Accident, and Warfare.

5. Now. Consider this: a perfect, full-rounded man had “all his members intact!” Can I get a witness? Somebody! When a man looked down and saw his “Five” FINGERS, Five TOES, and “realized” he had good health of “Five” senses, he came to “realize” the GOODNESS OF GOD or the Grace of GOD! Amen! Somebody!

6. The "Five" books of the Bible are called the Pentateuch, the foundation of Scripture, which makes know the ‘righteous’ requirements of God, which man is ‘obligated to obey. It is a significant number in connection with the measurements of the Tabernacle, which was certainly a place where God’s ‘grace’ was manifested.

7. This is a good place to pause because we come back. I would like to talk about the "Five" significant offers that God gives us in the Pentateuch.

II.                    The Five Old Testament Offerings

1.       The First Offering was the ‘Burnt’ Offering:

a.       In Lev. 7:8, we find the principal “Burnt’ offering with this altar, where the offering was burnt to ashes, the priest getting only the animal's skin. The whole offering went up to God and thus speaks of His won satisfaction in the death of Christ; the ashes speak of the absolute and thorough judgment of sin, the skin of the animal, as it was with Adam and Eve.

b. In Gen 3:21(KJV), the Text speaks of the provisions God has made in the death of Christ to clothe the naked. The text says, “21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins and clothed them. 22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever: 23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden.”

c.       How could the ‘Burnt’ offering be divinely view as God’s satisfaction in the death of His

beloved Son, King Jesus? Let’s see if we can make ‘New’ wine for ‘New wine skins!

1.    I believe Is. 61:18 expresses joy and praise for salvation, which only comes forth to the

‘Believer’ through the death of King Jesus! Can I get a witness? Somebody! Furthermore

using the imagery of ‘Salvation’ and the ‘Robe of Righteousness,’ symbolizes ‘divine favor’ and

‘Restoration.’  And this can be the only reason God could can any satisfaction in sacrificing in

some for the ‘Ranson of Many’

2.   In Luke 15:22, the part of the Parable of the Prodigal Son should be interpreted to include

from the first Prodigal Son (and daughter) to the returning home of the last of the Prodigal Son

(and daughter). This is the example God, the Father loving all of His Sons and daughters, and

offering them a ‘Way’ home through sacrificing of King Jesus. All Believers are gifted with Father

Jehovah’s love and forgiveness, as He orders the best ‘robe’ now for every son and daughter, to

be placed on each of them, which symbolizes His ‘acceptance,’ as He ‘honors’ each of His

children.

3. Every ‘Child of God’ always had a ‘Way’ home through forgiveness, repentance, and sacrifice of

King Jesus; and this ultimately gifts each of ‘US’ (Believers) through God’s

redemption, restoration, and the joy of reconciliation. God is satisfied!

 The Second Offering was the Grain Offering:

a. The second voluntary offering was the ‘Grain’ offering, in which the fruit of the field was

offered in the form of a cake or baked bread made of grain, fine flour, and oil and salt. The

grain offering was one of the sacrifices accompanied by a by a ‘offering’ of one-quarter (a quart)

of wine, which was poured into the fire on the altar (Num. 15:4-5). 

b. The purpose of the grain offering was to express ‘Thanksgiving’ in recognition of God’s

provision and unmerited good will toward the person making the sacrifice. The priests were

given a portion of this offering, but it had to be eaten within the court of the tabernacle to ensure

it was consumed in a holy place, maintaining the sanctity of the offering.

  The Third Offering is Peace Offering:

a. The third voluntary offering was the ‘Peace’ offering, which consisted of any unblemished animal

from the worshiper’s herd, and/or various grains or breads. This was a sacrifice of thanksgiving

and fellowship followed by a shared meal. The high priest was given the breast of the animal; the

officiating priest was given the right foreleg. These pieces of the offering were called the ‘wave

and heave’ offering because they were waved or lifted over the altar during the ceremony.

b. The fat, kidneys, and lobe of the liver were given to God (burnt), and the remainder of the

animal was for the participants to eat, symbolizing God’s provision. The vow offering, thanksgiving

offering, and freewill offering mentioned in the Old Testament were all peace offerings.

c. Today, this offering ‘typifies’ “Christ making ‘peace’ by the ‘Blood on His Cross.” For Col. 1:20

(NLT) says, 20 “And through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with

everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. 21 This includes you

who were once far away from God.

d. Furthermore, Eph. 2: 14-16, 17-18 says, 14 “For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united

Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of

hostility that separated us. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by

means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. 17 He

brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the

Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because

of what Christ has done for us. “

The Fourth Offering was the ‘Trespass’ Offering:

a. This Offering ‘typifies’ Christ’s death as atoning for every effect of sin, rather than for

guiltiness, as the basis upon which God will eventually affect the ‘restitution’ of a disordered

universe.

b The Offering was two-fold, covering trespasses both against God and against one’s neighbor.

