13 and much people are gathered to Jerusalem, to make the feast of unleavened things in the second month—a mighty assembly for multitude. 14 And they arise and turn aside the altars that 'are' in Jerusalem, and all the perfume altars they have turned aside, and cast 'them' to the brook Kidron; 15 and they slaughter the passover-offering on the fourteenth of the second month, and the priests and the Levites have been ashamed, and sanctify themselves, and bring in burnt-offerings to the house of Jehovah. 16 And they stand on their station according to their ordinance; according to the law of Moses the man of God the priests are sprinkling the blood out of the hand of the Levites, 17 for many 'are' in the assembly who have not sanctified themselves, and the Levites 'are' over the slaughtering of the passover-offerings for every one not clean, to sanctify 'him' to Jehovah: 18 for a multitude of the people, many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, have not been cleansed, but have eaten the passover otherwise than it is written; but Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, 'Jehovah, who 'is' good, doth receive atonement for every one 19 who hath prepared his heart to seek God—Jehovah, God of his fathers—yet not according to the cleansing of the sanctuary;' 20 and Jehovah hearkeneth unto Hezekiah, and healeth the people.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 30:13-20
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 30:13-20
(Read 2 Chronicles 30:13-20)
The great thing needful in attendance upon God in solemn ordinances, is, that we make heart-work of it; all is nothing without this. Where this sincerity and fixedness of heart are, there may yet be many things short of the purification of the sanctuary. These defects need pardoning, healing grace; for omissions in duty are sins, as well as omissions of duty. If God should deal with us in strict justice, even as to the very best of our doings, we should be undone. The way to obtain pardon, is to seek it of God by prayer; it must be gotten by petition through the blood of Christ. Yet every defect is sin, and needs forgiveness; and should be matter to humble, but not to discourage us, though nothing can make up for the want of a heart prepared to seek the Lord.