12 you shall devote to the Lord the first offspring of every womb , and the first offspring of every beast that you own ; the males belong to the Lord . 13 "But every first offspring of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb , but if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck ; and every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem . 14 " And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come , saying , 'What is this ?' then you shall say to him, ' With a powerful hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt , from the house of slavery . 15 'It came about, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go , that the Lord killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt , both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast . Therefore e , I sacrifice to the Lord the males , the first offspring of every womb , but every firstborn of my sons I redeem .'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 13:12-15
Commentary on Exodus 13:11-16
(Read Exodus 13:11-16)
The firstlings of beast not used in sacrifice, were to be changed for others so used, or they were to be destroyed. Our souls are forfeited to God's justice, and unless ransomed by the sacrifice of Christ, will certainly perish. These institutions would continually remind them of their duty, to love and serve the Lord. In like manner, baptism and the Lord's supper, if explained and attended to, would remind us, and give us occasion to remind one another of our profession and duty.