Exodus 29:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Nothing brings greater delight to God than acts of charity. This is the reason why priests, monarchs, and prophets were consecrated with oil: this oil symbolizes the compassion of God. Furthermore, through this anointing, they were made to realize that rulers should embody more mercy; it illustrates that the Spirit descends upon individuals to inspire compassion, as God Himself shows mercy to humanity and engages with love: “Thou hast mercy on all,” it is proclaimed, “because Thou canst do all things” (Prem. 11:24). Thus, they received this anointing! The priestly office was established to promote mercy, and kings were likewise anointed with oil. If one aims to extol a ruler, the most fitting praise highlights their mercy: mercy is a vital trait of true authority. Keep in mind that the world was also brought into existence through grace, and strive to follow the example of the Lord.

Christ anoints the believer's hair with a soothing balm, representing a soul filled with virtues, and readies them to be presented to God as a sacramental offering, a sweet aroma and sacrifice, not of anything external, but of himself.

This text gives a brief overview of the key actions integral to the ordination ceremony of the High Priest. A closer examination of the historical account of the ritual (Lev. 40:3) reveals that Moses initially anointed the tabernacle with the sacred oil, as outlined in Exodus 30:23-25, and sprinkled this oil upon the altar. Subsequently, he poured the holy oil over Aaron's head (Lev. 40:3, 12). It is noteworthy that the scripture does not mention the anointing of the common priests; however, in Exodus chapters 40:13, 41, and particularly in 40:15, it explicitly affirms that Aaron’s sons are anointed like their father, albeit not with the same significant anointing (refer to Lev. 40:30 for additional insight).