The Garments of the Priests
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The garments of the Israelite high priest were designed by God to represent important spiritual truths about Jesus Christ. The six garments - the ephod, breastplate, robe, embroidered coat, mitre, and girdle - were made of fine linen, gold, blue, purple and scarlet. Each color and material held symbolic meaning pointing to Christ's righteousness, redemption, and perfect priesthood which fulfills and replaces the shadowy law. The high priest's clothing typified how believers can be clothed in Christ's righteousness through faith to minister as priests in his coming kingdom.
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The Garments of the Priests
- 1. THE GARMENTS OF THE PRIESTS Laindon, 24th April 2019
- 2. “Priest” • ‘Kohen’ (725) – ‘priest, prince, minister’ • > ‘Chief ruler’ (2) • > ‘Principal officer’ (1)
- 3. The Sanctuary • “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” (Exodus 25.8)
- 4. Shadow or Type • “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.” (Hebrews 10.1)
- 5. Shadow or Type • “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.” (Hebrews 10.1) • “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1.14)
- 6. The High Priest’s Clothing (sources – 1)The Jewish Magazine; 2) Bible History on line)
- 7. “For Glory and for Beauty” “And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons. And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for * glory and for ^ beauty.” (Exodus 28.1-2) “And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my *glory.” (Exodus 29.43) “*glory” = ‘kabod’ (‘weight, heaviness, honour’) “ ^ beauty” = “tipharah”, “tiphereth” (‘beauty’)
- 8. The 6 Garments • “And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.” (Exodus 28.4)
- 9. The Ephod and the Girdle (Exodus 28.5- 14) • Fine twined linen = “the righteousness of saints” (Revelation 19.8)
- 10. The High Priest and his garments
- 11. Blue – its significance • “Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them ; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:” (Numbers 15.38-39)
- 12. Scarlet – its significance • “’Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.’” (Isaiah 1.18)
- 13. Scarlet – its significance • “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5.21) • “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53.6)
- 14. Gold thread • “And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work.” (Exodus 39.3)
- 15. Gold thread • “And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work.” (Exodus 39.3) • “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” (1 Peter 1.7)
- 16. The Onyx Stones – Exodus 28.9-12 • “And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel: Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth. • With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold. And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord upon his two shoulders for a memorial.” (Exodus 28.9-12)
- 17. The Breastplate – Exodus 28.15-30
- 18. The Breastplate – Exodus 28.15-30 • “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11.6) • “ a breastplate of faith and love” (1 Thessalonians 5.8) • “ a breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6.14)
- 19. The Robe of Blue – Exodus 28.31-35 • “And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue. And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be not rent. • And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about: • A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about. • And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not.”
- 20. Hyssop Plant & Blue in another guise – Proverbs 20.30 • “The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.”
- 21. The Embroidered Coat – Exodus 28.39 • ”And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework.”
- 22. Clothing of Righteousness • “I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.”(Job 29.14)
- 23. The Girdle of Needlework – Exodus 28.39 • ”And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework.”
- 24. The Girdle of Needlework • “And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.” (Isaiah 11.5) • “ And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle” (Isaiah 22.21) • “ Wherefore, gird up the loins of your minds” (1 Peter 1.13)
- 25. Dr Thomas (Eureka Vol 1. p392) – extract:- • ‘ Josephus says that the priests wore the girdle upon their breasts, under their arms; that a kind of flower-work was there represented, with threads of purple, scarlet and Hyacinth; that it went twice round the body, was tied before, and the ends hung down to the feet. The girdle in Scripture, is often used as an emblem of those moral and spiritual qualities, which strengthen and establish the mind…’
- 26. The Mitre – Exodus 38.36-40 • And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. • And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD. • And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework. And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.
- 27. Our mental process • “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. “ (Philippians 4.8)
- 28. Godliness • “…exercise (Greek ‘gumnaxo’ – to use exercise, train up) thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” (1 Timothy 4.7-8)
- 29. The Mitre – Exodus 38.36-40 • And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. • And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD. • And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework. And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.
- 30. Jesus – the priestly anti-type • “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14.6) • “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Romans 10.4)
- 31. Linen Breeches – Exodus 28.42-43 • “And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach: And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him.”
