“2) Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually. 3) Without the vail of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the morning before the LORD continually: it shall be a statute for ever in your generations. 4) He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually.” (Leviticus 24:2-4) The light, the lamps, in the tabernacle were a picture of Christ.
His life was the light of men. “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4)
He was the light of the world and the light of life. “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
The olive oil for the light is a picture of the Holy Spirit. It had to be pure, and it had to be beaten. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised….” (Luke 4:18)
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38)
“Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” (Hebrews 1:9)
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (I Peter 2:24)
“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” (I John 3:3)
The lamps had to burn continually. When Christ was on earth, His light shone continually before the world. “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:9) “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5)
Now the light of the world should shine continually through the lives of those who have become followers of the true light. “14) Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid…. 16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14,16)
T. J. L. Young