#14 Proper Attire Required for Entrance
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness Series
Garments of the High Priest
By Pastor Jim May
Exodus 28:4-43
Before the first High Priest of Israel, who was Moses’ brother Aaron, was ever allowed to step beyond the second veil before the Holy of Holies, he had to be clothed in the right garments. These garments represented so much that we won’t be able to cover it all, but I do want to show you some of what was symbolized in them. Every High Priest, from the time of Aaron, until the temple was destroyed in 70 AD, has had to wear similar garments. Anyone attempting to minister to the Lord without the proper attire would face rejection and death.
As we begin let me remind you of the parable of the parable of the wedding feast that Jesus related in Matthew 22:10-14. Here is what He had to say. "So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen."
In light of this passage and others, we must realize that before any human being can pass beyond the veil of death and stand in the presence of our Holy God, that person had better make sure that they have on the proper garments. One day soon there will be another wedding feast. It’s called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, and no one will be there without the proper garments. Those garments will be robes of pure white, made clean by the Blood of the Bridegroom.
2 Peter 3:13-14, "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."
Ephesians 5:25-27, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
Looking now at the Tabernacle and the high priest, we must remember that there was one man who was ultimately responsible for the Tabernacle, its daily offerings and functions and also its regular Feasts.
Three times a year he would personally offer the sacrifices and make sure that every ordinance of the Temple were observed: at Passover, at Pentecost and at Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement. Of course, at the moment Yom Kippur ended, the week long time of joy and celebration began as the Feast of Tabernacles was observed, so he was likely involved in that feast also.
On the Day of Atonement, it was his personal responsibility to take the blood of the sacrifice into the Holy of Holies on behalf of all God’s people so that they could receive forgiveness of their sins.
His responsibility required that he would be a sanctified person and that he would be dressed in "holy garments".
The uppermost holy garment is called the Ephod. On top of the Ephod there was a square breastplate, with twelve precious stones mounted in the center of it. On the shoulders are two additional precious stones. The blue garment is called the robe. Under the robe the high priest wore a white linen tunic. On his head is the white linen turban. Round the base of the turban is the crown of gold, a golden band inscribed with the words, "HOLY TO THE LORD".
All of these garments and items have great significance. Hopefully I will relay to you through this lesson, some of the things that these garments tell us about our Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is now seated with power and glory at the Father’s right hand in Heaven.
The description and instructions for making the garments are found in Exodus 28:4-43. For the sake of time, I won’t read this passage to you. Read it for yourself later. But I will show you what it says and hopefully reveal some of its great symbolism.
The Ephod had four colors in it: blue, purple, scarlet and white of the fine linen. These are the same colors, if you will remember, that were on the Door to the Outer Court, the Door to the Sanctuary and in the Veil. All of these colors represent Jesus as Very God in the blue; Jesus as King of King and Lord of Lords, in the purple; Jesus as the Sacrificial Perfect Lamb of God, in the scarlet: and Jesus as the Righteous Judge in the white Lenin.
There is one other important feature added to the Ephod. It was pure gold thread, cut from solid gold plating, and was interwoven with the other colors. The gold threads not only represented the riches of God’s love and grace, but his divine power and eternal existence.
On each shoulder-piece of the Ephod was a precious stone. Six names were written on each of the stones, altogether naming the twelve tribes of Israel. Every time the high priest went before God at the Altar of Incense, the names of all the people of God were upon His shoulders. He was going there as the intercessor for the nation in prayer.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep and goes after each one that is lost in the sin. When He finds a sheep that is lost, He lays them on His shoulder and carries them back to the fold and to safety. He is ever interceding for His people; ever carrying them back into the fold.
The breastplate was square and embroidered with gold. Set into the Breastplate in gold bases, were twelve precious stones, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel.
These 12 precious stones show us that the Good Shepherd knows His sheep so well that He calls them each by their own name. The high priest bears the names on the Breastplate "over His heart" when he goes before the Lord "as a memorial", showing us that God’s love for his people is eternal and perfect.
While each of the twelve tribes were represented there, we must also note that not one stone appeared on this breastplate, containing a name of any other people, tribe or nation, except for those who were God’s chosen people. Those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and have not confessed Him to be their Great High Priest, are not represented here.
While God loves all men equally, He has made promises to only those who will serve Him. All other people will not share in this special relationship that you and I have as we stay close to the heart of God. The rest of humanity still stands without the Outer Court for they have not entered in the by the Door and they are thieves and robbers, having no place in the temple of God.
As the high priest goes about doing his duties in the Holy Place, wearing the Breastplate with the engraved names, he passes the Lampstand where light shines onto the names. He passes by the Table of Showbread where the names are corresponded with one another in a fellowship of nourishment through the Bread of Life. He pauses before the Altar of Incense where he bears the names individually and collectively before God, praying that each member of each tribe may be given eternal life. All of this is a picture of our Great High Priest and what Jesus has done, and still does, for every one of his people.
The Breastplate was folded double to form a pocket. Inside the pocket is where the Urim and Thummin were kept. Urim means "lights" and Thummin means "perfections".
