Exodus — Chapter 35

Moses assembles all the congregation and commands them concerning the Sabbath and the Tabernacle offering. Lapide notes that this chapter (35-40) constitutes the actual construction of the Tabernacle—the fulfillment of God's plan (25-31). He sees in this the pattern of the Church's history: God reveals the plan of the Church to the prophets (25-31); the apostles and their successors build the actual Church according to that plan (35-40). The entire construction is accomplished through voluntary free-will offerings from all the people—no compulsion.

You shall not kindle a fire in any of your habitations on the sabbath day. The prohibition of fire on the Sabbath is interpreted by Lapide as the prohibition of the fire of passion, concupiscence, and internal strife on the day of rest. The soul's sabbath—contemplative prayer—requires the extinguishing of all self-regarding desires. He cites Origen (Hom. in Num. XXIII): \"The perfect Sabbath is that interior silence in which the soul rests from all labor of sin and speaks only with God.\"

All the multitude of the children of Israel departing from Moses offered first-fruits to the Lord with a most ready and devout mind. Lapide is moved to an extended meditation on cheerful giving. He cites 2 Cor. 9:7: \"God loveth a cheerful giver.\" The Israelites gave not only gold, silver, and bronze, but their skilled labor, their time, and their artistry—Bezaleel and Oholiab were supernaturally gifted with wisdom and art (35:31-32) to execute the divine design. This teaches that natural talents given by God are to be offered back to God in the service of His Church.