with Oil

Anointing with oil is a practice that has its beginnings in the Old Testament. It was implemented by the Disciples of Christ when praying for the sick. It is also used in the New Testament church for ordination, consecration, confirmation, and dedication as we shall see in this study. It can also be used for anointing material objects for dedication and consecration.

The original meaning of the word "anoint" comes from several Greek and Hebrew words which generally means to "smear, "rub," or "apply" oil or the Holy Spirit. Oil is normally used and is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 24:23‐24

Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Matthew 24:4‐5

And answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Every Believer has an anointing.

Matthew 25:3‐8

They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

Anointing oil can be poured upon the head or smeared on the forehead of the person being prayed for.

Old Testament examples of oil being poured upon individuals for consecration can be found in:

Exodus 28:41

And thou shalt put them upon thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the 's office.

Exodus 29:7

Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.

Exodus 30:30

And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.

Exodus 40:15

And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.

1 Samuel 9:16

Tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.

1 Samuel 16:3

And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.

1 Samuel 16:12‐13

And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

1 Kings 1:34

And let the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.

1 Kings 19:15‐16

And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:

And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

It was customary to anoint the head with oil.

2 Samuel 12:20

Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

Matthew 6:17

But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

Luke 7:46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

The body was anointed for burial.

Mark 14:8

She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

Mark 16:1

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

The word anoint appears 35 times, and the word anointed appears 97 times, and is used for either anointing of oil or the Holy Spirit in various scriptures.

Eight Material Things Anointed in the Old Testament

Tabernacle ‐ Ex. 30:26; 40:9; Lev. 8:10

Alter – Ex. 29:36; 40:10; Lev. 8:11

Laver – Ex. 40:11

Furniture of the – Ex. 40:9‐15

Shields – Isa. 21:5

Future Temple – Dan. 9:24

Pillars – Gen. 31:13 Wafers/Cakes – Ex. 29:2; Lev. 2:4; 7:12

Classes Anointed in the Bible

Look these scriptures up, they may help you in your ministry and may even bless you personally.

High – Ex. 29:7,9; 40: 13; Lev. 6:20; 8:12; Ps. 133:2

Priests – Ex. 28:41; 29:7; 30:30; 40:13‐15; Lev. 4:3; 6:20‐22; 8:12, 30

Prophets – 1Kings 19:16

Captives – 2 Chr. 28:15

Kings – 1 Sam. 9:16, 16:12; 2 Sam. 2:4, 5;3, 19:10; 1 Kings 1:39, 19:15‐16

The Living – Ruth 3:3; Esther 2:12; Psalms 92:10, 105:15; Mt. 6:17; Rev. 3:18

Guests – Luke 7:46; 2 Chron. 28:15

The Sick – Isa 1:6; Mk 6:13; Luke 10:34; Jas. 5:14‐15; Rev. 3:18

Two Witnesses – Zech. 4:14

Ministers – 2 Cor. 1;21; 1 John 2:26‐28

Jesus Christ – Ps. 45:7; Isa. 61:11; Luke 4:18, 7:38, 46; John 11:2; Acts 4:27, 10:38; Heb. 1:9.

Anointedst is used one time in Genesis 31:13 and anointest is used one time in Psalms 23:5.

It is interesting to note that even Lucifer was anointed in Ezekiel 28:14.

Ezekiel 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

In the Old Testament there was a special anointing oil formula. (Exodus 29:6‐7; 37:29).

5 Commands Concerning Holy Anointing Oil

Exodus 30:22‐33

1. Holy anointing oil of pure *, 19 ½ lbs., sweet , 9 ¾ lbs., sweet calamus, 9 ¾ lbs., cassia, 19 ½ lbs., and , 6 qts., (vs. 22‐25). 2. Anoint the tabernacle, ark, table of and its vessels, the candlestick and its vessels, altar of incense, the brazen altar and its vessels, the laver and its foot, and sanctify them to be most holy. (v.26‐29) 3. Anoint Aaron and sons and consecrate them to be ministers (v.30). 4. Speak to Israel that the holy anointing oil be not poured upon the flesh of any man (other than priests, v. 30; Ps. 133:2), and that no man make any oil like it to be used in Israel (v. 31‐32). 5. Whoever makes any like it or puts it on a stranger shall die (v. 33).

*Myrrh is a gum that comes from the stem of a low thorny ragged tree that grows in Arabia and East Africa.

The word "pure" in Exodus 30:23 means "free flowing." The best exudes spontaneously from the bark while the inferior comes more abundantly from splitting the bark.

Assignment: Using a dictionary or other research methods study and include in your dissertation definitions of the ingredients in the aforementioned anointing oil formula. Could it be that the anointing oil formula used by the Disciples of Christ and the early church was based on the formula just analyzed? It is interesting to consider.

In conclusion the anointing destroys the yoke of bondage

Isaiah 10:27

And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.

Anointing oil should be carried in a small vial or bottle to anoint the sick.

James 5:14

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

Mark 6:13

And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them]

Customarily in the New Testament church, the sign of the cross is smeared on the forehead of the individual being prayed for, consecrated or confirmed and the presbytery or a minister prays the prayer of faith with the . Newborn babies can, and should be dedicated unto the Lord in the name of Jesus Christ with the anointing of oil.

Even material things can and should be consecrated or dedicated unto the Lord. Sanctuaries, homes, cars, computers, musical instruments, and even clothing can be dedicated and consecrated unto the Lord.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Strong’s Concordance

All scriptures are extracted from the King James Bible