The Anointing Oil and the Incense

22 Moreover, the Lord spoke to Moses , saying , 23 "Take also for yourself the finest of spices : of flowing myrrh five hundred shekels, and of fragrant cinnamon half as much , two hundred and fifty , and of fragrant cane two hundred and fifty , 24 and of cassia five hundred , according to the shekel of the sanctuary , and of olive oil a hin . 25 "You shall make of these a holy anointing oil , a perfume mixture , the work of a perfumer ; it shall be a holy anointing oil . 26 "With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the testimony , 27 and the table and all its utensils , and the lampstand and its utensils , and the altar of incense , 28 and the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils , and the laver and its stand . 29 "You shall also consecrate them, that they may be most holy ; whatever touches them shall be holy . 30 " You shall anoint Aaron and his sons , and consecrate them, that they may minister as priests to Me. 31 "You shall speak to the sons of Israel , saying , 'This shall be a holy anointing oil to Me throughout your generations . 32 'It shall not be poured on anyone's body , nor shall you make any like it in the same proportions ; it is holy , and it shall be holy to you. 33 ' Whoever e shall mix any like it or whoever puts any of it on a layman shall be cut off from his people .' " 34 Then the Lord said to Moses , "Take for yourself spices , stacte and onycha and galbanum , spices with pure frankincense ; there shall be an equal part of each . 35 "With it you shall make incense , a perfume , the work of a perfumer , salted , pure , and holy . 36 "You shall beat some of it very fine , and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where e I will meet with you; it shall be most holy to you. 37 "The incense which you shall make , you shall not make in the same proportions for yourselves; it shall be holy to you for the Lord . 38 " Whoever e shall make any like it, to use as perfume , shall be cut off from his people ."

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 30:22-38

Commentary on Exodus 30:22-38

(Read Exodus 30:22-38)

Directions are here given for making the holy anointing oil, and the incense to be used in the service of the tabernacle. To show the excellency of holiness, there was this spiced oil in the tabernacle, which was grateful to the sight and to the smell. Christ's name is as ointment poured forth, Ecclesiastes 7:1. The incense burned upon the golden altar was prepared of sweet spices. When it was used, it was to be beaten very small; thus it pleased the Lord to bruise the Redeemer, when he offered himself for a sacrifice of a sweet-smelling savour. The like should not be made for any common use. Thus God would keep in the people's minds reverence for his own services, and teach us not to profane or abuse any thing whereby God makes himself known. It is a great affront to God to jest with sacred things, and to make sport with his word and ordinances. It is most dangerous and fatal to use professions of the gospel of Christ to forward wordly interests.