Exodus 25

Tabernacle

And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. Exodus 25:8–9

Jehovah wants a holy dwelling so He can live among His people. John says the Word 'was made flesh, and dwelt among us' (literally 'tabernacled'), so Christ Himself became the meeting place of God and man.

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him · a footnote points to Him · the chapter heading names Him · a traditional type, cited

• a type of what is in John 1:14 — The Word was made flesh, and dwelt (Greek: tabernacled) among us.
• a type of what is in Revelation 21:3 — The tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them.

Mercy Seat

Mercy seat (Hebrew kapporeth) — atonement-cover

And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. Exodus 25:17–22

The golden lid of the ark, where atoning blood was later sprinkled on the Day of Atonement, is where Jehovah promises to meet and speak with Moses. Paul calls Christ a 'propitiation', using the Greek word for the mercy seat: through His Atonement we meet God and receive mercy.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · the chapter heading names Him · a traditional type, cited

• a type of what is in Romans 3:25 — Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (hilasterion, the word used for the mercy seat in Hebrews 9:5) through faith in his blood.
• alluded to by Hebrews 9:5 — Cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat.
• a type of what is in Hebrews 9:11-12 — By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Shewbread

Shewbread — "bread of faces" or "bread of the presence"

And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway. Exodus 25:30

Bread was kept always in the Lord's presence in the holy place. It points to Christ, the bread of life, continually before the Father on our behalf.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a traditional type, cited

• a type of what is in John 6:35 — I am the bread of life.
• alluded to by Hebrews 9:2 — The candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread in the first tabernacle.

Golden Candlestick

And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. Exodus 25:31–37

The only light inside the holy place came from the golden lampstand, a figure of Christ, the light of the world. In Revelation, John sees the risen Son of Man standing in the midst of seven golden candlesticks, which He explains are His churches (Revelation 1:20).

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a traditional type, cited

• a type of what is in John 8:12 — I am the light of the world.
• alluded to by Revelation 1:12-13 — Seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst... one like unto the Son of man.

Tabernacle pattern (shadow of heavenly things)

And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount. Exodus 25:40

Moses must build exactly by the heavenly pattern. Hebrews quotes this verse to teach that the tabernacle was a shadow of heavenly things, fulfilled in Christ, the High Priest of a greater and more perfect tabernacle.

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him · the chapter heading names Him

• quoted by Hebrews 8:5 — See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
• interpreted by Hebrews 9:11 — Christ being come an high priest... by a greater and more perfect tabernacle.