John Calvin Commentary Exodus 30:25

"And thou shalt make it a holy anointing oil, a perfume compounded after the art of the perfumer: it shall be a holy anointing oil." — Exodus 30:25 (ASV)

And you shall take it an oil of holy ointment. Although the genitive is used in place of an epithet, as if Moses had said “a holy oil,” it is so called from its effect, because without it nothing is considered pure. And surely, the Spirit of God sanctifies us and all that is ours, because without Him we are unholy, and all that belongs to us is corrupt. He commands the use of the ceremony throughout all the generations of the ancient people (Exodus 30:31). In these words, there is an implied contrast with the new Church, which needs no shadows since the manifestation of the substance; and justly does the only begotten Son of God possess the name of Christ, since by His coming He has abolished these figures.

And Simeon, when he took Him in his arms and called Him the Lord’s Christ,¹⁸³ taught that the external use of the legal oil had ceased. All the more foolish is the superstition of the Papacy, when in imitation of the Jews it anoints its priests, altars, and other toys;¹⁸⁴ as if they desired to bury Christ again with their ointments. Therefore, let us hold this invention in detestation as blasphemous, because it overthrows the limits prescribed by God.

So that the Jews may hold this mystery in just reverence, He forbids similar ointment to be made. We know that ointments were then among the luxuries of a fine banquet; but it is considered profanation if they make use of this kind. We must note the reason, that what is holy may be holy to them (Exodus 30:32), i.e., that they may reverently observe what is peculiarly devoted to their salvation. For although the sacred things divinely instituted always retain their nature, and cannot be either corrupted or made void by our vices, yet we may by our filthiness, by our impure use or neglect of them, pollute them as far as it is in our power.

¹⁸³ The reference here is to Luke 2:28. It does not, however, appear that Simeon actually called Him “the Lord’s Christ,” though the Evangelist states, . It does not, however, appear that Simeon actually called Him “the Lord’s Christ,” though the Evangelist states, ver. 26, that “it was revealed to him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.", that “it was revealed to him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ."

¹⁸⁴ Lat., “Nugas;” ;” Fr, “L’autel avec tout leur bagage.” “Now that your oil came not from the Apostles, your own doctor Panormitane is witness; for thus he writeth: ‘The Apostles in old time gave the Holy Ghost only by laying on of hands; but now-a-days, because bishops be not so holy, order hath been taken that they should give this sacrament with chrism.’” — Jewel’s Defence of the Apology, Parker Society’s edition, p. 178.Now that your oil came not from the Apostles, your own doctor Panormitane is witness; for thus he writeth: ‘The Apostles in old time gave the Holy Ghost only by laying on of hands; but now-a-days, because bishops be not so holy, order hath been taken that they should give this sacrament with chrism.’” — Jewel’s Defence of the Apology, Parker Society’s edition, p. 178.