John Calvin Commentary Exodus 29:16

"And thou shalt slay the ram, and thou shalt take its blood, and sprinkle it round about upon the altar." — Exodus 29:16 (ASV)

And thou shalt slay the ram. Moses had previously been commanded to take the parts of the victim from Aaron’s hands to propitiate God with them, so that he and his descendants might be able to perform the same office in the future. But here a particular ceremony is described: he was to smear the right ear, the thumb of the right hand, and the toe of the right foot of both Aaron and his sons with the blood of a ram. Then, he was to sprinkle them and their garments with the blood that was on the altar.

The first thing we must observe here is that the priest must be sprinkled with blood, so that he may gain God’s favor for himself for the purpose of intercession. Thus, the priesthood of Christ was dedicated with blood, so that it might be effective in reconciling God with us.

The question now arises: why were only the right ear, the right thumb, and the right toe sprinkled with blood, as if the priests were consecrated and devoted to God in only half of their persons? I reply that the other part was included in this one part, since both ears, and both hands and feet, have the same purpose, and their functions are so connected that what is said of one ear applies to the other.

Again, it is asked: why were the ear, foot, and hand smeared rather than the breast and the tongue? I do not doubt that the ear designated obedience, and the hands and feet all the actions and the whole course of life. For there is scarcely anything more common in Scripture than these metonymies, by which the cleanness of the hands is taken to mean the integrity of the whole life, and the way, course, or walk is taken to mean the direction or manner of living.

It is therefore very appropriate that a person’s life should be consecrated by blood. Since the foundation of doing good is obedience, which is preferred to all sacrifices, Moses is commanded to begin with the ear. And we know that the “odor of a sweet smell” in the sacrifice of Christ was obedience (Philippians 4:18); for this reason, David, in the spirit of prophecy, introduces himself, saying, “Mine ears hast thou bored.”¹⁷⁵ (Psalms 40:6).

If anyone should object that the tongue is no less important, because the priest is the messenger of the Lord of hosts, I answer that the office of teaching is not referred to here, but only that of intercession. Therefore, in these three members, Moses included everything that related to atonement.

But we must remember that what is said of the consecration of Christ does not apply to His own person but refers to the benefit of the whole Church. For He was neither anointed for His own sake, nor did He need to borrow¹⁷⁶ grace from the blood. Instead, He considered His members and devoted Himself entirely to their salvation, as He Himself testifies, “For their sake I sanctify myself.” (John 17:19).

¹⁷⁵ A. V., “mine ears hast thou opened.” “mine ears hast thou opened.” Margin, “Heb., digged.” Seedigged.” See C.’s own Commentary, Commentary, in loco, with Mr. Anderson’s with Mr. Anderson’s note. Calvin Translation Society’s edition, Calvin Translation Society’s edition, vol. 2, p. 99..

¹⁷⁶ “La grace de reconcilier.” —.” — Fr.