Leviticus 24:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

These loaves are to be arranged in two stacks of six on a clean table before the Lord, and each stack will include pure frankincense as part of the offering, serving as a memorial and an offering to the Lord; continually on the Sabbath day, they shall be set before the Lord by the Israelites as an everlasting covenant. These belong to Aaron and his sons, who will consume them in the holy place because they are significant sacred items among the offerings dedicated to the Lord, establishing an everlasting statute. Therefore, pure oil is necessary, specifically olive oil rather than oils extracted from foreign or earthly seeds, for the light must remain genuine and unblemished within the church, illuminated through Christ via the Spirit, as taught by the mouths of the saints, to whom Christ declared, "Ye are the light of the world."

Nothing is astonishing here; for those whom He has called as brothers and made participants in His nature, He naturally bestows the honor of His merits. The candlestick is, thus, lit in the first tabernacle, which bears a dual significance. In the inner tabernacle, there are seven lamps that are ignited in the morning, casting ample light for all who enter. The candlestick symbolizes Christ, shining brilliantly and guiding those who wish to enter the holy of holies. It is written, "ye shall come unto Him, and ye shall be enlightened." The lighting of the lamps at dawn may represent the moment of the Incarnation, when He emerged like the day, illuminating the understanding and dispelling the darkness of antiquated ignorance that had enveloped the hearts of humanity. The prophet announces the arrival of the Savior, stating, “Early shalt thou hear my voice, early shall I stand before thee, and I will wait," for it was at that moment that prayers were accepted, allowing those who had previously wandered to draw near to God through a spiritual kinship and the obedience of faith, as the light from heaven, Christ, dawned upon them. The inner tabernacle contained the abundant and pure light of the seven lampstands, while the first tabernacle housed the lampstand, indicating that the followers of the law existed under God's light. Even the law, given by Moses, transitioned people from polytheism to the understanding of the one true God, prompting them to serve the Creator and not the creation. This shift was not without spiritual enlightenment for the souls of the faithful. In other words, the illumination bestowed by Christ is immense for those entering the Holy of Holies, though it is lesser for those adhering to the law. The truth remains that the shadows cast by the law cannot match the spiritual brilliance of the Gospel; the latter illuminates the entire world, while the former was known only to the descendants of Israel.

The meal and the lampstand in the first tabernacle evoke specific images. The lampstand may represent the divine John the Baptist, while the twelve loaves reflect the holy Apostles. The divine Baptist served as a lampstand preceding Christ among those under the law, as foretold by God, who said, “I will set up a lampstand for my anointed.” The Savior Himself confirmed this, stating to the Jewish leaders, “He was a lamp burning and shining; but ye wanted to rejoice in His light for a little while.” The apostle Paul, well-versed in the law, recalls the lampstand of the first tabernacle with the instruction that it must always remain lit. However, the Jews, who briefly celebrated John through his baptism and marveled at his ministry, ultimately put him to death as if extinguishing a constantly shining lamp. This disregard is often ascribed to Herod, who was also a Jew. Therefore, Christ reproached the Jewish people for their disregard for the prophets, declaring, “It does not happen that a prophet should perish outside Jerusalem.” In this way, the divine Baptist served as a beacon in the likeness and communion of Christ to those living under the law.

Furthermore, while Christ is inherently and truly the Bread from heaven, life-giving as He is, the mystery-bearers also become a means of nourishment for the faithful through communion with Him. The twelve loaves correspond to the Apostles—arranged in two rows of six, they nearly surround the central Bread, which is Christ. Each loaf consists of two perfect tithes, symbolizing that the Divine Disciples were complete in every good thing, excelling in word and deed. Additionally, frankincense and salt are sprinkled upon the loaves; frankincense indicating the fragrant sanctity of Christ, while salt denotes wisdom, as the saints’ words are not foolish but “seasoned with grace," and “grace giving to those who hear.” Christ also stated, “ye are the salt of the earth.” The loaves are presented on the Sabbath, the day signifying the calling of the holy Apostles and representing the arrival of Christ, which the descendants of Israel failed to recognize. This is why Paul reminds them, “Therefore there is yet a Sabbath for the people of God,” for they did not enter into His rest without faith in Him. Thus, the coming of our Savior represents both the spiritual and true Sabbath.

The offering of the loaves occurred in the presence of God and the Israelites because it is declared that “on every Sabbath day continually must they set before the Lord from the children of Israel.” It is in God's sight where He continuously observes and blesses the saints, as conveyed by, “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous.” It also requires the attention of Israel, compelling them to engage in discerning thought, which the physical eye symbolizes. “They shall belong to Aaron and his sons, who shall eat them,” as the writings of the holy Apostles are given as offerings to us, the justified by faith—a holy nation chosen and anointed by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Thus, queries arise about why the representations of the holy Baptist and the holy Apostles dwell in the first tabernacle rather than the Holy of Holies. It is because of the distance; that which pertains to the Divine cannot be found alongside the saints, rather existing in a separate and lower realm, for the sacred is transcendent, creating an unmatched disparity between the divine and human natures. Furthermore, as they were of Jewish descent and belonged to the ministry of the law, their rightful place is the first tabernacle, where the altar of offerings also stood. Do you not recognize that the holy disciples descended from Israel and belong to the essence of this first tabernacle?

Having adequately discussed these matters, let us now consider the words of the apostle Paul, which illuminate the distinction between the first and second tabernacle. He writes: “In this arrangement, the first tabernacle is always entered by the priests to perform divine service; but in the second tabernacle, once a year, the high priest alone, not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the ignorance of the people. By this, the Holy Spirit signifies that the way into the sanctuary is not yet opened, as long as the old tabernacle remains. This is a symbol of the present time in which gifts and sacrifices are made, which cannot perfect the conscience of the offerer, as they are mere outward rituals until the time of reformation. But Christ, the High Priest of good things to come, appeared with a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made by human hands, and not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood, He entered once for all into the sanctuary, obtaining eternal redemption.”

Therefore, it is understood that the services in the first tabernacle were conducted by priests who did not have the privilege to enter the Holy of Holies since this pertains to the service of the law, which remains in the shadows. These rituals lack the cleansing power essential for the forgiveness of sin, as Paul declares, these actions do not possess sufficient strength “in the conscience of him that is perfect,” but rather were observed until the time of correction, which ultimately signifies the Incarnation of the Only-begotten—the moment where the unsavoriness of shadows transitions into reality. Only one high priest, on one occasion, enters into the Holy of Holies, “not without blood, which he brings for himself and for the ignorance of the people’s sins.” This truth is made evident through Paul when he mentions Christ, first indicating that “neither sacrifice, nor offering, nor burnt-offering, nor sin-offering,” were pleasing to God. Then he declares, “Now I go to do Thy will, O God.” In doing so, He abolishes the first to establish the second. It is by this will we are sanctified through the one offering of the body of Jesus Christ. Each priest continues daily in service, repeatedly making the same sacrifices which cannot remove sins. Conversely, He offered one sacrifice for sins, sat down at the right hand of God eternally, waiting until His adversaries are made His footstool, for by one offering He perfected forever those who are sanctified. Having died only once, He “dies no more,” as written, “Having offered Himself as a sacrifice,” He entered the Holy of Holies, not unto worldly places, but into heaven itself, to stand on our behalf before God’s presence.