Read: Exodus 29:1-30:10; Matthew 26:14-46; Psalm 31:19-24: Proverbs 8:14-26
God gave the instructions about the High Priest’s garment which was to be different than the other priest’s. He was to be the type of Jesus, our High Priest. He was to have six pieces to his outfit: the breast piece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They were to be made of gold, blue, purple and scarlet yarn with with linen. These are the colors of our bodies on the inside. We have finely twisted veins and arteries and if we could see it all in color it would have these colors. The gold is the glory of God in us.
The High Priest was to have two onyx stone with the names of the sons of Israel in birth order. Six names on each of the two stones would be attached to the shoulders of the ephod. When God looked down he could read the names of them as the priest carried the burden of them on his shoulder. Jesus said that he came first for them (Matthew 10:6, 15:24).
The breastplate would be attached to the ephod with gold rings. On the front of the breastplate were the stones that represented each tribe, in order and in sets of three, across his chest. That was to represent that he also carried them near his heart so that all could see.
There would be a special pocket on the inside of the breastplate right over his heart that would hold the two stones marked with the words Urim and Thummin. They were the “yes” and “no” stones to help the priest make decisions. If he asked God a question like, should we go to war, he would pull out one stone and it would be his answer. It was the priest who was to make decisions for the nation, not the political leader. The church should be making the laws and executing the laws in leadership over the nations.
His robe was to be worn over all of it and it was to be blue as the sign of heaven and eternity because he is more spiritual than natural. On the bottom of his robe would be a pomegranate then a bell all the way around the hem. The bell was the sound of joy and praise and the pomegranate stands for the law of God since there are exactly 613 precepts in God’s law and the same number of seeds in the pomegranate. He was the glad bringer of the good news.
The bells were also for the priest’s protection. If the high priest went into the Holy of Holies and was not holy, he would die. As long as they could hear the bells ringing then everyone knew he was well. When the priesthood became corrupt, they had to resort to tying a rope around the ankle of the priest so they could pull him out if he died in the Holy of Holies.
All of the priests were to wear white linen garments. This showed the fact that they were chosen to represent God’s righteousness. We are priests who are chosen to represent the righteousness of God.
A turban with a gold plate reading “Holy to the Lord” was on his head. This was to proclaim that his thoughts were holy and they were God’s thoughts.
The sash that went around his waist was to be embroidered. It would cover his belly, the seat of the Holy Spirit. Out of our bellies will flow rivers of living water.
All of the pieces of the High Priest and the priests were to give them honor and dignity. In Ephesians 6 we have a list of our garments and they are the same picture.
These garments also kept them from guilt and death. It is our garment of salvation that keeps us from guilt and death.
In Matthew, Jesus was teaching us the two greatest commandments: to love God and then others. He started out explaining what will happen when he comes back to judge the earth. The sheep are the ones who honored God by honoring the least important. This flew in the face of the religious pious teaching. They rated a man’s spirituality by his pocketbook. Then Jesus demonstrated the first commandment with the woman who came to pour her expensive perfume on his feet. The religious leaders said she should have sold it to help the poor. He explained that first your love the Lord, then you love people. She was obeying the Lord and hearing from him because he was to be anointed for his burial. She was a living prophecy.
Lord, help us to realize who we are and the garments that are ours to wear every day. Help us to hear your thoughts and love you with all our hearts.
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