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2 Corinthians 2:14-15
For we are the aroma of Messiah to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. There is a fragrance reserved for the anointing of the holy. It is a fragrant scent distinguishing the consecrated from the profane (Exodus 29:7; 30:22-33). As a man distinguishes his wife’s perfume personalized by her own scent, it is a sign for all to recognize what has been consecrated to God. This oil has a special name. It is called: ‘Shemen HaMashiach’: ‘The Anointing Oil’. “Mashiach’ in Hebrew simply means ‘anointed one’, and the use of this oil was reserved to anoint the offices that required it such as priest, king and prophet. Only three people were known to carry the three offices: Moses, King David, and Yeshua. There is a decree of banishment for whoever replicates this oil or pours it on a common person (Exodus 30:31-33). Exodus speaks of this fragrance in sacrificial terms, but in Song of Songs it appears in a lover’s language. ‘Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine; your anointing oils are fragrant; your name is oil poured out; therefore virgins love you (Song of Songs 1:3)’. The Torah’s fragrant oil is called: ‘Shemen HaMashiach’. Oil poured out’ speaks of someone being anointed; the context of the Song is about King Solomon’s kingship, the son of King David. This verse therefore from the Song of Song alludes to the future coming One, the Messianic King who will be known as: Messiah, or ‘The Anointed One’. It is remarkable that one of the steps of His anointing was a passage at a place called 'The Olive Press": Gethsemane. The Apostolic Scriptures take up the theme of the Anointing Oil in the following terms: But thanks be to God, who in Messiah always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Messiah to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing (2 Corinthians 2:14-15). Through Moses God promised that Israel will become a nation of priests. As the Levites are the priesthood for Israel, Israel is the priesthood for the world. About fifteen hundred years later Galilean Jewish fisherman Peter tells the mixed (Jews and Gentiles) congregation of Messiah that they are a royal priesthood (Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:9). As a nation of priests dedicated unto God we are now carriers of the holy scented oil. May our lives truly exhale His fragrance in every case and every situation we meet throughout the day lest we profane the Spirit that is vested in us.
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2 Corinthians 2:16
… a fragrance from life to life. There are three offices in the Torah which require oil annointing: priests, kings and prophets. The Hebrew word ‘Mashiach” from where we derive the English ‘Messiah’ and the Greek anglicized word ‘christ’ simply means: ‘anointed one; ‘he upon whom oil has been poured’. Yeshua is the ‘Messiah’, the ‘Anointed One’; ‘He upon whom oil has been poured’ because He fulfills these three offices. He first came as the promised prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15); He performed the function of High-Priest (Hebrews 9:11); and He will return as the King of kings (Revelations 19:16). Whereas the priests were simply sprinkled with the fragrant oil, the precious ointment was poured upon the High-Priest's head; it anointed him from head to toes thus the High-Priest emanated of the special oil’s sweet fragrance. Oil was used for washing, cologne and perfume in those days. It provided a shine and a shining sweet fragrance to the bearer. Hear David’s poetic description of the anointing of Aaron: Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes (Psalms 133:1-2)! Jewish sages saw Aaron as the quintessential man of peace. He would go to two enemies and say to one, “Would you agree that in spite of all his faults, _ (his enemy) is a good carpenter?” When the man agreed, Aaron would go to his enemy and say, “Hey do you know what _ (first man) said about you? (”I can imagine …!” he would say) He said that you were a good carpenter. I know you don’t like him too much but you can agree that he is a good cook!” When the second man heartily agreed, Aaron would take the precious statement to the first man. When the two met each other next, they were able to have a positive rapport. It is because of this reputation of Aaron that in the Psalms, David compared the sweet fragrance of Aaron’s anointing to brethren united and in peace together (Psalms 133:1). Hear now Paul’s praise, about the fragrance of Messiah, But thanks be to God, who in Messiah always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Messiah to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life (2 Corinthians 2:14-16). Let us spread this sweet fragrance of peace throughout the whole world. Let us be example of the sweet fragrance of the peace of Messiah because really, if our application of Torah doesn’t bring us to the nitty-gritty of being at peace between each other as families, communities, and congregations, we are totally missing the point. May our heads, faces, hands and feet be filled with the radiant fragrance of Messiah, the prince of Peace. May we be part of those whom the Master called ‘peace-makers’ that we in turn may be called the ‘Children of our God’ (Matthew 5:9). |
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