Your lamb must be an unblemished year-old male, and you may take it from the sheep or the goats.
God required the lamb to be spotless and perfect precisely because no human perfection can expiate sin; the visible purity of the beast pointed to Christ's celestial perfection and purity alone. The blood sprinkled on the doorposts was God's sign that only the faithful marked with His blood, bearing His mark upon them, could escape His wrath.
AI summary
Beginning the year with spring, when the earth renews itself, was a fitting shadow of Christ's coming. Yet here is the deeper lesson: when our heads swim with care and our hands are full of urgent business, we must not let religion slip away or excuse ourselves from devotion. The sacred rite binds us to God even in our haste.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 12:1-20
The lamb without blemish typifies Christ in His innocence, meekness, and fitness for sacrifice; a male of the first year shows His strength and vigor, yet His brief sojourn among men. Whether the lamb or the kid, the choice itself signifies Christ's preordination from the foundation of the world and His separation from sinners in His walk.
AI summary