People get sick. It could be because of their actions, their lifestyle, the weather, or any other environmental factors. It could be caused by something they eat or drink. Other times, it’s because of vices or unhealthy practices. The people in the bible were also exposed to such kind of surroundings and set up though just a bit more traditional. Historical figures and even Jesus Himself talked about sickness, and oil was mentioned to be poured unto people who are sick.
1. Elders anointing sick people with oil
One of the apostles of Christ instructed believers that if someone has an illness, the church elders would pray over that person. They would also anoint the sick person with oil in the name of the Lord. (James 5:14) Notice that the instruction included three things: oil, prayer, and the name of the Lord. These three components are essential. Oil alone is not how the bible instructed on how it must be used when helping the sick.
“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:” – James 5:14
2. Oil for healing wounds
In one of the parables in the bible, Jesus mentioned how a good samaritan helped a certain man. The good samaritan took care of the man and poured oil on his wounds so it would be healed and the man would get well.
“34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.” – Luke 10:34
3. Oil for cleansing the lepers
Leprosy is a condition that previously was thought to be incurable. The effective treatment for this disease was only realized in the 1980s after the introduction of multi-drug therapy. (3) But the bible had been telling us for thousands of years before leprosy medicine had been developed that leprosy can be cleansed. (Leviticus 14:10-29)
The Bible provided detailed instructions on how leprosy can be cleansed. This included applying oil on the body and offering.
“10 And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil.”
“12 And the priest shall take one he lamb, and offer him for a trespass offering, and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before the LORD:”
“15 And the priest shall take some of the logs of oil, and pour it into the palm of his left hand:”
“16 And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD:”
“17 And of the rest of the oil that is in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass offering:”
“18 And the remnant of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD.”
“21 And if he is poor, and cannot get so much; then he shall take one lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make an atonement for him, and one-tenth deal of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering, and a log of oil;”
“24 And the priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering, and the log of oil and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD:”
“26 And the priest shall pour of the oil into the palm of his left hand:”
“27 And the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before the LORD:”
“28 And the priest shall put of the oil that is in his hand upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and the great toe of his right foot, upon the place of the blood of the trespass offering:”
“29 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed, to make an atonement for him before the LORD.” Leviticus 14:10,12,15-18, 21, 24, 26-29
4. Oil for healing physical and spiritual sickness
Sickness in the Bible refers to illness both in the body and spirit. The body is the literal and surface meaning, while our spiritual condition is the figurative meaning. It has been mentioned that oil is used for anointing the sick, and was used for therapeutic purposes but its main importance and symbolism are related to faith (1)
“And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.” – Mark 6:13
We might still be resistant to healing using oils. However, the Bible told us that people with illness should be anointed with oil. Allow yourself to be cleansed. May we also allow ourselves to be healed with oils. Understandably, we might be hesitating or delaying this because of different concerns, but you can start learning about healing by reading the bible as well as other research articles about essential oils and therapy so you’ll obtain more wisdom.
Be healed ❤
- (1) Bridgeway Bible Dictionary – Don Fleming (via My Bible app)
- (2) King James Bible Version
- (3) Leprosy (Hansen’s disease). https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/leprosy
Oil Therapy 