- 32. Barefoot on Holy Ground – Exodus 3.2-5 • And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
- 34. The need for wisdom • “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. “ (James 1.5)
- 35. How can we exhibit God’s glory? • By • > Emptying ourselves of pride and willfulness • > Living lives as a servant to others (like the High Priest) •
- 36. Why should we exhibit God’s glory? • > To become priests in Jesus’ coming kingdom:- “But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.” (Isaiah 61.6) • > To rejoice with Jesus in his kingdom by being clothed as saints:- “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments (margin note ‘as a priest’), and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61.10)
Editor's Notes
- People/Israel, having escaped darkness/Egypt, although specially chosen as God’s people, were yet to become ‘holy’ in fullest sense/word. Central to process was need to have priests & in particular, HP. Pace Young’s… It is strongly suggested that root meaning of word ‘priest’ is ‘administrator’, which makes sense when we reflect on how priesthood was pivotal to law/Moses. The priest(s) could not only instruct Israel & lead their worship, but would also be a living example to them of God-manifestation. That being said, was a prior need to have a centre/worship & place in which priest could minister > S3
- Sanctuary became place where God could manifest himself to people and show His glory to them. This was where the HP worked as a type/shadow as per next ref ex Hebrews S4>
- How often reminded in Scripture that whatever merit of Mosaic Law & all that it represented, it was but ‘shadow’ of what would come in early days/1st cent.>S5
- In Jesus, the people saw/we see a manifestation of the glory of one who it is written – ‘And the Word...’ All of Israel under Moses, would have seen the pre-cursor to that glory in their High Priest. His role was, in part, to represent their heavenly Father to the people, an office that brought great responsibility to the holder. So what did he look like in his priestly garb? S6>
- Won’t pretend to have checked out these examples in detail & as you can see = marked differences between the 2. Idea behind showing them is to give some pictorial indication of what the HP might have looked like. Analogy for different interpretations of our most treasured book?
- The word ‘glory’ in 1) = same as in 2). Read as above. Suggested that word beauty signifies ‘ornament’. Honouring God in setting out His glory requires ‘ornament’, “ the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit” as 1.Peter 3.4, said.
- This verse details only 6, rather than 7, of the HP’s garments. For perfection there should surely be 7?! That is true. However, 7th comes later in chapter. Was it separated in this way to distinguish between the Mosaic, that which was to become the ‘old way’ with its constraints and the new way in Jesus, that was to supersede & surpass the Mosaic? Hold that thought!
- The base of the garment which is worn uppermost is ‘fine twined linen’, linen represents ‘the r of saints’. However, the Priest is to reflect God’s righteousness, not his own – just as r/saints arising not own through law, “but that which is through the faith of Jesus, which is of God by faith.” (Phil 3.9) See another representation of HP on next slide, this time with garments identified: S10>
- We will look at blue for a minute or so – S11>
- This passage indicates the importance/significance of blue. It was intended to remind the people about their God. Blue is the colour of the heavens and also the oceans. Blue is the colour of godliness. Hope to return to further consideration of this colour later in remarks if time permits. Now onto scarlet – S12>
- Scarlet the colour of sinful flesh? See Isaiah 1.18^ The HPs of old were of the same physical/mental constitution as the people on whose behalf they approached God. They were the same as we are. The great HP, Jesus also shared the same nature as ourselves, of whom we are told in S13> 2 Cor 5.21
- Both passages underline what we know of Jesus, that he died as our representative, overcoming every inclination of his flesh, winning a hard battle with human nature. Without his victory, we would be lost; without his victory, we would most likely not know each other, let alone share sweet fellowship.
- The gold was first beaten (Ex 39.3)^, then cut into threads as a fitting symbol of the tried faith that runs through Jesus’ every action. The principle here is true of us also – as Peter said > S15
- This effect is achieved by ‘cunning work’ (as in v6). Literal meaning = ‘by a designer’. In the pattern of character woven into the very fibre of His being on the basis of righteousness nothing is haphazard, everything is by careful attention to detail & design. It is just like natural world on one hand & God’s plan for this planet on the other. We are duty bound to conform to that same image of His son (Romans 8.29).
- These stones were set in gold upon the shoulders of the Ephod. It is suggested that the stones were in layers of a dark colour or black & white. When engraved with the names of the children of Israel, “according to their birth…for a memorial”, then the letters being cut through the top layer too that of a different colour would stand out distinctly. The Jewish people are a distinct race even today, regardless of efforts/integrate. God had not abandoned them regardless of their chequered history. Though the HP had the burden of the peoples’ sins, he bore them up before the Almighty. On the left shoulder Levi’s name would be included; it means ‘joining’. On the right shoulder the name of Joseph meaning ‘increase’ or ‘adding’. Joseph, as doubtless we know, is a wonderful type of Christ & in him we see foreshadowed the one who would join again God’s people, ‘adding’ the fruit of the spirit at their restoration.
- Breastplate was made of same material as the Ephod, but doubled to give it greater strength to carry the 12 gems in their gold settings. When doubled, suggested that the breastplate was c 20-22 cms square (c 8 inches x 8 inches). Not only were good works embroidered in, as represented by the coloured threads, but suggestion is that the doubling = 2 classes of people, Jew & Gentile united as one. Whether under the auspices of the 1st or 2nd covenants, a community are represented in the “breastplate of judgment” (.15) who, quoting Malachi 3.17 “shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels”. Verse 30 of our ‘study chapter’ tells us that the Urim and Thummim were to be “put in the breastplate of judgment”. In other words, Israel’s 12 tribes, each represented by a stone, were to be set in gold in the spiritual order of Israel (see Numbers 2?). These stones = in 4 rows x 3, which comprises 4 as representative of spiritual Israel (cf 4 faces of the cherubim with 3 as a number of completion. Suggested that here we have the true Israel of God completely taken out of Egypt & prepared in a world that is to them a wilderness. S18>
- Yet it all hangs upon Israel. How do we see this? The breastplate was fastened to the onyx stones upon Aaron’s shoulders by gold cords of faith & to the girdle of the Ephod by blue cords of godliness. We then, b/s, have the privilege of being fastened to Israel’s foundation upon these 2 principles – faith & godliness, of profession (1 hand) & practice (other). See above 1), truly 2) & 3). How fitting and what a wonderful analogy that in the Holy Place Aaron bore Israel on his shoulders & over his heart! So, for us, Jesus bears us in our weaknesses & carries us in his affections. Thanks be to God that we enjoy such a marvellous position!
