Anointing is a religious ritual, defined as rubbing or smearing something with oil. So, why do Christians anoint with oil? Anointing has been a common practice in Christianity for centuries to treat the ill or indicate a religious significance.
Why Do Christians Anoint with Oil?
In the Bible, anointing is either done with oil or with the Holy Ghost, depending on the context.
1. Typical

The Jews and other Oriental peoples had a frequent habit of anointing their bodies and heads with oil. When it comes to God’s commandments, it is defined as the practice of anointing a guest’s head with oil or ointment. This practice has been carried out by Christians as a sign of respect from a host.
2. Affirmative
Each of the commonwealth’s three typical offices was inaugurated with a rite.
- Sometimes, prophets were anointed and referred to as messiahs or the anointed.
- In the early establishment of the Levitical priesthood, all priests were anointed to their offices; however, anointing seems to have been reserved for the high priest so that the disciples couldshow respect to the anointed priest. This practice is widely considered to denote the high priest.
- This practice was widely famous among kings duringthe inauguration of the Jewish kings. Anointing was the most important and divinely-ordained ceremonial – a practice that held great importance. It was not uncommon for the process to be repeated several times. Christians believe that God anointed David thrice in his lifetime. Moreover, anointing inanimate objects with oil as a symbol of their religious significance was also practiced. For instance, Jacob anointed a stone pillar to mark his arrival in Bethel.
Saint James recommends that everyone should anoint sick people with ecclesiastical oil to speed their recovery process. Furthermore, the anointing of the twelve apostles with oil is a similar tradition that holds great importance.
3. Anointing of the Spirit
In the Old Testament, a Messiah or Anointed is promised, and the nature of his anointing is said to be spiritual with the Holy Ghost. According to the New Testament, Jesus of Nazareth was anointed with the Holy Spirit and declared to be the Messiah, Christ, or Anointed. Christians also believe that Christ was anointed as a prophet, priest, and king by the Almighty.
Christians can also receive God’s spiritual anointing with the Holy Spirit. A Christian’s sanctifying influences as a priest and king of God are expressed extensively in the Bible. This practice is widely regarded as anointing.
4. Anointing Oil Applications in Daily Life
It was customary among the Hebrews to anoint their guests with oil as a way of greeting them into their homes. The early Christians often used anointing themselves as a means of rejuvenation or energizing. Anointing oils are commonly used to honor someone as a gesture of goodwill.
The sick and injured were treated with medicine and Invocation for Healing Oil. The medical qualities of the natural plant extracts in high-quality anointing oils, medications, and scents have relaxing and therapeutic characteristics. Anointing the ill and praying an anointing appeal for healing has been widely regarded as the conventional practice among Christians.
Anointing the sick is usually connected with the Roman Catholic Church. Certain Christian groups undertake the Anointing of the Sick, a biblically-based rite, for the benefit of those who are sick, elderly, or about to have major surgery. The purpose of the liturgy is to join the individual with Christ’s suffering by praying to God for their spiritual and physical well-being with the help of the power of the Holy Spirit.
5. Spiritual Warfare
Christians believe that you need protection in Spiritual Warfare. It is said that Swordsmen used to anoint the leather of the shield with oil to keep it flexible and ready for battle. Preparation for or participation in a spiritual battle is a typical occurrence where anointment used to play a pivotal role. It appears in the Bible that anointing is done by pouring anointing oil onto the person’s head with care.
6. Priesthood
Christians also believe that a priest is only made and recognized as such if they are anointed with oil, as their fathers were. They believed in making priests like their fathers by anointing them in the same way. They believed that the priest would be anointed with a priesthood that would last for centuries to come.
7. Ailments
Christians believed that the sick need anointing. If someone in your group is sick, it’s time to seek the help of church leaders and have them pray over them while anointing them with holy oil.
Christians believe that Christ was sent as a messenger of good news to the impoverished. He felt the presence of the Lord’s Spirit. Since he was a messenger of the Lord, he was sent to proclaim freedom to the enslaved and recovery of sight for the blind, to free those who were enslaved. He was anointed by the Holy One, and had the knowledge of the Holy Spirit.
8. Freedom
Christians also believed that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and was sent by the Almighty to preach good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim freedom to the prisoners and the opening of the prison to those who are imprisoned as a result of the anointing by God.
9. Repentance
Christians believe that if someone wants to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit from God, they have to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. Jesus tells his disciples that he was anointed and is the Messiah.
10. Act of Love
A well-known tale describes a woman that washed and anointed Jesus’ feet. She stood behind him crying and began to wash his feet with tears; she also wiped them with the hairs of her head and kissed them before anointing them.
Christian believed that women are supposed to wash and anoint themselves before revealing themselves to the man before he has finished his meal or drunk all of his liquids. They have to get dressed and sit down on the floor.
Final Words
And that’s a wrap on why do Christians anoint with oil. Anointing is a common practice among Christians. However, things have changed in the last few centuries.