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Exodus Chapter
Twenty-nine
Exodus 29
Chapter Contents
The sacrifice and ceremony for the consecration of the
priests. (1-37) The continual burnt-offerings
God's promise to dwell among
Israel. (38-46)
Commentary on Exodus 29:1-37
(Read Exodus 29:1-37)
Aaron and his sons were to be set apart for the priest's
office
with ceremony and solemnity. Our Lord Jesus is the great High Priest of
our profession
called of God to be so; anointed with the Spirit
whence he is
called Messiah
the Christ; clothed with glory and beauty; sanctified by his
own blood; made perfect
or consecrated through sufferings
Hebrews 2:10. All believers are spiritual
priests
to offer spiritual sacrifices
1 Peter 2:5
washed in the blood of Christ
and
so made to our God priests
Revelation 1:5
6. They also are clothed with the
beauty of holiness
and have received the anointing
1 John 2:27. The Spirit of God is called the
finger of God
(Luke 11:20
compared with Matthew 12:28
) and by him the merit of Christ
is applied to our souls. This consecration signifies the admission of a sinner
into the spiritual priesthood
to offer spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God
through Jesus Christ.
Commentary on Exodus 29:38-46
(Read Exodus 29:38-46)
A lamb was to be offered upon the altar every morning
and a lamb every evening. This typified the continual intercession which Christ
ever lives to make for his church. Though he offered himself but once for all
that one offering thus becomes a continual offering. This also teaches us to
offer to God the spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise every day
morning
and evening. Our daily devotions are the most needful of our daily works
and
the most pleasant of our daily comforts. Prayer-time must be kept up as duly as
meal-time. Those starve their own souls
who keep not up constant attendance on
the throne of grace; constancy in religion brings in the comfort of it.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Exodus》
Exodus 29
Verse 4
[4] And
Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation
and shalt wash them with water.
They were to be consecrated at the door of
the tabernacle — God was pleased to dwell in the
tabernacle
the people attending in the courts
so that the door between the
court and the tabernacle was the fittest place for them to be consecrated in
who were to mediate between God and man
and to stand between both
and lay
their hands (as it were) upon both. Here they were to be washed
signifying
that they must be clean who bear the vessels of the Lord
Isaiah 52:11. And they were to be clothed with
the holy garments
to signify that it was not sufficient for them to put away
the pollutions of sin
but they must put on the graces of the Spirit
be
clothed with righteousness
Psalms 132:9. They must be girded
as men
prepared and strengthened for their work; and they must be robed and crowned
as men that counted their work and office their true honour.
Verse 7
[7] Then shalt thou take the anointing oil
and pour it upon his head
and
anoint him.
The high priest was to be anointed with the
holy anointing oil - That the church might be filled with the sweet favour of
his administrations
and in token of the pouring out of the Spirit upon him
to
qualify him for his work.
Verse 10
[10] And
thou shalt cause a bullock to be brought before the tabernacle of the
congregation: and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the
bullock.
There must be a sin-offering
to make
atonement for them. The law made them priests that had infirmity; and therefore
they must first offer for their own sin
before they could make atonement for
the people
Hebrews 7:27
28. They were to put their hand on
the head of their sacrifice; confessing that they deserved to die for their own
sin
and desiring that the killing of the beast might be accepted as a
vicarious satisfaction. It was used as other sin-offerings were; only
whereas
the flesh of other sin-offerings was eaten by the priests
in token of the
priests taking away the sin of the people
this was appointed to be all burnt
without the camp
to signify the imperfection of the legal dispensation
for
the sins of the priests themselves could not be taken away by those sacrifices
but they must expect a better high priest
and a better sacrifice.
Verse 15
[15] Thou
shalt also take one ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the
head of the ram.
There must be a burnt-offering
a ram wholly
burnt
in token of the dedication of themselves wholly to God
as living
sacrifices
kindled with the fire
and ascending in the flame of holy love.
This sin-offering must be offered
and then the burnt-offering
for till guilt
be removed no acceptable service can be performed.
Verse 19
[19] And thou shalt take the other ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their
hands upon the head of the ram.
