Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Exodus
Book: Exodus
Chapter: 26
Overview:
The curtains of the
Tabernacle.
(1-6) The curtains of goats'
Hair.
(7-14) The boards, sockets, and bars.
(15-30) The
Vail of
the
Holy of holies, and for the entrance.
(31-37)
1-6 God manifested his presence among the Israelites in a
Tabernacle or
Tent, because of their condition in the
Wilderness.
God suits the tokens of his favour, and the
Gifts of
his
Grace, to his people's state and wants. The curtains of the
Tabernacle were to be very rich. They were to be embroidered
with cherubim, signifying that the angels of
God Pitch their
tents round about the
Church, Ps 34:7.
7-14 The curtains of meaner materials, being made both longer
and broader, covered the others, and were defended
By coverings
of skins. The whole represents the person and doctrine of
Christ, and the
Church of true Christians, and all heavenly
things, which outwardly are mean, but inwardly, and in the sight
of
God, are glorious and precious.
15-30 The sockets of
Silver each weighed about 115 pounds; they
were placed in rows
On the ground. In every pair of these
sockets, a strong board of
Shittim-
Wood, covered with plates of
Gold, was fitted
By mortises and tenons. Thus walls were formed
for the two sides, and for the west
End. The
Wall was further
held together
By bars, which passed through rings of
Gold. Over
this the curtains were spread. Though movable, it was strong and
firm. The materials were very costly. In all this it was a
Type
of the
Church of
God, built upon the foundation of the apostles
and prophets,
Jesus Christ himself being the chief
Corner-
Stone,
Eph 2:20,21.
31-37 A vail, or
Curtain, separated the
Holy place from the
most
Holy place. It was hung upon pillars. This
Vail was for a
partition between the
Holy place and the most holy; which
forbade any to look into the holiest of all. The
Apostle tells
what was the meaning of this vail, Heb 9:8. That the
ceremonial
Law could not make the comers thereunto perfect, nor
would the observance of it bring men to
Heaven; the way into the
holiest of all was not made manifest, while the first
Tabernacle
was standing.
Life and
Immortality lay hidden till they were
brought to
Light By the
Gospel; which was signified
By the
rending of this
Vail at the
Death of
Christ, Mt 27:51. We have
now boldness to enter into the holiest, in all
Acts of
Worship,
By the
Blood of
Jesus; yet such as obliges us to holy reverence.
Another
Vail was for the outer door of the
Tabernacle. This vail
was all the defence the
Tabernacle had.
God takes care of his
Church On Earth. A
Curtain shall be, if
God please to make it
So, as strong a defence to his
House, as gates of
Brass and bars
of
Iron. With this typical description of
Christ and his
Church
before us, what is our
Judgment of these matters? Do we see any
Glory in the person of
Christ? any excellence in his character?
any thing precious in his
Salvation? or any
Wisdom in the
doctrine of the
Cross? Will our religion
Bear examination? and
are we more careful to approve our hearts to
God than our
characters toward men?