03 Spices for Anointing Oil

Spices for Anointing Oil (Exo 25:6;Exo 30:22-23)

“Moreover Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying ’Take THOU also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, and of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the Sanctuary, and of oil olive a hin: and thou shalt make IT an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be a holy anointing oil.’““PRINCIPAL SPICES.” The anointing oil was to be composed of the chief or most excellent spices.

“PURE MYRRH;” literally, freely-flowing myrrh—a fragrant spice, bitter to the taste, but sweet to the scent. The ordinary kind was obtained from the tree by lacerating the bark, but that which flowed freely and spontaneously without laceration was considered the most excellent and valuable. This is the kind here indicated by the Hebrew word.

What do these four spices represent? They are all the produce of trees, the result of vegetation and life. They represent the excellencies and perfections of Christ as Son of Man, the chiefest among ten thousand and the altogether lovely. His humanity was so excellent and perfect, that infidels can but admire His portrait as drawn in the Gospels. The Bride in Canticles (5:13) says, “His lips are like lilies, dropping sweet-smelling myrrh.” His townsmen at Nazareth marvelled at “the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth,” and the officers which were sent to take Him returned with the report, “Never ’man spake like this Man.” And even His laceration on the Cross only brought out the words, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Myrrh is also a soother of pain, and the sympathy of Jesus how comforting!

“SWEET CINNAMON” is the inner bark, sweet and also fragrant. Expressive of the sweetness and excellency of the character of Jesus, as witnessed by those who were familiar with His private walk.

“SWEET CALAMUS” is the pith. Emblematic of the sweetness of the Spirit of Christ in all His internal thoughts, feelings, and affections; similar to the fat of the inwards, burnt as incense on the altar, which was for God alone, and only fully estimated by Rim.

“CASSIA” is the outer bark. Expressive of the sweetness and excellency of the external character and conduct of the Lord Jesus in His daily walk.

Pure Myrrh

500 shekels

Bitter

Cinnamon

250 shekels

Sweet

Calamus

250 shekels

Sweet

Cassia

500 shekels

Sweet 500 shekels bitter, 1000 sweet; such is the composition.

“After the shekel of the Sanctuary.” Not man’s estimate, but God’s holy estimate of the graces of the Spirit of His Christ, which is here set forth.

“AND OF OIL OLIVE A HIN.” This pure olive oil symbolizes the Holy Ghost, the eternal Spirit of the Triune God. It was to be a full hin, for the Father gave not the Spirit by measure unto Him.

“IT SHALL BE A HOLY ANOINTING OIL.” “a compound compounded.” Two things strike us here. First, its holiness. This is twice mentioned, for the Spirit of Christ was a Holy Spirit. Secondly, the tempering of the precious spices together. Expressive of the incomparable excellency of the Spirit of Christ, produced by the exquisite blending of the various graces of His character, in perfect and harmonious oneness. It should be observed that the pure OIL OLIVE represents the Spirit of God apart from the Incarnation. The ANOINTING OIL with the spices added, is typical of the Spirit of Christ and the various graces of His Spirit, which are communicated to believers, and shared by them through the anointing of the Holy Ghost sent down from Christ exalted. “Like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments” (Psa 133:2). Thus they become Christ-like. Thus the character and graces of Christ as the anointed Son of Man are reproduced in those who drink into His Spirit. Not only under the law were almost all things sprinkled with blood (Heb 9:18-22), but we may say that almost all things also were anointed with oil. The Tabernacle To Be Anointed

“And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the Tabernacle, and all that is therein.” (Exo 40:9).For believers “are builded together for a habitation of God THROUGH THE SPIRIT” (Eph 2:22). So on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit from Christ risen and glorified, constituted the assembled believers the dwelling-place of God, and by that one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body. The Tent Of The Congregation

“And thou shalt anoint the tent of the congregation therewith.” (Exo 30:26).When believers are gathered together in the presence of God, and in the Name of the Lord Jesus, that which is of all importance is the power of the Spirit unquenched. This makes the assembly of believers the place of power, and joy, and blessing. The Ark Anointed

“And the ark of the testimony.” (Verse 26).Christ risen, exalted, anointed, having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, is the centre of gathering to the Church of God. He is the subject of testimony, and in Him all the promises of God are, Yea and Amen. The Table Anointed

“And the table and all his vessels” (verse 27).The communion of saints, in the sacred remembrance of the sufferings and death of their divine Saviour, must be in the present power of the Spirit of Christ, and all things connected therewith should be done by the unction of the Holy Ghost. The Lampstand Anointed

“And the lampstand and his vessels” (verse 27).Testimony to Jesus and the ministration of God’s Word is to be in the exercise of the gifts of the Spirit given by Christ exalted, and by His present guidance and grace, and everything connected with this ministry is to be in the power of the Spirit of Christ. The Golden Altar Anointed

“And the altar of incense” (verse 27).The worship of the Father in truth, can only be by the Spirit of Adoption—the Spirit of an ascended Christ. He helps our infirmities, He makes intercession, He causes our prayers and praises to ascend accompanied with all the fragrance of the Name of Jesus. The Brazen Altar Anointed

“And the altar of burnt offering, with all his vessels” (verse 28).It was through the Eternal Spirit, that Jesus offered Himself without spot to God; and it is by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, that testimony is to be borne to the value of His blood, and to the fact of His resurrection, as the ground of communion between God and the soul. The Laver

“And the laver and his foot” (verse 28).The Spirit of God reveals Jesus in the holiness of His Person and walk down here, and makes Him practical sanctification to us. He also reveals to us a glorified Christ, and conforms us to Him, changing us into the same image from glory to glory (2Co 3:18). The Anointing Of Aaron And His Sons

“And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons” (verse 30).The risen Jesus was anointed to His heavenly priest-hood, and it is the Spirit of the ascended Christ, received by the believer, which constitutes him one of God’s holy and royal priesthood (1Pe 2:5; 1Pe 2:9). A Holy Anointing Oil. Verses 31-33 This unction of the Holy One is not to be imitated. In Acts 5. we have a solemn illustration of this, when the graces of the Spirit of Christ manifested in the church as received in Acts 4., were imitated by Ananias and Sapphira, they were cut off from the people of God. The substitution of the energy of the flesh for the power of the Spirit, cuts off from real spiritual communion with the people of God. God and Christ are most jealous for the honour of the Holy Ghost. All manner of sin and blasphemy may be forgiven unto men, but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost hath no forgiveness (Mat 12:31-32).