- We mentioned earlier the fact that blue in Scripture implies godliness. On a different note, the vivid blue flower of the hyssop plant was used for purification under the law. Pace R.Roberts (Law of Moses, P125), blue can also represent healing or cleansing (see S20> Prov 20.30).
- Additionally, there were golden bells alternating with woven pomegranates around the hem of the Robe of Blue. Pomegranates are a fruit literally full of seed (Mum?) and often divided into 12 sections. A fruit which so aptly represents the community of (true) saints in their fruitfulness. Need to move on!
- The coat was similar for both Aaron & his sons. A covering of ‘righteousness’, which, going down to the feet, was to completely cover the flesh. A righteousness not merely put on by Jesus, but should be by all who are his brethren & sisters through baptism & the life that follows. As Job stated – S22>
- Principle applies to us; we choose what we wear, but fleshly attire will not be acceptable to our heavenly Father. I doubt that any of us would make the same confident assertion as Job did, but it is something to which we would & certainly, should aspire.
- The girdle represents righteousness & strength, for as Isaiah 11.5 said S24>
- 3 examples of the principle at work:- Isaiah 11.5, 22.21 & 1 Peter 1.13
- For all of the priests’ compliance over the many years of their existence, we may be disposed to ask the question as to how many understood the true significance of what they were wearing, the more so when blunted by a slavish adherence to the Law & the human rituals imposed by the Pharisees and scribes?
- The mitre was, quoting 2 Tim 4.8 “a crown of righteousness”, because it was made of white linen with a gold plate engraved with the words, as in .36 ”Holiness to the Lord (Yahweh)” and held upon the forehead by a ribband of blue. “Holiness to the Lord/Yahweh” – the priest epitomized in form God manifest on earth. Holiness to the Lord begins in the mind & before the eyes. As Paul exhorts us in Phil 4.8 - S27>
- These are mental & moral attributes that reflect “Holiness to Yahweh” – bound to the head by the blue ribband of godliness. As regards godliness – S28
- Benefits of spiritual exercise are 2 fold; re this life & in God’s mercy, the life to come.
- Returning to the Mitre section of Ex 38, told that mitre to be worn by Aaron/HPs to ‘bear the iniquity of the holy things’. Reason? The offerings came from an unclean people made holy by the priest. He was the mediator between a holy God and unholy man. Jesus, as the antitype, said – S30>
- We are accepted through Jesus as our High Priest who is ^ Romans 10.4. God’s righteousness thus revealed through the HP is typical not only of Jesus, but indicative of what every saint should be and which we pray we may be aspiring to.
- The linen breeches are excluded from the garments for ‘glory and for beauty’, being mentioned separately. Unlike the Embroidered Coat & Ephod, the breeches were not made of fine quality linen (pace Young’s Heb ‘Shesh’), but of an inferior quality linen (Heb ‘bad’) as was robe used on Day/Atonement. These breeches were worn that ^ 43. Suggested that whereas the other garments reflected the glory & beauty of the Most High, the linen breeches did not, neither could they be seen. They covered that part of the body that is associated with shame. Here could be an echo of man’s covering., of Adam’s first unsuccessful attempt to hide his sin? Could there be a lesson for man from God that however good we may appear to be externally, it is of no use to us if we have not removed sin from the inward man/woman? We also note that there was no provision for any footwear. Aaron was to minister on holy ground where bare feet were necessary. The removal of shoes was in in recognition that the tabernacle was God’s dwelling place & therefore sinful men had no right to be there except by invitation. We are reminded by this facet when Moses was at the burning bush S32>.
- So, a principle was here established early on.
- In all of these matters, Christ is the substance, he is pivotal as the anti-type. Unlike the HPs that preceded him, he had no need for garments for glory & for beauty, because his character totally reflected the divine. He is the pattern upon which we should mould our lives. We read in Exodus 28.2 that ‘wisdom’ was required to make Aaron’s garments as they had to be in accordance with ‘the pattern shown in the mount’ (Exodus 25.40). We require wisdom in our times to ensure that all is done in accordance with what is revealed to us in Scripture. We are told to ask for wisdom if in need of it:- S34>.
- May God in His mercy and love grant us that entrance into Jesus’ kingdom so that we may serve as ‘kings and priests’ so that ‘we shall reign on the earth’. (Rev 5.10).