There must be a peace-offering; it is called
the ram of consecration
because there was more in this
peculiar to the
occasion
than in the other two. In the burnt-offering God had the glory of
their priesthood
in this they had the comfort of it. And in token of a mutual
covenant between God and them
the blood of this sacrifice was divided between
God and them
part of the blood was sprinkled upon the altar round about
and
part upon them
upon their bodies
and upon their garments. Thus the benefit of
the expiation made by the sacrifice was applied and assured to them
and their
whole selves from head to foot sanctified to the service of God. The blood was
put upon the extreme parts of the body
to signify
that it was all as it were
enclosed and taken in for God
the tip of the ear
and the great toe not
excepted. And the blood and oil signified the blood of Christ
and the graces
of the Spirit
which constitute and compleat the beauty of holiness
and
recommend us to God. The flesh of the sacrifice
with the meat-offering annexed
to it
was likewise divided between God and them
that (to speak with
reverence) God and they might feast together
in token of friendship and
fellowship.
Verse 22
[22] Also
thou shalt take of the ram the fat and the rump
and the fat that covereth the
inwards
and the caul above the liver
and the two kidneys
and the fat that is
upon them
and the right shoulder; for it is a ram of consecration:
Part of it was to be first waved before the
Lord
and then burnt upon the altar
these were first put into the hands of
Aaron to be waved to and fro in token of their being offered to God
and then
they were to be burnt upon the altar
for the altar was to devour God's part of
the sacrifice. Thus God admitted Aaron and his sons to wait at his table
taking the meat of his altar from their hands. Here
in a parenthesis as it
were
comes in the law concerning the priests part of the peace-offerings
afterwards
the breast and shoulder
which were now divided; Moses had the
breast
and the shoulder was burnt on the altar with God's part.
Verse 31
[31] And
thou shalt take the ram of the consecration
and seethe his flesh in the holy
place.
The other part of the flesh of the ram
and
of the bread
Aaron and his sons were to eat at the door of the tabernacle
to
signify that he not only called them servants but friends. He supped with them
and they with him. Their eating of the things wherewith the atonement was made
signified their receiving the atonement
their thankful acceptance of the
benefit of it
and their joyful communion with God thereupon.
Verse 35
[35] And
thus shalt thou do unto Aaron
and to his sons
according to all things which I
have commanded thee: seven days shalt thou consecrate them.
Seven days shalt thou consecrate them — Though all the ceremonies were performed on the first day
yet
they
were not to look upon their consecration as compleated till the seven days end
which put a solemnity upon their admission
and a distance between this and
their former state
and obliged them to enter upon their work with a pause
giving them time to consider the weight of it. This was to be observed in after
ages: he that was to succeed Aaron in the high priesthood
must put on the holy
garments seven days together
in token of a deliberate advance into his office
and that one sabbath might pass over him
in his consecration. Every day of the
seven
in this first consecration
a bullock was to be offered for a
sin-offering
which was to intimate
(1.) That though atonement was made
yet
they must still keep up a penitent sense of sin
and often repeat the
confession of it. (2.) That those sacrifices which were thus offered day by
day
could not make the comers there unto perfect
for then they would have
ceased to be offered; Hebrews 10:1
2. They must therefore expect the
bringing in of a better hope. Now this consecration of the priests was a shadow
of good things to come. 1. Our Lord Jesus is the great high priest of our
profession
called of God to be so consecrated for evermore
anointed with the
Spirit above his fellows
whence he is called Messiah
the Christ; clothed with
the holy garments
even with glory and beauty; sanctified by his own blood
not
that of bullocks and rams. 2. All believers are spiritual priests
to offer
spiritual sacrifices
1 Peter 2:5
washed in the blood of Christ
and
so made to our God priests
Revelation 1:5
6. They also are clothed with the
beauty of holiness
and have received the anointing
1 John 2:27. His blood sprinkled upon the
conscience
purgeth it from dead works
that they may
as priests
serve the
living God. The Spirit of God is called the finger of God ( Luke 11:20
compared with Matthew 12:28
) and by him the merit of Christ
is effectually applied to our souls
as here Moses with his finger was to put
the blood upon Aaron. It is likewise intimated that gospel ministers are to be
solemnly set apart to the work of the ministry with great deliberation and
seriousness
both in the ordainers
and in the ordained
as those that are
employed in a great work
and intrusted with a great charge.
