Exodus:12

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* Verse 1-20 - The Lord makes all things new to those whom he delivers from the bondage of Satan , and takes to himself to be his people . The time when he does this is to them the beginning of a new life . God appointed that , on the night wherein they were to go out of Egypt , each family should kill a lamb , or that two or three families , if small , should kill one lamb . This lamb was to be eaten in the manner here directed , and the blood to be sprinkled on the door-posts , to mark the houses of the Israelites from those of the Egyptians . The angel of the Lord , when destroying the first-born of the Egyptians , would pass over the houses marked by the blood of the lamb : hence the name of this holy feast or ordinance . The passover was to be kept every year , both as a remembrance of Israel 's preservation and deliverance out of Egypt , and as a remarkable type of Christ . Their safety and deliverance were not a reward of their own righteousness , but the gift of mercy . Of this they were reminded , and by this ordinance they were taught , that all blessings came to them through the shedding and sprinkling of blood . Observe , 1 . The paschal lamb was typical . Christ is our passover , 1st Corinthians strkjv @5:7 . Christ is the Lamb of God , John strkjv @1:29 . often in the Revelation he is called the Lamb . It was to be in its prime ; Christ offered up himself in the midst of his days , not when a babe at Bethlehem . It was to be without blemish ; the Lord Jesus was a Lamb without spot : the judge who condemned Christ declared him innocent . It was to be set apart four days before , denoting the marking out of the Lord Jesus to be a Saviour , both in the purpose and in the promise . It was to be slain , and roasted with fire , denoting the painful sufferings of the Lord Jesus , even unto death , the death of the cross . The wrath of God is as fire , and Christ was made a curse for us . Not a bone of it must be broken , which was fulfilled in Christ , John strkjv @19:33 ,. denoting the unbroken strength of the Lord Jesus . 2 . The sprinkling of the blood was typical . The blood of the lamb must be sprinkled , denoting the applying of the merits of Christ 's death to our souls ; we must receive the atonement , Romans strkjv @5:11 . Faith is the bunch of hyssop , by which we apply the promises , and the benefits of the blood of Christ laid up in them , to ourselves . It was to be sprinkled on the door-posts , denoting the open profession we are to make of faith in Christ . It was not to be sprinkled upon the threshold ; which cautions us to take heed of trampling under foot the blood of the covenant . It is precious blood , and must be precious to us . The blood , thus sprinkled , was a means of preserving the Israelites from the destroying angel , who had nothing to do where the blood was . The blood of Christ is the believer 's protection from the wrath of God , the curse of the law , and the damnation of hell , Romans strkjv @8:1 . 3 . The solemn eating of the lamb was typical of our gospel duty to Christ . The paschal lamb was not to be looked upon only , but to be fed upon . So we must by faith make Christ our own ; and we must receive spiritual strength and nourishment from him , as from our food , see John strkjv @6:53 ,55 . It was all to be eaten ; those who by faith feed upon Christ , must feed upon a whole Christ ; they must take Christ and his yoke , Christ and his cross , as well as Christ and his crown . It was to be eaten at once , not put by till morning . To-day Christ is offered , and is to be accepted while it is called to-day , before we sleep the sleep of death . It was to be eaten with bitter herbs , in remembrance of the bitterness of their bondage in Egypt ; we must feed upon Christ with sorrow and brokenness of heart , in remembrance of sin . Christ will be sweet to us , if sin be bitter . It was to be eaten standing , with their staves in their hands , as being ready to depart . When we feed upon Christ by faith , we must forsake the rule and the dominion of sin ; sit loose to the world , and every thing in it ; forsake all for Christ , and reckon it no bad bargain , Hebrews strkjv @13:13 ,14 . 4 . The feast of unleavened bread was typical of the Christian life , 1st Corinthians strkjv @5:7 ,8 . Having received Christ Jesus the Lord , we must continually delight ourselves in Christ Jesus . No manner of work must be done , that is , no care admitted and indulged , which does not agree with , or would lessen this holy joy . The Jews were very strict as to the passover , so that no leaven should be found in their houses . It must be a feast kept in charity , without the leaven of malice ; and in sincerity , without the leaven of hypocrisy . It was by an ordinance for ever ; so long as we live we must continue feeding upon Christ , rejoicing in him always , with thankful mention of the great things he has done for us . * Verse 21-28 - That