Genesis 28:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The location previously held a different name. After receiving a vision of exalted matters, he desired to establish a lasting name for the site, intending to give it meaning for future generations. To accomplish this, he set up a stone in place of a pillar and anointed it with oil, likely the only oil he had brought along on his journey. In doing so, he lifted a prayer to the all-wise God of humanity.

He believed that the stone was the source of his visions, thus he honored it by pouring oil upon it. He named that locale "the house of God" and referred to it as "the gate of heaven," transforming the stone into a memorial. It is important to reflect on this interpretation in a more profound manner than the straightforward narratives suggest. The intention is to elevate what appears coarse in historical context to a higher level of spiritual insight.

You have already been informed that the Anointed One is the Messiah and that the Messiah is Christ. He established the sign of the anointed stone not for the purpose of being worshipped; if so, it would have become an idol rather than a symbol of Christ. Thus, this sign was raised, necessitated by the need for a tangible representation, with Christ being foreshadowed by it. The stone is set apart as anointed, yet it is not to be regarded as an idol. Why a stone? Because: Behold, I lay in Zion a cornerstone, a chosen, precious stone; and he that believeth in Him shall not be ashamed (1 Pet. 2: 6; Isa. 28: 16). Why is it referred to as anointed? Because the title Christ derives from 'chrisma.'

The oil that Jacob anointed on the summit of the pillar may have been sourced from a nearby village or carried with him. The oil Jacob poured on the stone symbolized the profound mystery of Christ’s anticipated arrival concealed within it.

Christ is the stone that became the cornerstone for Jacob, as the man's head is Christ. In a dream, Jacob beheld a ladder reaching to heaven, with the Lord standing upon it, and angels moving up and down the rungs (Genesis 28:11ff.). Jacob dedicated this stone by anointing it with oil, symbolizing Christ through the sacred act of anointing.

Our spiritual father James provided a symbolic preview of this truth, as the stones are to be anointed. Regarding the nations, John proclaimed, ‘God can raise up children of Abraham from these stones’ (Luke 3:8), and through their faith in the Messiah, they too are anointed. In this way, Jacob's prayer foreshadowed the profound mystery of the nations being called.

To ensure these truths are securely embedded in our faithful hearts, let us succinctly revisit what has been conveyed. Blessed Isaac, as noted, served as a reflection of God the Father in sending forth his son. The Jacob he dispatched symbolizes Christ the Lord. The stone he placed beside him, anointed with oil, signifies the Lord and Savior. The ladder reaching toward heaven represents the cross; the Lord resting upon it echoes Christ on the cross. The angels who ascend and descend the ladder embody the apostles, the early Church leaders, and all teachers throughout the Church. They ascend, proclaiming complete truths to the righteous; they descend, imparting understanding to the young and the uninformed.

James anointed the stone with oil and erected it as a remembrance, for the true follower of God understands that our Savior was blessed by the Father with the oil of joy beyond His companions (Psalm 44:8). Through this anointing, Christ received His title, and the sacrament of His incarnation serves as a testament to our redemption. It is significant that when the oil was poured out and the stone was established as a memorial, the Lord manifested in heaven, undeniably appearing in history as a man among mankind, while remaining eternal with God the Father. Now that death has been conquered, He ascends in the heavenly realms for eternity (Psalm 67:34), remaining with us as a beacon of our salvation until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). He who ascended to heaven with the body He took on earth filled both the earth and the heavens with the presence of God.

Jewish tradition recounts how Jacob used three stones as a pillow, and upon awakening, he discovered that the stones had merged into a single stone. This realization filled him with reverence, prompting him to exclaim, "This is a fearful place!" He then erected this stone as a pillar and designated it as "The House of God." However, our theologians do not reference the merging of the three stones into one, which could symbolize the Holy Trinity, reflecting our belief in three persons united in one divine essence.

He anointed the top of it with oil. Some interpret this ritual as a reflection of pagan customs involving the dedication of pillars to deities, but it is difficult to demonstrate that such practices were so ancient among the pagans that Jacob could have modeled his actions after them. A more straightforward understanding of Jacob's actions is that they stemmed from a lack of resources for a conventional offering. Instead of constructing an altar, he erected a stone, and rather than using sacrificial blood, he poured the oil he brought with him for nourishment. This new practice may symbolize that true worship is consecrated by the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The Law of Moses clearly forbids the dedication of pillars (Deuteronomy 16:22), likely because those practices had started to garner divine recognition.