V. 5.— Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount. The services of these priests were an example and shadow of heavenly things, which was intimated to Moses by the charge given him to make all things according to the pattern showed him in the mount. Some suppose that we are here taught that not only minute directions were given to Moses respecting the tabernacle and the services of the Levitical priesthood, but that he received an explanation of the mystery or parable which he was employed to communicate to Israel, and this interpretation receives countenance from what the Lord said on the occasion of the difference which arose between Moses and Aaron and Miriam: " Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” Numbers 12:6-8. Now it may be alleged that if Moses only beheld a pattern of the tabernacle and the vessels of the ministry of Aaron and his sons, the Lord only made his will known to him in a vision. From the language employed, however, that he was to make all things according to the pattern showed to him in the mount, it would appear that he did not see the reality, but simply a pattern, namely, the tabernacle complete in all its parts, and the priests performing their various services, which was “ an example and shadow of heavenly things.” This interpretation appears to be confirmed by what the Lord said to his servant when he besought the Lord to show him his glory: “And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.” Exodus 33:20-23. Had it been given to Moses to behold the true tabernacle, and our great High Priest ministering therein, he would have seen God’ s face, or, in other words, the glory of the Lord in the unveiled face of Jesus Christ; 2 Corinthians 3:18; according to our Lord’ s words, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father,” John 14:9. Hence we conclude that a vision of the tabernacle and its services was given to Moses in the Mount, and that, as in the case of David, all this the Lord made him, understand in writing by His hand upon him, even all the works of this pattern. 1 Chronicles 28:19. If it be asked, how Moses was admonished of God that what was enjoined was an example and shadow of heavenly things, by being charged to make all things according to the pattern showed to him in the Mount? it is replied, that the care enjoined not to deviate in any particular from the pattern shown to him evidently implied that it was an emblem of heavenly things, for how otherwise would God have enjoined such minute attention to services which, considered in themselves, were unworthy of his notice?