night , when the first-born were to be destroyed , no Israelite must stir out of doors till called to march out of Egypt . Their safety was owing to the blood of sprinkling . If they put themselves from under the protection of that , it was at their peril . They must stay within , to wait for the salvation of the Lord ; it is good to do so . In after-times they should carefully teach their children the meaning of this service . It is good for children to ask about the things of God ; they that ask for the way will find it . The keeping of this solemnity every year was , 1 . To look backward , that they might remember what great things God had done for them and their fathers . Old mercies , to ourselves , or to our fathers , must not be forgotten , that God may be praised , and our faith in him encouraged . 2 . It was designed to look forward , as an earnest of the great sacrifice of the Lamb of God in the fulness of time . Christ our passover was sacrificed for us ; his death was our life . * Verse 29-36 - The Egyptians had been for three days and nights kept in anxiety and horror by the darkness ; now their rest is broken by a far more terrible calamity . The plague struck their first-born , the joy and hope of their families . They had slain the Hebrews ' children , now God slew theirs . It reached from the throne to the dungeon : prince and peasant stand upon the same level before God 's judgments . The destroying angel entered every dwelling unmarked with blood , as the messenger of woe . He did his dreadful errand , leaving not a house in which there was not one dead . Imagine then the cry that rang through the land of Egypt , the long , loud shriek of agony that burst from every dwelling . It will be thus in that dreadful hour when the Son of man shall visit sinners with the last judgment . God 's sons , his first-born , were now released . Men had better come to God 's terms at first , for he will never come to theirs . Now Pharaoh 's pride is abased , and he yields . God 's word will stand ; we get nothing by disputing , or delaying to submit . In this terror the Egyptians would purchase the favour and the speedy departure of Israel . Thus the Lord took care that their hard-earned wages should be paid , and the people provided for their journey . * Verse 37-42 - The children of Israel set forward without delay . A mixed multitude went with them . Some , perhaps , willing to leave their country , laid waste by plagues ; others , out of curiosity ; perhaps a few out of love to them and their religion . But there were always those among the Israelites who were not Israelites . Thus there are still hypocrites in the church . This great event was 430 years from the promise made to Abraham : see Galatians strkjv @3:17 . So long the promise of a settlement was unfulfilled . But though God 's promises are not performed quickly , they will be , in their season . This is that night of the Lord , that remarkable night , to be celebrated in all generations . The great things God does for his people , are to be not only a few days ' wonder , but to be remembered throughout all ages ; especially the work of our redemption by Christ . This first passover-night was a night of the Lord , much to be observed ; but the last passover-night , in which Christ was betrayed and in which the first passover , with the rest of the Jewish ceremonies , was done away , was a night of the Lord , much more to be observed . Then a yoke , heavier than that of Egypt , was broken from off our necks , and a land , better than that of Canaan , set before us . It was a redemption to be celebrated in heaven , for ever and ever . * Verse 43-51 - In times to come , all the congregation of Israel must keep the passover . All that share in God 's mercies should join in thankful praises for them . The New Testament passover , the Lord 's supper , ought not to be neglected by any . Strangers , if circumcised , might eat of the passover . Here is an early indication of favour to the gentiles . This taught the Jews that their being a nation favoured by God , entitled them to their privileges , not their descent from Abraham . Christ our passover is sacrificed for us , 1st Corinthians strkjv @5:7 . his blood is the only ransom for our souls ; without the shedding of it there is no remission ; without the sprinkling of it there can be no salvation . Have we , by faith in him , sheltered our souls from deserved vengeance under the protection of his atoning blood ? Do we keep close to him , constantly depending upon him ? Do we so profess our faith in the Redeemer , and our obligations to him , that all who pass by may know to whom we belong ? Do we stand prepared for his service , ready to walk in his ways , and to separate ourselves from his enemies ? These are questions of vast importance to the soul ; may the Lord direct our consciences honestly to answer them . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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