Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Exodus Ch.39 / 40 Ch.s
EX:39
* The priests' garments. (1-31) The tabernacle completed.
(32-43)
#1-31 The priests' garments were rich and splendid. The church
in its infancy was thus taught by shadows of good things to
come; but the substance is Christ, and the grace of the gospel.
Christ is our great High Priest. When he undertook the work of
our redemption, he put on the clothes of service, he arrayed
himself with the gifts and graces of the Spirit, girded himself
with resolution to go through the undertaking, took charge of
all God's spiritual Israel, laid them near his heart, engraved
them on the palms of his hands, and presented them to his
Father. And he crowned himself with holiness to the Lord,
consecrating his whole undertaking to the honour of his Father's
holiness. True believers are spiritual priests. The clean linen
with which all their clothes of service must be made, is the
righteousness of saints, #Re 19:8|.
#32-43 The tabernacle was a type or emblem of Jesus Christ. As
the Most High dwelt visibly within the sanctuary, even on the
ark, so did he reside in the human nature and tabernacle of his
dear Son; in Christ dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,
#Col 2:9|. The tabernacle was a symbol of every real Christian.
In the soul of every true follower of the Saviour the Father
dwells, the object of his worship, and the author of his
blessings. The tabernacle also typified the church of the
Redeemer. The meanest and the mightiest are alike dear to the
Father's love, freely exercised through faith in Christ. The
tabernacle was a type and emblem of the heavenly temple, #Re
21:3|. What, then, will be the splendour of His appearance, when
the cloud shall be withdrawn, and his faithful worshippers shall
see him as he is!