---

-As the sacrifices are ever leading us to the great altar of brass, and as the continual washings that are mentioned in this chapter will be ever turning us to the laver of brass, let us here, for a moment, fix our eye upon them. The one shows us pardon of sin by Christ's death, the other shows us purification of heart by Christ's Spirit. But why is there such a singular peculiarity in the construction of both altar and laver? The former was covered with the brass of the censers that had been held in the polluted hands of Korah, Dathan, and his company (Numbers 16:38); and the latter was formed of the brass that was obtained from the mirrors of the women (Exodus 38:8) who worshipped at the Tabernacle door, and had been used but too frequently to gratify the unholy feelings called forth by "the lust of the eye."

I. THE BRAZEN CENSERS OF KORAH AND HIS COMPANY CONTRASTED VERY EVIDENTLY WITH THE GOLDEN CENSER OF A TRUE PRIEST. The gold of the latter marked its heavenly character and use, as we see also in the gold of the candlestick, of the table, and of the mercy-seat, or in the golden streets and golden harps of New Jerusalem. But nevertheless, out of these polluted materials, the Lord forms the altar where atonement for sin was to be made. Shittim-wood (very durable and incorruptible) is spread over with plates of this brass. Is not this fitted to remind us that Christ had the "likeness of sinful flesh" — the shittim-wood being veiled and hid by the brass? In the very nature that sinned so presumptuously the Lord Jesus appears; and, wearing that nature, presents in it His offering — only, in His person it was so pure that the "Altar sanctified the Gift." When He arose and ascended, He threw off this obscurity, and was "the Golden Altar."

II. THE LAVER, MADE OF THE MIRROR BRASS, HELD PURE WATER, THE TYPE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. In our very nature, which in our hands serves only the purposes of sin and vanity, the Redeemer exhibited purity — the very purity of the Holy Ghost, who dwelt in Him without measure! He took our true nature from the womb of the Virgin; and, assuming it to Himself, thereby made it holy. And so it became a holy vessel for the Spirit to fill.

---

---

KJV: Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread;

WEB: "Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and the bull of the sin offering, and the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread;