Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Numbers
Book: Numbers
Chapter: 19
Overview:
The
Ashes of a
Heifer.
(1-10) Used to purify the unclean.
(11-22)
1-10 The
Heifer was to be wholly burned. This typified the
painful sufferings of our
Lord Jesus, both in soul and body, as
a
Sacrifice made
By Fire, to satisfy
God's
Justice for
Man's
Sin. These
Ashes are said to be laid up as a
Purification for
Sin, because, though they were only to purify from ceremonial
uncleanness, yet they were a
Type of that
Purification for
Sin
which our
Lord Jesus made
By his
Death. The
Blood of
Christ is
laid up for us in the
Word and sacraments, as a
Fountain of
merit, to which
By Faith we may have constant recourse, for
cleansing our consciences.
11-22 Why did the
Law make a corpse a defiling thing? Because
Death is the
Wages of
Sin, which entered into the world
By it,
and reigns
By the power of it. The
Law could not conquer
Death,
nor abolish it, as the
Gospel does,
By bringing
Life and
Immortality to
Light, and
So introducing a better
Hope. As the
Ashes of the
Heifer signified the merit of
Christ,
So the
running water signified the power and
Grace of the blessed
Spirit, who is compared to rivers of living water; and it is
By
his work that the
Righteousness of
Christ is applied to us for
our cleansing. Those who promise themselves benefit
By the
Righteousness of
Christ, while they submit not to the
Grace and
influence of the Holy
Spirit, do but deceive themselves; we
cannot be purified
By the
Ashes, otherwise than in the running
water. What use could there be in these appointments, if they do
not refer to the doctrines concerning the
Sacrifice of
Christ?
But comparing them with the New
Testament, the knowledge to be
got from them is evident. The true state of fallen
Man is shown
in these institutions. Here we learn the defiling nature of
Sin,
and are warned to avoid evil communications.