The High Priest was chosen (sanctified, set apart) by God (Hebrews 5:4, 5).

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1 THE HIGH PRIESTLY GARMENTS OF GRACE But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. 1 Peter 2:9 This week our study is about the garments of the High Priest. In Exodus 28 and 39, God details to Moses, the dress of the High Priest. The first High Priest of the earthly tabernacle was Aaron, of the tribe of Levi. He and his descendants were chosen by God to minister before Him in the temple, so this priesthood is also called the Aaronic priesthood. In contrast, Christ is the great High Priest of the heavenly sanctuary. His priesthood is of the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:6, 10) and is superior to that of the Aaronic priesthood (Hebrews 7). The High Priest was chosen (sanctified, set apart) by God (Hebrews 5:4, 5). The duties of the High Priest included: 1. Offering gifts and sacrifices. Hebrews 5:1 2. Make atonement. Leviticus 16: Entering the most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement. Leviticus 16, Heb 9:7, 12, Inquire of God. 1 Samuel 23: Consecrate Levites. Numbers 8: Anoint kings. 1 Kings 1:34 7. Have compassion on his people. Hebrews 5:2 8. Intercede for his people. Numbers 16:46, 47 The Superiority of Christ s Priesthood: 1. Aaron was a man; Christ, the Son of God. Hebrews 7:28 2. Aaron was a sinner; Christ was sinless. Hebrews 7:26, Aaron s priesthood subject to change; Christ s unchangeable. Hebrews 7:23, Aaron offered the blood of animals; Christ offered His own blood. Heb 9:12, 26; 10:10,12 5. Aaron s priesthood imperfect; Christ s is perfect. Hebrews 7:11, Aaron s priesthood is the type ; Christ s is the antitype or fulfilment. Hebrews 8:1-6. Christ as High Priest: 1. Satisfies God s justice. Romans 3: Pacifies God s wrath. Romans 5:9

2 3. Justifies the sinner. Romans 5:1 4. Sanctifies the believer. 1 Corinthians 1:30 The Clothes of the High Priest The High Priest had linen garments and additional clothes for glory and for beauty. He wore both sets 364 days of the year. On the Day of Atonement, however, he divested himself of all his clothes except the linen garments. These he wore to make an atoning sacrifice on behalf of the people and to present the blood of the sacrifice before the Shekinah glory, in the Holy of Holies. It is the blood that kept the human High Priest from being slain in the presence of Holiness. The Plain Linen Garments The high priest had two sets of garments. One set was of plain white linen, Exodus 39:27, 28, like those of the common priest, except the mitre and the girdle. The priests wore "goodly bonnets," Ex. 29:28, while the linen mitre of the high priest was somewhat conical in shape. The High priest wore 4 linen garments, short trousers, a long tunic, a girdle and a mitre. The high priest wore these plain garments only on the Day of Atonement, when he went into the most holy place to minister for his own sins as well as for those of the people. Then he appeared in the humble character of a suppliant. As he approached into the very presence of God, the Shekinah, glory, he did so in pure white linen attire, Leviticus 16:2-4, without ornament or ornamentation of any kind - garments befitting reverence and humility. These garments were also a type of the righteousness of Christ, which is the only righteousness that can stand in the presence of a holy God. Ellen White, commenting on this, makes the statement that Jesus came down to earth in white linen robes... As in the typical service the high priest laid aside his pontifical robes and officiated in the white linen dress of an ordinary priest; so Christ laid aside His royal robes and garbed Himself with humanity and offered sacrifice, Himself the priest, Himself the victim. As the high priest, after performing his service in the holy of holies, came forth to the waiting congregation in his pontifical robes; so Christ will come the second time, clothed in garments of whitest white, "so as no fuller on earth can white them." Mark 9:3. He will come in His own glory, and in the glory of His Father, and all the angelic host will escort Him on His way. Acts of the Apostles p.33 The Blue Robe of the Ephod. This was the garment worn next over the embroidered coat of linen. It was "of woven work, all of blue". Like the embroidered coat, it was in one piece. It had no sleeves, but only slits in the sides for the arms to come through, and an opening in the top for the head. Upon the hem of the robe were fastened bells of pure gold, between which were "pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen;" both were expressive of the character and work of our heavenly High Priest. Ex. 28:31-35; 39: The Significance of Fruit and Bells. One of the explanations is that is a symbol of witness the witness of words (the sound of golden bells rather than brass or clanging cymbals (1 Cor 13:1) and

