Were the priests to wear dignified clothing or any old thing? Did Jesus criticize religious leaders for wearing long robes on the street or their selfish attitudes? Are modern pastors Aaronic priests or overseers, elders and teachers? Is any of this relevant to how church leaders dressed in the early church? Let’s look at Exodus 28.
Who were Israel’s priests to serve in the tabernacle in the wilderness?
Send for your brother Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. They are the ones I have chosen from Israel to serve as my priests. Make Aaron some beautiful clothes that are worthy of a high priest. Aaron is to be dedicated as my high priest, and his clothes must be made only by persons who possess skills that I have given them. (Exodus 28:1-3 CEV)
What articles of clothing were the priests to wear in their service?
These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests. They shall receive gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. (Exodus 28:4-5 ESV)
How was the ephod designed as a special article of clothing?
They are to make the ephod of finely spun linen embroidered with gold, and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. It must have two shoulder pieces attached to its two edges so that it can be joined together. The artistically woven waistband that is on the ephod must be of one piece, according to the same workmanship of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and of finely spun linen. (Exodus 28:6-8 HCSB)
What special stones were to be chosen and what was to be engraved upon them?
You are to take two onyx stones and engrave the names of the sons of Israel on them, six of their names on one stone, and the six remaining names on the other stone. Engrave them according to their order of birth. With work like a jeweler engraves on a signet, you are to inscribe the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel, and you are to mount them in settings of gold filigree. (Exodus 28:9-11 ISV)
Where were the two engraved onyx stones to be set, and what was to be fastened at the ends?
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. And thou shalt make ouches of gold; And two chains of pure gold at the ends; of wreathen work shalt thou make them, and fasten the wreathen chains to the ouches. (Exodus 28:12-14 KJV)
What was the breast-piece and what was mounted upon it?
You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, the work of a skillful designer; like the work of the ephod you shall make it: of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen you shall make it. It shall be square, having been folded double, a span in length and a span in width. You shall mount on it four rows of stones; the first row shall be a row of ruby, topaz, and emerald; and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond; and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; and the fourth row a beryl and an onyx and a jasper; they shall be set in gold settings. (Exodus 28:15-20 LSB)
What was to be engraved upon the twelve stones of the breast-piece?
The stones shall be engraved according to the names of the sons of Israel: twelve, according to their names; they shall be like the engravings of a signet, each according to his name for the twelve tribes. You shall also make on the breastpiece twisted chains of cord work in pure gold. And you shall make on the breastpiece two rings of gold, and shall put the two rings on the two ends of the breastpiece. And you shall put the two cords of gold on the two rings at the ends of the breastpiece. (Exodus 28:21-24 NASB)
How was the breast-piece to be fastened to the ephod’s shoulder pieces and the waistband?
and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front. Make two gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod. Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod. The rings of the breastpiece are to be tied to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband, so that the breastpiece will not swing out from the ephod. (Exodus 28:25-28 NIV)
We are introduced to the urim and thummim as if they were already known. The words are variously translated as “light and truth,” or “lights and perfections” through which God’s will was made known. Could they be just another name for the 12 stones or are they totally separate objects?
In this way, Aaron will carry the names of the tribes of Israel on the sacred chestpiece over his heart when he goes into the Holy Place. This will be a continual reminder that he represents the people when he comes before the Lord. Insert the Urim and Thummim into the sacred chestpiece so they will be carried over Aaron’s heart when he goes into the Lord’s presence. In this way, Aaron will always carry over his heart the objects used to determine the Lord’s will for his people whenever he goes in before the Lord. (Exodus 28:29-30 NLT)
What are some further details about the robe of the ephod?
You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue. It shall have a hole for the head in the middle of it. It shall have a binding of woven work around its hole, as it were the hole of a coat of mail, that it not be torn. On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, all around its hem; with bells of gold between and around them: a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe. It shall be on Aaron to minister: and its sound shall be heard when he goes in to the holy place before Yahweh, and when he comes out, that he not die. (Exodus 28:31-35 WEB)
How was the turban, mitre or linen hat to be embellished?
Make a flower ornament of pure gold and engrave on it like an official seal: “Holy to the Lord.” You should fasten it on the turban with a blue cord. It should be on the front of the turban. It will be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron will take on himself any guilt connected with the holy offerings that the Israelites give as their sacred donations. It will always be on his forehead so that the people may be remembered favorably in the Lord’s presence. (Exodus 28:36-38 CEB)
What materials are to be used for the priest’s robe, turban and undergarments?
Make Aaron's robe and turban of fine linen and decorate his sash with fancy needlework. Since Aaron's sons are priests, they should also look dignified. So make robes, sashes, and special caps for them. Then dress Aaron and his sons in these clothes, pour olive oil on their heads, and ordain them as my priests. Make linen shorts for them that reach from the waist down to the thigh, so they won't expose themselves. Whenever they enter the sacred tent or serve at the altar or enter the holy place, they must wear these shorts, or else they will be guilty and die. This same rule applies to any of their descendants who serve as priests. (Exodus 28:39-43 CEV)
Did Jesus criticize religious leaders for their clothing choice or their self-aggrandizement?
Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation. (Luke 20:46-47 NKJV)
Were the priests to wear dignified clothing or any old thing? Did Jesus criticize religious leaders for wearing long robes on the street or their selfish attitudes? Are modern pastors Aaronic priests or overseers, elders and teachers? Is any of this relevant to how church leaders dressed in the early church? You decide!
