What is the significance of the priestly garments?

Exodus 28 contains a detailed description of the garments God commanded to be made and worn by the priests. These were “sacred garments” to bestow Aaron and his sons with “dignity and honor” (verse 2).

The priesthood was an inherited trade, passed down from generation to generation, in one particular tribe of Israel. The idea was that the priesthood could not be bought, earned, or won in an election. Those who became priests were priests because God made them so. The garments or vestments worn by these men would have made them easily identifiable. In the nation of Israel (at this point), there were no kings so the beautiful attire worn by kings in other cultures were worn by priests in this one. This identified them as representatives of the one true God, Yahweh.

There is a spiritual significance to the yarn and thread colors – Five colors which is the biblical number for grace.

Gold (Pure) - Almighty God who is Holy. Divinely Righteous.

Blue – Heaven the abode of God. God’s divinity has come from Heaven. Jesus the Messiah! The color of Grace. The Gospel of John – Jesus the Son of God.

Red – Blood, the requirement for redemption that leads to righteousness. The Gospel of Mark – Jesus the suffering servant.

Purple – God’s Royal Blood in the Son of Man (Red) that came from Heaven (Blue). Red and blue combined yield purple. The Gospel of Matthew – Jesus of royal lineage.

White – Righteousness and purity. That is, right standing or rather the “right to stand” before our Holy God. The Gospel of Luke – Jesus the Son of Man.

The Golden Garments of the High Priest revealed Jesus as God the Great High Priest in Heaven. When the High Priest put on these garments, he was putting on Christ! It was as if “The Word” (i.e., Jesus) offered the animal sacrifices to God the Father.

There is also a spiritual significance to the precious stones on the ephod. The ephod’s precious stones, inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes, are said to serve as “stones of reminder” to remind God of Israel, and the same is true of the twelve stones on the breastplate. This represented that all of God’s Special Treasures (i.e., His people) are on His heart. The names were not simply written on the stones but rather engraved, meaning they can never be removed. This means that we are eternally secure in Jesus.

Under the new covenant, Paul writes that we are all representatives of God. In 2 Corinthians 5:20, he contends, "We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. "

So, since we are priests of the living God, what is our required attire? The world tells us to dress to impress. But God’s Word tells us to clothe ourselves in the things the world does not see. The fruit of the Spirit shows the character of Christ. The world may not see these things but God does.

Application Questions:

What do others see when they look at you?

Do they see a well-dressed person, or do they see Christ?

What aspects of your life make it obvious that you are a representative of God?

Quote:

God prefers fruits of the spirit over religious nuts. - Adrian Rogers

Prayer:

Lord, I thank You for reminding me that I am an ambassador for You in this world. Help me to represent You accurately, so that when the world looks at me, they will see You. Amen