Exodus 12:5

Your lamb shall be without blemish.

God has always required that the offerings made to him shall be of the best.

From the sheep or from the goats.

It was understood by the Jews that. goat was not to be taken if. sheep could be obtained. At. later period in Jewish history only lambs were chosen. The Paschal Lamb was typical of Christ (see Golden Text). Matthew Henry traces out the following points of resemblance: 1. It was to be. lamb, and Christ is the Lamb of God (John 1:29); often in the Revelation called the Lamb; meek and innocent as. lamb, dumb before the shearers--before the butchers. 2. It was to be. male of the first year (verse 5), in its prime. Christ offered up himself in the midst of his days, not in infancy with the babes of Bethlehem. It denotes the strength and sufficiency of the Lord Jesus, on whom our help was laid. 3. It was to be without blemish (v. 5), denoting the purity of the Lord Jesus,. lamb without spot (1 Peter 1:19). The judge that condemned him, as if his trial were only like the scrutiny that was made concerning the sacrifices, whether they were without blemish or no, pronounced him innocent. 4. It was to be set apart four days before (v. 3, 6), denoting the designation of the Lord Jesus to be. Saviour both in the purpose and the promise. It is very observable that, as Christ was crucified at the Passover, so he solemnly entered into Jerusalem four days before the very day that the Paschal was set apart. 5. It was to be slain and roasted with fire (v. 6-9), denoting the exquisite sufferings of the Lord Jesus, even unto death--the death of the cross. The wrath of God is as fire, and Christ was made. curse for us. 6. It was to be killed by the whole congregation between the two evenings--that is, between three o'clock and six. Christ suffered at the end of the world (Hebrews 9:26); by the hand of the Jews, the whole multitude of them (Luke 23:18), and for the good of all his spiritual Israel. 7. Not. bone of it must be broken, (v. 46), which is expressly said to be fulfilled in Christ (John 19:33-36), denoting the unbroken strength of the Lord Jesus.