In the Bible, anointing with oil is performed in religious ceremonies and used for grooming (Ruth 3:3; Matthew 6:17), refreshment (Luke 7:46), medicinal treatments (Luke 10:34), and funeral traditions ( Mark 16:1).
Ceremonial anointing in the Old Testament was a physical act involving the smearing, rubbing, or pouring of sacred oil on someone’s head (or on an object) as an outward symbol that God had chosen and set apart the person (or object) for a specific purpose. holy purpose.
The Hebrew term mashach meant “to anoint or smear with oil.” The oil used for religious anointing was carefully mixed with fine spices according to a specific formula prescribed by the Lord ( Exodus 30:22–32 ). Using this oil for any other purpose was a serious offense that carried the penalty of being “cut off” from the community ( Exodus 30:33 ).
Kings, priests, and prophets were externally anointed with oil to symbolize a deeper spiritual reality: that God’s presence was with them and His favor was upon them ( Psalm 20:6 ; 28:8 ). When David was still a shepherd boy, God told Samuel to anoint him to be king over Israel ( 1 Samuel 16:3 ). From that day forward, the Spirit of the Lord rested mightily on David’s life ( 1 Samuel 16:13 ; Psalm 89:20 ).
Centuries before David’s time, the Lord had instructed Moses to consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve as priests ( Exodus 28:41 ; 30:30 ; Leviticus 8:30 ; 10:7 ). God authenticated his priestly ministry with the fiery glory of his presence consuming his offerings. Sacred objects, including the tabernacle itself, were also set apart or consecrated by anointing for use in ceremonies of worship and sacrifice ( Genesis 28:18 ; Exodus 30:26–29 ; 40:9–11 ).
The Bible contains a literal reference to the anointing of a prophet when Elijah was commanded by the Lord to anoint Elisha as prophet to succeed him (1 Kings 19:16). It also includes metaphorical references to the anointing to indicate that the prophets were empowered and protected by the Spirit of the Lord to carry out their calling ( 1 Chronicles 16:22 ; Psalm 105:15 ).
Anointing the head with oil was also an ancient custom of hospitality shown to guests of honor. In Psalm 23:5, King David describes himself as a valued guest at the Lord’s table. This practice of anointing a dinner guest with oil reappears in the gospels ( Luke 7:46 ; Mark 14:3–9 ; John 12:3 ).
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is revealed as our anointed King, Priest, and Prophet. He is the Holy and chosen Son of God, the Messiah. In fact, Messiah, which literally means “anointed one,” is derived from the Hebrew word for “anointed one.” Christ (Gr. Christos) means “the anointed one”.
Jesus declared at the launch of His ministry: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor . . . to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed” ( Luke 4:18 ; cf. Isaiah 61:1 ). Jesus Christ fulfilled Old Testament prophecy as the Anointed One, the chosen Messiah ( Luke 4:21 ). He tasted his anointing through the miracles he performed and the life he sacrificed as Savior of the world (Acts 10:38).
There is also a sense in which Christians today are anointed. Through Jesus Christ, believers receive “an anointing from the Holy One” (1 John 2:20). This anointing is not expressed in an external ceremony but through the sharing of the gift of the Holy Spirit ( Romans 8:11 ). At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit dwells in believers and unites them to Christ, the Anointed One. As a result, we partake of his anointing (2 Corinthians 1:21–22). According to one scholar, this anointing “expresses the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit upon Christians who are priests and kings unto God” (Smith, W., “Anointing,” Smith’s Bible Dictionary, revised edition, Thomas Nelson, 2004).
The New Testament also associates anointing oil with healing and prayer. When Jesus sent his disciples to preach the gospel, “they cast out many demons and healed many who were sick, anointing them with olive oil” (Mark 6:13, NLT). James instructs believers to “call the elders of the church to pray for them” when they are sick “and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord” for healing ( James 5:14 ).
Those in charism and religious circles speak of “the anointing” as something Christians can and should seek. It is common for them to talk about preachers, sermons, ministries, songs, etc. “anointed ones,” and counsel others to “unlock your anointing” or “walk in the anointing.” The idea is that the anointing is an outpouring of God’s power to accomplish a task through the anointed. Charismatics assert that there are corporate anointings as well as various types of individual anointings: the fivefold anointing; the apostolic anointing; and, for women, Ruth’s anointing, Deborah’s anointing, Hannah’s anointing, etc. Some even speak of an “anointing of David” on musical instruments: “anointed” instruments are played by God himself to drive away demons and take worship to a higher level. level higher than ever. Special anointings are said to allow a person to use their spiritual gift to a “higher degree.” Charismatics say that special anointings are received by “letting go of faith.”
Much of the charismatic teaching on the anointing goes beyond what the Scriptures say. In their hunger for signs and wonders, many charismatics seek new and increasingly exciting experiences, and that requires more outpouring, more spiritual baptisms, and more anointings. But the Bible points to an anointing by the Spirit, just as it points to a baptism: “As for you, the anointing which you received from him abides in you” ( 1 John 2:27 ; see also 2 Timothy 1:14 ). This same passage also refutes another misconception, namely that Satan can somehow “steal” a believer’s anointing. We don’t have to worry about losing the anointing we received, because the scriptures say it remains.
Another aberrant teaching about the anointing of the Spirit is the “Mimshach Anointing”. Mimshach is a Hebrew word related to mashach (“anoint”) and is found only in Ezekiel 28:14, where the anointing is said to “cover” (NKJV) or “cover and protect” (AMP). According to some in the Word of Faith camp, the Mimshach anointing (which was given to Lucifer before his fall) is now available to believers. Receiving this anointing will cause everything it touches to increase or expand, and the anointed will experience higher levels of success, material gain, health, and power.
Instead of pursuing a new anointing, believers should remember that they already have the gift of the Holy Spirit… The Spirit is not given in part, it does not come in portions or doses, and it is not taken away. We have the promise that “his divine power from him has given us everything we need for a godly life, through the knowledge of him who called us by his glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).