Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Numbers
Book: Numbers
Chapter: 28
Overview:
Offerings, The daily
Sacrifice.
(1-8) The
Offering On the
Sabbath and new moons.
(9-15) Offerings at the
Passover, and
On
the
Day of
First-fruits.
(16-31)
1-8 God saw fit now to repeat the
Law of sacrifices. This was a
new
Generation of men; and they were concerned to keep their
peace with
God when at
War with their enemies. The daily
Sacrifice is called a continual burnt-
Offering; when we are bid
to pray always, at least every morning and
Evening we should
offer up solemn prayers and praises to
God. Nothing is added
here but that the
Wine poured out in the
Drink-
Offering is to be
strong
Wine, to teach us to serve
God with the best we have. It
was a figure of the
Blood of
Christ, the memorial of which is
still left to the
Church in
Wine; and of the
Blood of the
martyrs, which was poured out as a
Drink-
Offering On the
Sacrifice and service of our
Faith, Php 2:17.
9-15 Every
Sabbath Day, beside the two lambs offered for the
daily burnt-
Offering, there must be two more offered. This
teaches us to double our devotions
On Sabbath days, for
So the
duty of the
Day requires. The
Sabbath Rest is to be observed, in
order more closely to apply ourselves to the
Sabbath work, which
ought to fill up the
Sabbath time. The offerings in the new
moons showed thankfulness for the renewing of earthly blessings:
when we rejoice in the
Gifts of
Providence, we must make the
Sacrifice of
Christ, that great
Gift of special
Grace, the
Fountain and
Spring-head of our joy. And the
Worship performed
in the new moons is made typical of
Gospel solemnities, Isa
66:23. As the
Moon borrows
Light from the
Sun, and is renewed
By its influences;
So the
Church borrows her
Light from
Jesus
Christ, who is the
Sun of
Righteousness, renewing the state of
the
Church, especially under the
Gospel.
16-31 By the sacrifices enjoined in this
Chapter, we are
reminded of the continued power of the
Sacrifice of
Christ, and
of our continual need to depend thereon.
No hurrying
employments, or perilous situations, or prosperous
circumstances, should cause slackness in our religious
exercises; but should rather stir us up to greater diligence in
seeking help from, or giving thanks to the
Lord. And all is to
be accompanied with
Repentance,
Faith in the
Lord Jesus, and
Love to him, and to produce true
Holiness in our conduct towards
all men; otherwise
God will abhor our most solemn services and
abundant devotions. And
Christ is able to supply the wants of
every
Day, every
Week, every
Month, every
Year, every ordinance,
every case.