Exodus 30:25-31

DISCOURSE: 103
THE ANOINTING OIL

Exodus 30:25. Thou shalt make an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil. And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, and the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt-offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: Whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy. And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.

OF the Ceremonial Law in general we may say, it was intended to shadow forth the Lord Jesus Christ in the whole of his work and offices. The Epistle to the Hebrews admirably illustrates it in this peculiar view, shewing with minuteness and precision the scope and object of it as relating to him, and as fulfilled in him. To his priesthood, in particular, the ordinance which we here read of more especially referred; for in the fortieth chapter, where the words of my text are, again almost literally repeated, it is said, “Their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations [Note: Exodus 40:10.].”

But it is remarkable, that after the Babylonish captivity this ointment, so far as we are informed, was never made. And this seems to have been permitted of God, in order to direct their minds to that richer unction, which they were to receive from their Messiah. Previous to the time of Christ, the Holy Spirit was very sparingly and partially bestowed; as it is said, “The Holy Spirit was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified [Note: John 7:39.]:” but after the ascension of our Lord and Saviour to heaven, “the Spirit was shed forth abundantly” upon God’s Church [Note: Titus 3:6.]; and from that time, multitudes, both of priests and people, have been wholly sanctified unto the Lord. Under this dispensation it is our happiness to live; so that, with a special reference to ourselves, I may well proceed to shew,

I. The universal need there is of the Holy Spirit’s influence—

There was nothing under the Law so holy, but that it needed this divine unction—

[“The tabernacle” itself, the immediate residence of the Deity; and “the ark,” wherein the tables of the Law were placed, and which was a preeminent type of the Lord Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the Law for us; these, I say, were anointed; as were also “the table” of shewbread, and the candlestick, the one representing Christ as the bread of life, and the other “as the light which lighteneth every man that cometh into the world.” Now, whence was it that these needed such purification? They were used in the service of sinful man, and therefore were polluted, and needed to be so purified; as heaven itself, the abode of all the glorified hosts, is said to be: for “the patterns of things in the heavens were purified with these earthly sacrifices, whilst the heavenly places themselves were purified with better sacrifices than these [Note: Hebrews 9:23.].”

That “Aaron and his sons” needed this holy ointment, we do not wonder, since they were sinners like unto us. But taking the whole together as used for sinful man, they serve to shew us, that there is not a thing or person in the universe that must not be so sanctified, before God can find pleasure in any services presented to him.]

Nor is there any thing under the Gospel which does not need it—

[What are the ordinances of religion, or what the souls of men, without the Holy Spirit? The one are an empty form; and the other, “a cage of every unclean bird.” Regard us as men, and every thing we do is defiled before God. But consider us as priests, for into that office every true Christian in the universe is brought [Note: 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6.], and how can we approach the Most High God, and offer any acceptable sacrifice unto him, unless we be first consecrated with that divine unction, which God has promised to all who seek him in spirit and in truth [Note: Luke 11:13.] ? It is the duty of the greatest of men, and the privilege of the meanest, to get himself anointed with this holy oil. Even our Lord Jesus Christ himself, as man and as Mediator, needed it. We are informed, that “God anointed him with the Holy Ghost and with power [Note: Acts 4:27; Acts 10:38.]:” much more, therefore, must we, corrupt and sinful creatures, need, under all circumstances, his gracious communications: indeed we are expressly told, that, “if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his [Note: Romans 8:9.].”]

II.

His sufficiency for all to whom that influence is applied—

This appears,

1. From the preciousness of the ointment which was used—

[The spices were peculiarly rare and odoriferous; and the oil with which they were blended was most pure. And was this appointed for nought? Doubtless this was intended to shadow forth the excellency of the Spirit’s gifts: for on whomsoever he was poured, whether on the Saviour himself or on any of the sons of men, he was “a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and of might, a spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord, and he made the person of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord [Note: Isaiah 11:2,].” There is not a faculty in man to which the Spirit’s influence does not extend, or which it will not sanctify: it imparts light to the understanding, flexibility to the will, purity to the affections, tenderness to the conscience, and holiness to the entire man: it makes us altogether “a new creation,” and sanctifies every offering which we present to God; so that “God smells a sweet savour from it [Note: Philippians 4:18.],” and is well pleased with services which could not otherwise be accepted of him.]

2. From the virtue infused into every thing anointed with it—

[Every vessel that was anointed with that ointment, imparted a sanctity to every thing with which it came in contact [Note: 9.]. And thus, in like manner, every true Christian communicates to others, so far as his influence extends, the same divine principles which he himself has imbibed. As it was said of the Saviour, so may it be said of all the Lord’s anointed, “Their garments smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia [Note: Psalms 45:8.]:” and wherever they come, they diffuse around them “the savour of the knowledge of Christ.” We cannot have a more complete idea of its efficacy, than the Corinthian Church, through the instrumentality of St. Paul, exhibited. In their unconverted state, many of them had been of a most abandoned character: yet, having drawn that character in all its most degraded forms, he says of them, “Such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God [Note: 1 Corinthians 6:9.].” Only let the Spirit of God accompany the word to the hearts of men, and the day of Pentecost fully shews us what effects it will produce.]

I entreat you then, my brethren—

I. Seek the Holy Spirit for your own souls—

[There is “an unction of the Holy One,” which every one of you may obtain, and which will operate upon you to your complete salvation [Note: 1 John 2:20; 1 John 2:27.] — — — But I must guard you against every counterfeit that may be mistaken for it. There is such a thing as enthusiasm: and it is by no means uncommon for persons to mistake some feelings or conceits of their own for the sanctifying influences of the Spirit of God. And I must warn you, that, as any person compounding for himself an ointment similar to that which was made for God was to be cut off from his people [Note: 2, 33.], so a substitution of any thing in the place of God’s Holy Spirit will infallibly issue in your destruction. You shall not however err, if you go to your great High-Priest, and ask for the Holy Spirit at his hands: for he has been anointed with “the Spirit without measure [Note: John 3:34.] ;” and the Spirit that has been poured so largely upon him shall “descend to the skirts of his garments [Note: Psalms 133:2.],” and to the very meanest of all his members.]

2. Guard against every thing that may reflect dishonour upon him—

[The high-priest under the Law was forbidden to display those feelings which were incident to common men, because “the crown of the anointing oil was upon him [Note: Leviticus 21:10.].” And you likewise, my brethren, if you have been indeed anointed with the Spirit of God, must shew that superiority to earthly things, which would be in vain looked for from the natural and unconverted man. Very striking is that expression of Solomon, “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour [Note: Ecclesiastes 10:1.].” There is a sanctity about the Christian character which should be kept inviolate. If you are “sons of God, you should be blameless and harmless in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, shining among them as lights in the world [Note: Philippians 2:15.].” The Spirit of God may be soon “grieved;” yea, he may be even “vexed,” and “quenched” by any deliberate sin: for sin in you will “cause the very name of God himself to be blasphemed.” I pray you, then, walk circumspectly, and in a way “worthy of your high calling,” yea, “worthy also of Him who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.” O “may the Spirit of God sanctify you wholly! and I pray God that your whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”]