Lev. 5:1-19 emphasizes the importance of accountability for sins committed unintentionally, such as

failing to testify or touching something unclean. It is always God’s desire for us to ‘purify,’ and for us

to embrace the need to always make ‘restitution.”

c.  In Lev. 6:1-7, God continues His theme of accountability of those who have ‘wronged’ other,

and the necessity to make amends. This principle reinforces ‘justice’ and the importance of

‘restoring’ relationships with God, and with our brothers and sisters.

d. The ‘Trespass’ principle is followed in the New Testament up in Matt. 6:14 (KJV) says, 14 For if ye

forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men

their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses.” [1]

   The Fifth Offering was the Meat Offering”

a. This Offering ‘typifies’’ Christ’s perfect humanity, already partially referred to; the ‘frankincense

speaks of Christ’s fragrant life. For Matt. 3:17 says, 17 “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, this is

my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” [2]; this symbolic the oil used for the anointing of the

Spirit for His [public ministry. The oven used in the Old Testament symbolized the last three hours

of His ‘suffering’ on the Cross, the pain, and his ‘suffering’ at the hands of men seen in Matt. 27:28-

31, “28 And they stripped him and put on him a scarlet robe.

b. 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right

hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 30 And

they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

c. 31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on

him, and led him away to crucify him. [3]

Five Ministries to be Revealed

3. The ‘Five Ministries’ through which God’s ‘Grace’ is to be ‘Revealed.”

a.  are given in Ephesians 4:11, namely Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Pastors, and Teachers.

        12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the

       church, the body of Christ.”

b.       Other Important Symbolisms of the Number 5:

1. David ‘choose’ 5 smooth stones.

2. There were Five giants originating from the town of Gath, home of Goliath.

3. The Book of Psalms is composed of Five parts, with Five books in each part: Book 1: 1-41,

Book 2: 42-72, Book 3: 73-89, Book 4: 90-106, Book 5: 107-150.

4. There were Five women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus: 1. Bathsheba, 2. Rahab, 3.

Ruth, 4. Tamar, and Mary.

5. There were Five Foolish virgins and Five Wise virgins mentioned in the Bible.

6. Jesus ‘fed’ Five-thousand men with Five loaves of bread (Two fish). John 6-1:10

7. Now, listen to this the Number Five occurs in the writers of the Word of God. The Apostle

John wrote Five books: The Gospel of John, I, II, III John, and Revelation.

8. You thought that was surprising, look at this, there are Five things a Christian are told to

remember: 1. What we are saved from (Eph. 2:11-12), 2. Those who suffer (Heb. 13:3), 3. Those

who rule over us (Heb. 13:7), 4. Truth (Jude 17-18, Rev. 3:3), 5. Backslidings, and Repent (Rev. 2:5).

9. Did you know the word ‘Grace’ is used Five times in succession in Rom. Romans 11:5-6. After

which, it is NOT found again in this chapter. The text says, 5 “It is the same today, for a few of the

people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in

choosing them. 6 And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in

that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.” There is additional

symbolism here:

a. Grace appears Five times and Works appear Four times in this Text. But why is that?

b. Grace is of God! And Works is of man! Hello! Somebody? The Works mentioned here are

of man. The natural man, man of the first creation, the unsaved man is represented by the

Number Four. He depends upon himself and his Works for ‘Salvation. Which he will not

receive as a gift.

c. So, his Work is mentioned Four times. If man is ‘Saved’ he must be brought out of the place

he occupies, represented by Four. He must be brought to ‘Grace,’ represented by Five.

10. Here are Five things revealed that brings peace. If one has peace, one must have grace.

a. The Apostle Paul in all his salutations, always said, GRACE be unto you, and PEACE:  1. Rom.

1:7, 2. 1 Cor. 1:3, 3. 2 Cor. 2:2, 4. Gal. 1:3, 5. Eph. 1:2, 6. Col. 1:2, 7. I Thess. 1:1, 8. 2 Thess. 1:2, 9.

Phil.1:2, 10. 1 Tim. 1:2, 11. 2 Tim. 1:2, 13. Titus 1:4, Philemon 3. 

11.There are Five ingredients in holy anointing oil: 1. Myrrh, 2. Sweet Cinnamon, 3. Calamus, 4. Cassis,

and 5. Olive oil.

12. In Isaiah 6:9, there are FIVE names Christ would be called: 1. Wonderful, 2. Counselor, 3. The

Mighty

God, 4. The Everlasting Father, and 5. The Prince of Peace.

13. In John 1:17 John said, “GRACE and truth came by Jesus Christ.” The FIFTH name by which He

would be called was the “Prince of Peace.” GRACE brings PEACE.”

14. In John 5:1-15 (the FIFTH chapter) (KJV) says, “there was a pool with FIVE porches where people

came to get healed of their infirmities. This place was called ‘Bethesda.’ Which in Hebrew means

‘House of Mercy.’

15. In Jeremiah 33:10-11, he foretold the future ‘GRACE’ that would be upon Israel (in FIVE VOICES)

when he said, Jerusalem would be: 1. The VOICE of joy, 2. The VOICE of gladness, 3. The VOICE

of the bridegroom, 4. The VOICE of the bride, and 5. The VOICE of them that says, “Praise the

Lord of Hosts: for the Lord is good, and His mercy endures forever.”

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