They were two special stones and were often used in making judgments on behalf of matters before the courts of Israel. According to Jewish tradition, this is how the decisions were made with these stones. When someone had to make an important decision, the request was made known to the high priest. He would stand before the Lampstand, holding the Urim in one hand and the Thummin in the other. As the light reflected from the Urim and the Thummin onto the stones of the Breastplate, this flash of light provided up to 24 combinations (2 x 12). Since there are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, the flashes of light could produce strings of letters. As God breathed through the Ark, the Veil would move, permitting a breeze to flicker the flames in the Lampstand to momentarily alter the angle of direction of the light onto the Urim and Thummin, and thence to the Breastplate. Thus God was able to communicate directly, but not audibly, to the high priest and answer the enquiry.
According to more modern researchers who are researching and planning for the building of the Third Temple, the twelve types of stones in the breastplate have been found and identified. Each of them supposedly has some very special healing powers.
The stone of Reuben, the Ruby, is good for pregnant women because it strengthens the heart and calms the mood.
The stone of Simon, the Topaz, somehow aids in cleansing the blood and teaches the benefit of the doubt.
The stone of Levi, the Beryl, increases wisdom and aids in learning.
The stone of Judah, the Turquoise, calms the mood and removes worry.
The stone of Issachar, the Sapphire, strengthens the eyes and brings peace.
The stone of Zebulun, the Diamond, brings longevity, and helps in earning a livelihood. The stone of Dad, the Jacinth, strengthens a weak heart, and brings joy and success to the wearer.
The stone of Naftali, the Agate, brings peace and happiness and repels the “evil eye”.
The stone of Gad, the Jasper, gives strength and removes worry and fear.
The stone of Asher, the Emerald, increases wisdom, gives courage and the wearer finds favor in the eyes of fellow men; and it brings success in business.
The stone of Joseph, the Onyx, is a remedy for restoring memory and improving sight; and enables the wearer to speak wisely.
The stone of Benjamin, the Jade, prevents hemorrhaging, improves sight and aids in childbirth.
The Robe was made entirely of blue fabric. It had a hem where pomegranate in blue, purple and scarlet were attached. Alternating between these pomegranates were golden bells. As the High Priest would move about the Tabernacle, the golden bells were an audible testimony of his service. They produced a beautiful sound, backed up by beautiful fruits, showing us that there is to be an equal balance of words and deeds as we serve the Lord.
The Turban, or Mitre, was made of white fine linen signifying righteous thinking and meditation upon the holiness of God’s Law. God’s Word must always be on our mind, as a covering for our thought processes.
2 Corinthians 10:5, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"
As part of our service to the Lord we are to take on the “Whole Armor of God”, and part of that armor is listed in Ephesians 6:17, "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:"
Attached to the Turban and on the forehead of the high priest was the Crown, a gold plate on which "HOLY TO THE LORD" was engraved. This seal of God is ever present on the head of Jesus Christ for He is Holy and He is Lord, and He is our Great High Priest.
But for us, whom He has also made priests there is a clear indication that we are not just to be outwardly dressed up in Christ, but He must ever occupied in our heart and mind as well.
Romans 12:1-2, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Ephesians 4:23-24, "And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
The beauty, wealth and glory of Israel as a people of God could be seen and admired in the garments of the High Priest. I wonder how often he would wear those garments in public? I dare say that the High Priests of Israel would often use those robes as a way to draw the admiration; respect and submission of the people for their own gain at times.
But God would never allow a man to share in His glory. Before the High Priest could enter into the Holy of Holies, he had to remove his garments of beauty and be clothed only in his pure white Lenin robe.
If you and I are going to enter in beyond the veil and enter into the very presence of God, we had better make sure that we have on the right garments. You won’t enter there with garments of Gold, or silver or with precious stones on them.
Mankind would love to be able to walk into Heaven wearing all of the jewels and glory that he has gained in the flesh. He would love to be a “show-off” of the works that he has done. But God won’t allow anyone to share His glory, and it is God who has paid the price for our salvation and nothing we do will earn that salvation for us.
Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Before we can enter in, we must enter through the power of the High Priest. Before we can experience eternal life in its fullest, we must go beyond the veil of life that separates us from being in the Throne Room of Heaven. We must somehow get beyond that veil, but there it is, blocking our view, standing in our path to the Shekinah of God.
But it won’t be long before each of us, one-by-one, by way of the grave, or collectively, by way of the Rapture, will pass beyond that veil. That veil is represented by our flesh. We are unable to go where Jesus is fully because flesh cannot enter there. It must be ripped away, torn asunder and taken away for us to enter in.
Hebrews 10:19-25, "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
But before that day comes, let us clothe ourselves in the beauty of God’s grace, his love, his mercy and his righteousness. Keep yourselves unspotted from the world. The only garment you will wear when you go beyond the veil is the white robe of Righteousness, given to you by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 61:10, "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels."
Revelation 7:9-10, "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb."
Revelation 19:7-8, "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."
I’m getting ready to go beyond the veil. All that this world holds can never compare with the glory of that day when I will enter Heaven’s gates. Many have gone before and I know I will see them there. Most of all, I will see Jesus, my Great High Priest.
But I won’t see Him only in a White Robe. I’ll see Him in all of his glory and power!
Revelation 19:12-16, "His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."
Next week we will come to the end of this study of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. We will finally go beyond the veil once more. We began this study in God’s presence within the Holy of Holies, and that is where we shall end, as we gaze upon the glory of God above the Mercy Seat.