3 witness of character, the fruit of the Spirit (John 15, Gal 5:22). Christ is our perfect example. He is the True and Faithful Witness (Rev 1:5; 3:14). The Ephod. The ephod, which was worn outside the blue robe, was the peculiar official garment of the high priest of Israel. The word ephod is sometimes translated apron, being shorter than the blue robe, and sleeveless. It was the most costly and the most magnificent of his garments, being entirely of "gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen," Exodus 39:3. Here again we see the symbolism of our great High Priest, His perfection, His truth, His sacrifice, His intercession and His righteousness. The Onyx Stones. The front and the back of the ephod were clasped together at the shoulders with two onyx stones, on each of which were engraved six of the names of the tribes of Israel. Exodus 28:10; 39:6. These onyx stones were nearly white with pink streaks like agate. They were enclosed in ouches, or rosettes, of gold, and the names were "graven as signets are graven." Exodus 39:6 A signet is a seal used by a sovereign in sealing official documents. It gives validity to the document and represents the authority of the government over which the officer rules. Likewise, the names graven on these onyx stones indicated that those thus represented were officially set apart and sealed to become loyal servants of their heavenly Sovereign. Badges of honour and authority are often worn on the shoulders of government officials, or others who have won distinction. As the Messiah was to bear the government upon His shoulder (Isaiah 9:6), so the shoulder stones of the high priest expressed God-given honour and responsibility. The burden bearing shoulder signifies submission to servitude. Issachar "bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute." Gen. 49:15. The onyx stones fastened to the shoulder of the ephod indicated that the high priest was to bear the physical burdens of Israel, even as the heavenly High Priest, carries our burdens "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee." Psalm 55:22, is no idle promise, and for any of us to be a burden bearer for God is a high and heavenly honour. The names of Israel in the onyx stones were engraved "according to their birth," Ex. 28:10, Reuben, the eldest to Benjamin the youngest. Both the onyx stones and the breastplate jewels were engraved "for a memorial," something that God will never forget. "Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee," for "I have graven thee," not upon precious stones, but that which is infinitely more precious, "upon the palms of my hands." Exodus 28:12, 29; Isaiah 49:15, 16. The LORD knows them that are His is the promise of 2 Timothy 2:19. This is the promise of the Lord to Zion. The Breastplate of Judgment. Like the ephod, the breastplate was made of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine-twined linen. This richly embroidered piece of brocade when doubled was foursquare, measuring a span, approximately nine inches each way. Within its border "in rosettes of gold," Ex. 39:13, were set four rows of precious stones, three in each row. On each of these stones was engraved the name of one of the twelve tribes. Ex. 28: Hebrew writers say that the ensign or banner of each tribe bore the same colour as that of the precious stones representing that tribe in the breastplate of the high priest. "Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment (or justice) upon his heart, when he goes in unto the holy place, for a memorial (a reminder) before the Lord

4 continually." Ex. 28:29. Just so day by day "continually" Christ, our heavenly High Priest is reminded of His own and continually intercedes for them. So He became their Saviour. In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them all the days of old. Isaiah 63:9 These twelve breastplate jewels, no two alike, borne on the heart of the high priest, represent God's special treasure. They shall be Mine, says the LORD of hosts, on the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. Malachi 3:17 (Because of the difference in language in which the Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament were written, the names of some of the jewels in Revelation differ from those given in Ezekiel and Exodus, but the jewels themselves are the same. In the New Testament, according to Smith's Bible Dictionary, jacinth is the same as ligure, chalcedony is a variety of agate, sardonyx is a sard variety of onyx, while chrysoprasus and chrysolite, both jewels of great brilliancy, are evidently the carbuncle and diamond of the Old Testament). The Order of the Names. The names in the breastplate were engraved "according to the twelve tribes." Exodus 28:21, i.e. in the order that the 12 tribes were massed around the tabernacle; 3 tribes to a side. Num. 2:3-13. The Urim and the Thummim. And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goes in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually. Exodus 28:30 In Ezekiel 28:13 there is mention of the following precious stones having been in Eden - the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle. (The Septuagint gives all twelve stones.) It would almost appear as if the breastplate of the high priest pointed back to Eden, promising to God's Israel readmission into its glories, while New Jerusalem speaks of the same, presenting to the redeemed all, and more than all, the glory of Paradise, into which they are introduced by the Lamb - the true High Priest who bears their names on His heart. Ezekiel calls these stones the "covering" of Lucifer, king of Tyrus. Ezekiel 28: How beautiful is the thought that the breastplate of the high priest spans the gulf between the time when through Lucifer sin entered Eden, tearing its inhabitants from the heart of the Creator, and the time when through Christ sin is entirely and forever blotted out and His children are restored to the heart of their Redeemer, the true High Priest! The Girdle of the Ephod and the Mitre And the intricately woven band of the ephod, which is on it, shall be of the same workmanship, made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. Exodus 28:8

