The People Bring the Offering

20 And all the children of Israel went away from Moses. 21 And everyone whose heart was moved, everyone who was guided by the impulse of his spirit, came with his offering for the Lord, for whatever was needed for the Tent of meeting and its work and for the holy robes. 22 They came, men and women, all who were ready to give, and gave pins and nose-rings and finger-rings and neck-ornaments, all of gold; everyone gave an offering of gold to the Lord. 23 And everyone who had blue and purple and red and the best linen and goats' hair and sheepskins coloured red and leather, gave them. 24 Everyone who had silver and brass gave an offering of them to the Lord; and everyone who had hard wood, such as was needed for the work, gave it. 25 And all the women who were expert with their hands, made cloth, and gave the work of their hands, blue and purple and red and the best linen. 26 And those women who had the knowledge, made the goats' hair into cloth. 27 And the rulers gave the beryls and the cut jewels for the ephod and the priest's bag; 28 And the spice and the oil for the light, and the holy oil and the sweet perfumes. 29 The children of Israel, every man and woman, from the impulse of their hearts, gave their offerings freely to the Lord for the work which the Lord had given Moses orders to have done.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 35:20-29

Commentary on Exodus 35:20-29

(Read Exodus 35:20-29)

Without a willing mind, costly offerings would be abhorred; with it, the smallest will be accepted. Our hearts are willing, when we cheerfully assist in promoting the cause of God. Those who are diligent and contented in employments considered mean, are as much accepted of God as those engaged in splendid services. The women who spun the goats' hair were wise-hearted, because they did it heartily to the Lord. Thus the labourer, mechanic, or servant who attends to his work in the faith and fear of God, may be as wise, for his place, as the most useful minister, and he equally accepted of the Lord. Our wisdom and duty consist in giving God the glory and use of our talents, be they many or few.