Verse 36
[36] And
thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement: and thou
shalt cleanse the altar
when thou hast made an atonement for it
and thou
shalt anoint it
to sanctify it.
The consecration of the altar
seems to have
been coincident with that of the priests; and the sin-offerings
which were
offered every day for seven days together
had reference to the altar
as well
as the priests. And atonement was made for the altar. The altar was also
sanctified
not only set apart itself to a sacred use
but made so holy as to
sanctify the gifts that were offered upon it
Matthew 23:19. Christ is our altar
for our
sakes he sanctified himself
that we and our performances might be sanctified
and recommended to God
John 17:19.
Verse 38
[38] Now
this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year
day by day continually.
This daily service
a lamb offered upon the
altar every morning
and every evening
typified the continual intercession
which Christ ever lives to make in the virtue of his satisfaction for the
continual sanctification of his church: though he offered himself once for all
yet that one offering thus becomes a continual offering. And this teaches us to
offer up to God the spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise every day
morning and evening
in humble acknowledgment of our dependence upon him
and
our obligations to him.
Verse 40
[40] And
with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin
of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering.
A tenth deal
or tenth part of an Ephah
is
about three quarts. A hin is five quarts.
──
John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Exodus》
29 Chapter 29
Verses 1-37
To minister unto Me in the priest’s office.
The consecration of priests
I. The priests
were washed first.
1. Regeneration.
2. Remission of sin.
II. After being
washed
the priests were clothed. We must have the fine linen of an inward
sanctification
and the outer garment for glory and for beauty
of the imputed
righteousness of Christ.
1. These garments were provided for them.
2. These garments formed a complete apparel.
3. These garments were very comely to look upon.
4. The dress provided was absolutely necessary to be worn.
III. These priests
were anointed. Be filled with the Spirit. A man in Christ is fragrant with a
holy perfume before the Lord
but out of Christ he is an unclean thing
and
cannot approach the altar.
IV. They had next
to share in the sin-offering. Lift your eyes to Jesus
your ransom and
substitute.
V. After the
sin-offering the consecrated ones went on to take their share in the
burnt-offering. The sin-offering indicated Christ as bearing our sin
but the
burnt-offering sets Him forth as presenting an acceptable offering unto the
Lord.
VI. After the
priests had seen for themselves the sin-offering and the burnt-offering
it was
needful that they should partake of a third sacrifice
which was a
peace-offering. This was shared between the Lord and the priest or offerer.
Thus it was an open declaration of the communion which had been established
between God and man
so that they ate together
rejoicing in the same offering.
Conclusion:
1. Do you and I offer sacrifice continually? Do we every day feel
that our whole being is “Holiness unto the Lord”?
2. What have you to offer now? Bring continually of your--
Verse 10
The Tabernacle of the congregation.
The tent of meeting
The Tabernacle of the congregation--or
rather
tent of
meeting--was the place where God’s presence was manifested. This was granted to
the people of Israel
first in the pillar of fire and cloud
then in the
Tabernacle and Temple. And now for us in Jesus Christ there is “God manifested
in the flesh.”
I. In and through
Christ God is revealed.
II. Through Him and
by Him the Lord God is approached.
1. We have the right of approach through Jesus Christ. His life
embodied a perfect righteousness. His death is the accepted sacrifice.
2. We have not only the right of approach
but also the power to
approach
sharing the Spirit of the Divine Redeemer; for the final result and crowning
proof of our Lord’s exaltation was this--He sent the Comforter. (J. Aldis.)
Verses 26-28
Which is waved
and which is heaved up.
The wave-offerings and heave-offerings
1. As illustrating the state of the heart in those who truly offer
themselves up to God
there is something impressive and beautiful in the
ancient wave-offerings and heave-offerings. Waving is one of nature’s universal
laws. The whole creation
with its myriads of planets
suns and heavens
lives
because it waves to and fro the central life. The life of God waves to and fro
between our spirits and Him.