5 "Curious" in the KJV means skilful or intricate workmanship. This girdle was about a hand's breadth wide, wound twice about the upper part of the waist, and fastened in front, the long ends hanging down. Like the ephod, its royal colours were richly embroidered with threads of pure gold, thus fitly representing Christ, who was "girded about the chest with a golden girdle." Rev. 1:13. Such a girdle was a mark of excellent honour, majesty, and royalty, the rich golden girdle of Christ indicating the excellence of His ministration as High Priest. The High Priest had 2 girdles; the girdle of fine linen and the intricately woven girdle of many colours. Isaiah prophesied of Messiah that He would have 2 girdles; the girdle of faithfulness and the girdle of righteousness. Righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His waist. Isaiah 11:5 The mitre, like the other garments, was made of fine linen, thus forming a triple crown, "one within another." It was a symbol of the triple crown of Christ. Fastened to the forefront of it with a ribbon of blue, was a plate of pure gold on which was engraved the inscription, "HOLINESS TO THE LORD." Because of this, the mitre was called "the holy crown." Exodus 39:30, 31. What is the relevance of the priestly garments to Christians? There is only one High Priest today, Jesus Christ, the Mediator between God and man, who ever lives to make intercession for us and therefore, can save us to the uttermost. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 1 Timothy 2:5, 6 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25 When God called out the Israelites from Egypt, His purpose was to make them a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. He wanted them to have a burden to bring the nations to a knowledge of God. He knew they were sinners, but His purpose for them did not change. Even Aaron, the High Priest chosen by God, was chosen even though God knew he would make a golden calf. (Exodus 28 precedes the story of the golden calf in Exodus 32). Today God s purpose for spiritual Israel (the Church) is the same. We are all sinners, but we have been saved by grace and God calls us to be a holy nation and a kingdom of priests. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Exodus 19:6 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. 1 Peter 2:9 God is waiting for us to recognise our high calling; to allow the Spirit to work in us and through us that we may do the work Christ did here on earth: 1. T o proclaim the gospel by word and deed. 2. To have compassion for our fellow men.

6 3. To bear each others burdens. 4. To have the ministry of reconciliation; to share the good news that God has reconciled the world to Himself, that none need be lost, for His salvation is full and free. 5. To have the ministry of intercession. 6. To be a faithful witness to the righteousness and faithfulness of God, by demonstrating His righteousness and His faithfulness in our lives. 7. Above all, to proclaim Holiness to the LORD in our lives. The church is God's appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been God's plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvellous light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to "the principalities and powers in heavenly places," the final and full display of the love of God. Ephesians 3:10... From the beginning God has wrought through His people to bring blessing to the world. To the ancient Egyptian nation God made Joseph a fountain of life. Through the integrity of Joseph the life of that whole people was preserved. Through Daniel God saved the life of all the wise men of Babylon. And these deliverances are as object lessons; they illustrate the spiritual blessings offered to the world through connection with the God whom Joseph and Daniel worshiped. Everyone in whose heart Christ abides, everyone who will show forth His love to the world, is a worker together with God for the blessing of humanity. As he receives from the Saviour grace to impart to others, from his whole being flows forth the tide of spiritual life. AA 9, 13 To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Rev 1:5, 6; 5: Additional Information: Below are some pictures of the High Priests garments and also the encampment of the tribes around the sanctuary.

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8 The High Priest s Garments the white linen garments, the blue tunic, the ephod, the breastplate, the mitre.

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10 The twelve stones for the breastplate of the High Priest. The stones are set in golden settings and engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. The garment is woven and the stones are attached with golden thread. The two "Remembrance Stones" that go on the shoulders of the ephod of the High Priest. The Bible calls these two stones "remembrance stones:" "And you shall place the two stones on the two shoulders of the ephod as remembrance stones for the Children of Israel. And Aaron shall carry their names before G-d on his two shoulders as a remembrance." (Ex. 28:12)