Exodus 28:1 - Meaning and Application

We read here about the priests who were appointed: Aaron and his sons (Exodus 28:1). Until now, every family head had acted as priest for his own household and offered sacrifices on simple earth altars as needed. But when Israel began to be organized as a nation, and the tabernacle, the meeting place for worship, was set up as a visible center of unity, a public priesthood was needed.

Moses, who had been serving in this role and is therefore counted among the priests of the Lord (Psalm 99:6), already had enough to do. As the prophet, he spoke with God for the people. As their ruler, he judged between them. He did not try to keep all the honor for himself, and he did not want the priesthood, the only office that passed by family line, to stay in his own house. Instead, he was glad to see his brother Aaron given this work, with Aaron’s sons after him, while Moses’ own sons would remain ordinary Levites.

This shows the humility of Moses, a truly great man, and it also shows his sincere concern for God’s glory. He cared so little about advancing his own family. Aaron had already served humbly as a prophet to his younger brother Moses and did not refuse that calling (Exodus 7:1). Now he is lifted up to be priest, even high priest, because God raises up those who humble themselves. No one could take this honor for himself unless God called him to it (Hebrews 5:4).

God had already said that Israel as a whole would be to him a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19:6). Still, it was necessary that those who served at the altar should give themselves fully to that work. If a task belongs to everyone, it soon ends up belonging to no one. So God chose one family from among the nation, Aaron and his four sons, to serve as priests. From Aaron’s family line came all the priests of the Jewish church, who appear often in both the Old Testament and the New. It is a blessed thing when true holiness, like this ceremonial holiness, continues through a family line.

We also read about the garments appointed for the priests, made for glory and beauty (Exodus 28:2). The richest materials were to be gathered (Exodus 28:5), and the best craftsmen were to make them. God would greatly increase their skill by a special gift for this work (Exodus 28:3). Skill in ordinary work is also a gift from God, and when it is needed, it should be used for him. The same God who teaches the farmer wisdom teaches the craftsman too. Both should honor God with what they earn. In a special way, learning should be set apart for the service of the priesthood and used to adorn those who minister in holy things.

The priestly garments were of two kinds. Four were worn by both the high priest and the lower priests: linen breeches, a linen coat, a linen sash to fasten it, and a cap or turban, called a mitre for the high priest. Four more belonged only to the high priest: the ephod with its woven sash, the breastpiece of judgment, the long robe with bells and pomegranates at its hem, and the gold plate on his forehead.

These glorious garments had several purposes. They reminded the priests themselves of the dignity of their office and helped them behave with proper seriousness. They also taught the people to feel a holy respect for the God whose servants appeared with such splendor. And they pointed forward to Christ, who would offer himself without spot to God, and to all Christians, who are clothed with the beauty of holiness when they are consecrated to God. Under the gospel, our adornment, for ministers and believers alike, is not gold, pearls, or costly clothing, but the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10; Psalm 132:9, Psalm 132:16).

Just as the dirty garments of Joshua the high priest showed the sin that still clung to the priesthood, and God took care to remove that impurity (Zechariah 3:3, Zechariah 3:4), so these holy garments pointed to the complete purity of Christ’s priesthood. He is holy, harmless, and undefiled.