Exodus 20:25Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The stones consecrated to God are not to be shaped with iron, as Christ is the chosen stone, the cornerstone, the genuine stone (1 Pet. 2:4, 6); He is untouched by sin, impervious to the assaults of the devil, and not torn between God and the world. Though He took on flesh, He remained entirely holy, undivided, through a profound union with humanity, being fully divine and fully human, never ‘divided,’ as the Apostle Paul clarifies (1 Cor. 1:13). Palladius. Therefore, the altar made from earth and the unhewn stones symbolize, as you've pointed out, Christ? Cyril. Precisely: for ‘the law is spiritual,’ as stated in Scripture (Rom. 7:14).

In earlier eras, the significance of the absence of axes on the altar and the silence of the stonemasons' tools during its construction was noteworthy. This aligns with the profound principle that everything dedicated to the Lord should be pure and free from artificiality.

Do not place iron upon stones, for this would lead to their corruption. This aligns with the message conveyed, “You have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven. You shall not make for yourselves gods of gold ... or of any kind” (Exodus 20:22-23), nor shall you ascend to My altar by steps made from hewn stones (Exodus 20:26). Overall, He prohibits the use of dressed stones to avoid the risk of turning the altar itself into an object of worship. Through this, He instructs that sacrifices offered to God should stem from a spirit of humility and gratitude, given freely rather than through coercion. It is pleasing to God when each individual, out of their own volition, constructs a temple and an altar within themselves for Him. Conversely, it displeases God when acts of goodness are performed mechanically, akin to stones that are shaped and utilized for construction with tools like the shear and the axe.

What does it signify when it is stated, “If thou make the altar of stones for the tabernacle, let them not be hewn: for thy work thou shalt lay upon them, they shall be defiled”? It seems undeniable that those who constructed the tabernacle employed iron implements, as they worked with wood, gold, silver, and bronze. It is also quite certain that the priests utilized knives to slay the offerings, skin them, and cut them into pieces. This raises the question of why iron did not render those tools impure, while hewn stones were considered defiled. Clearly, God assigns specific purposes to certain elements. During the forty years that the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, constantly relocating, God prohibited the use of hewn stones for altars.

God declares that if you choose to construct an altar (Exodus 20:25), it should be made from earth. He does not command, but rather presents it as a choice: “If you will,” indicating the freedom of your will. The Creator, who inherently lacks any need, does not require sacrifices.