22 God spoke to Moses: 23 "Take the best spices: twelve and a half pounds of liquid myrrh; half that much, six and a quarter pounds, of fragrant cinnamon; six and a quarter pounds of fragrant cane; 24 twelve and a half pounds of cassia - using the standard Sanctuary weight for all of them - and a gallon of olive oil. 25 Make these into a holy anointing oil, a perfumer's skillful blend. 26 "Use it to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the Chest of The Testimony, 27 the Table and all its utensils, the Lampstand and its utensils, the Altar of Incense, 28 the Altar of Whole-Burnt-Offerings and all its utensils, and the Washbasin and its base. 29 Consecrate them so they'll be soaked in holiness, so that anyone who so much as touches them will become holy. 30 "Then anoint Aaron and his sons. Consecrate them as priests to me. 31 Tell the Israelites, 'This will be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations.' 32 Don't pour it on ordinary men. Don't copy this mixture to use for yourselves. It's holy; keep it holy. 33 Whoever mixes up anything like it, or puts it on an ordinary person, will be expelled." Holy Incense 34 God spoke to Moses: "Take fragrant spices - gum resin, onycha, galbanum - and add pure frankincense. Mix the spices in equal proportions 35 to make an aromatic incense, the art of a perfumer, salted and pure - holy. 36 Now crush some of it into powder and place some of it before The Testimony in the Tent of Meeting where I will meet with you; it will be for you the holiest of holy places. 37 When you make this incense, you are not to copy the mixture for your own use. It's holy to God; keep it that way. 38 Whoever copies it for personal use will be excommunicated."
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.