Priestly Garments, Part 3
Notes
Transcript
I. The robe of blue, 28:31-35.
I. The robe of blue, 28:31-35.
The robe described in these verses is one of six pieces that were custom made for the high priest.
It was a woven work of one piece, made of blue. It was seamless, sleeveless and hung below the knees.
It had an opening in the middle, reinforce by a binding of woven work, keeping the robe from being torn from the opening. This went over the priest’s head (like a poncho?)
The pomegranates on its hem were either hanging like bells from the hem or embroidered on the hem, made of blue, and purple and scarlet material. they went all around the hem of this blue robe. Between each pomegranate would be little bells, made of pure gold, attached o to the hem of the robe all around.
This robe was to be on Aaron for ministry. The bells were tinkling so that they could be heard when Aaron entered and came out of the holy place before the LORD. The reason: “so that he will not die” (verse 35).
The robe of blue symbolizes Christ’s heavenly origin. It was seamless, symbolizing His perfect character and integrity. Even though there were those who tried to accuse Him of wrong doing, attacking His character, they never succeeded.
The colors in the pomegranates were symbolic of Christ’s heavenly origin, incarnation, ministry, and second advent. They speak of the fruitfulness produced by Christ’s sacrificial work on the cross., He being the first fruits...
But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,
The bells speak of faithful testimony. The bells announced the high priest before God, that he was coming into the presence of the LORD to do God’s work in God’s way. The bells kept him safe in God’s presence
Worship the Lord with reverence And rejoice with trembling.
The sounding of the tinkling bells also united the people and the high priest as he ministered, assuring them of God’s mercy in allowing this priest to minister on their behalf, and allowing them to not only follow the priest’s movements but to also be in prayer with him.
Together, the bells and pomegranates remind us that our own priestly walk must be fruitful and faithful, always giving witness that we are serving the Lord with integrity
The holy place spoken of here is the portion containing the lampstand, the table of showbread and the altar of incense. The high priest could only enter the holy of holies, where the ark of the covenant was placed one time a year--on the Day of Atonement. This was unique in that all he could wear was his white linen tunic, as he offered for himself an offering, for the cleansing of impurities. It was only after the scapegoat was released and he was washed that he could again put on all the high priestly apparel. He had to do this every year on the appointed day. Contrast this with
and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
Jesus, through His own blood, has obtained for us eternal redemption.
II. The gold plate for the turban, 28:36-38.
II. The gold plate for the turban, 28:36-38.
A golden plate was to be made with the engraving “Holy to the LORD.” This was an expression of Israel’s need for purity before the LORD. Warren Wiersbe said, “Jesus did not die to make us happy; He died to make sinners holy,” “Be Holy for I am Holy” was a frequent command to the Jews (Lev.19:2).
but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Like the holy one who called you, be holy yourself also in all your behavior ...be holy for I am holy.
Wherever we go, whatever we do, we are to live lives of purity, of holiness before the Lord. Leviticus 10:3 tell us of the dire consequences that befell Nadab and Abihu. They were destroyed for unholiness in God’s tabernacle. We have been made holy in Christ, and he has become to us wisdom from God, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption (1 Cor 1:30).
For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;
a high priest...holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens.
Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
In the wearing of this gold plate at the front of the turban, Aaron bears the guilt in connection with the tabernacle and with the priesthood. Jesus bore our iniquity one time, He bore all of it for everyone, never to do so again.
All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.
The Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.
The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
Christ, having been offered up once to bear the sins of many....
and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
Christ Himself bore our sins on His body...
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
He died one for all, the just for the unjust...
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Text: “with regard to their holy gifts”
Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
Text: “that they may be accepted before the LORD”
‘He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, that it may be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf.
- identifying with the sacrifice that it may be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf
you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
… to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
III. The linen tunic and accessories, 28:39-43.
III. The linen tunic and accessories, 28:39-43.
Verses 39-41 describe the tunic that was made for Aaron and for sons, but Aaron is the only one who gets a turban to cover his head. His sons are to get caps. all is to be made of fine linen; Aaron’s tunic is to be a checkered work (we don’t know if that was true of the other priests).
Note here that God provides the apparel to approach Him -- the priests could not wear what they wanted. note the parable Jesus told in Matt. 22:12-13.
and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless.
“Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Unlike Aaron and his sons who had to put on these garments every day, someday we will be like Him: 1 John 3:2
Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
They were to be anointed for their work by Moses; we are established with Christ and anointed by God.
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God,
This anointing pictures the anointing of the Holy Spirit; for us a permanent anointing,
But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.
They were ordained, set apart for ministry, and consecrated, which literally means “fill the hand.” The person appointed for holy service shall receive the sign or symbol of the office in their hand; in this case, it may be the very bearing of the offering or the wave offering before the LORD. This was done that they may serve the LORD as priests.
There is a distinction made in the very garments they wore; it would be visible before all what they were because their tunics set them apart.
Verses 42-43 deal with their underwear. Many in the ancient civilizations saw worship with naked or near-naked priests. It was not to be so before God or His people. God is concerned even with their undergarments.
This shows that God was always to be approached with dignity and care. Again the point is made: even to their undergarments, the priests could not wear anything they wanted -- or not wear anything -- they must come on God’s terms in their tabernacle service. If they chose reject those terms, there was a real danger of entering God’s presence improperly. They would incur guilt and die.
This would be a permanent statute for Aaron, his sons and their descendants: you serve God only in the way He prescribes.