2. In prayer our souls are heaved up towards the eternal Soul of our
souls. Nothing heaves up the soul like a perfect love. Our daily heave-offering
is a labour that has a great reward. Our aspirations
our inner hearings and
upliftings
are the works which will follow us into the eternal world. They
will follow us by being actually constituent elements of our future body.
3. Some persons think it strange that we should be exhorted to hasten
the coming of the kingdom of God. But all who have a thrilling expectation of
it may be sure that the vital element of the new coming is waving in upon them
and that as they heave up their souls and expand with desire to draw down the
heavenly fire they are unconsciously hastening the coming of the day of God. (J.
Pulsford
D. D.)
The peace-offering
This was the most important sacrifice of all. It consisted of a
ram
called “The Ram of Consecration
” or more literally
the “Ram of the
Fillings
” because the hands of the consecrated persons were filled by
portions of it being placed upon them. Of this ram of consecration
after Aaron
and his sons had imposed hands upon it
and it had been slain
some of the
blood was placed upon the tip of Aaron’s right ear
and upon the thumb of his
right hand
and upon the great toe of his right foot
and similarly upon the
same three members of his sons
the remainder of the blood being sprinkled upon
the altar round about (Exodus 29:19-20; Leviticus 8:22-24). This represented the
consecration to God of such members of the body as would be more especially
called into exercise by the duties of the priestly vocation. The ear was
consecrated to listen to the voice of God
the hand to do His will
the foot to
walk in His ways. Secondly
those parts of the peace-offering
which hereafter
in the exercise of their priestly office
it would be their duty to receive of
the offerer and burn upon the altar
were laid upon the hands of Aaron and his
sons
together with a meat-offering
and waved as a wave-offering before the
Lord (Exodus 29:22-24; Leviticus 8:25-27)
and then burnt upon
the altar (Exodus 29:25; Leviticus 8:28). This ceremony was called
the filling of the hands
and so essential a part of the consecration
ceremony was it
that the expression to “fill the hand” became equivalent to
“consecrate to the priesthood.” The sacrifice itself was called the ram of
consecration
or the ram of fillings. The intention of this action was to
deliver to the ordained persons the sacrifices which they were in future to
offer to God; it was a formal initiation into the sacrificial duties of their
office. It indicated that from that time forward
the right and duty of
officiating at the altar
and of superintending the burning of the sacrifices
would be theirs. Similarly
in the early ordinals of the Greek Church
a
portion of the “sacrifice
” i.e.
of the consecrated elements
was placed in the hands of the person who was ordained priest: a tradition
still observed in the Eastern Church
and which
in a remarkable manner
links
together the priesthoods of the Jewish and Christian Churches. The next part of
the ceremony connected with the ram of consecration
was the sprinkling of
Aaron and his sons and their vestments with its blood
mingled with anointing
oil (Leviticus 8:30). Hence it could be said
that the sons of Aaron were anointed as their father was anointed (Exodus 40:15); they
like him
were
sprinkled with oil
but he alone
as high priest
had the oil poured upon
his head
and could thus be called
in contradistinction to the other priests
preeminently “the anointed priest.” In this secondary anointing
it is to be
observed
that the clothes were sprinkled and consecrated upon and with
the persons. The clothes represented the office filled by the person. The
person and the clothes together represented the priest; therefore the
consecration was performed on both together. Lastly came the sacrificial meal:
the solemn eating of the body of the consecrating peace-offering by Aaron and
his sons within the precincts of the Tabernacle (Leviticus 8:3). It is interesting to
observe that the apostles were consecrated to their priestly office by a like
“filling of the hands
” and by a like sacrificial meal
when our Lord placed in
their hands the broken bread with the words
“Take
eat
this is My body.”
(E. F. Willis
M. A.)
I will dwell among the children of Israel.
The Divine presence in the Church
I. The condition
of the Divine presence
moral and spiritual condition: everything must be holy.
Entirely
daily
permanently
must we yield ourselves to God.
II. The blessedness
of the Divine presence.
1. Enlightening (Exodus 29:42).
2. Glorifying (Exodus 29:43-44).
3. Redeeming (Exodus 29:46).
4. Abiding. “Dwell.” “Pleasures for evermore.” (J. S. Exell
M. A.)
──《The Biblical Illustrator》