Thursday, December 30, 2021

To Vest or Not to Vest: The Significance of the Priestly Garments in the Old Testament (and the New!!!)

I recently saw some unkind and uncharitable comments directed toward a well-known Bible teacher who was photographed wearing vestments while participating in a Communion service in an Anglican Church. No one should be mocked or treated with contempt for praying, reading scripture, serving, or taking communion. If you grew up in a church, like I did, that used Choir robes or Baptismal gowns, then it is hypocritical to mock the use of Vestments in a communion service. These 3 types of priestly robes all stem from the same tradition. In this article, I will examine the origin of priestly garments under the Old Covenant, their significance, and the application to us living under the New Covenant today.

 

Firstly, I would like to share a brief word about the way we relate to and engage in discussion with believers of different traditions. My introduction to Anglicanism came with a visit to Westminster Abbey during a college Jazz Band trip to London. As we visited with a priest of the Church of England, we learned that he viewed his ministry as an opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission in a unique way. Serving at such a popular and historic tourist destination placed him in a position to meet people from across the globe. He stayed in one location and tourists from all over the world came to him. He was able to talk with people about Jesus who could then take the good news home with them and share with others. He was a friendly man who loved the Lord, enjoyed sparking up conversations and was evangelical. I have serious differences of opinion about Baptism and different beliefs about the Lord’s Supper and other issues, but this man was my brother in Christ and I am confident that I will see him in heaven one day.

 

After witnessing the ugliness directed toward our beloved sister in Christ over participating in communion, I sat down to do some devotional reading over this Holiday vacation and found that my bookmark was placed in the portion of the 1549 Book of Common Prayer dedicated to THE SUPPER of the Lorde, and the Holy Communion. How fitting that I should happen upon the rich liturgy of the Anglican church’s communion service. While I wouldn’t do things in precisely the same manner, having read this material, I can assure you that if I had participated in the Lord's supper ministered quarterly in this format (with a bit of doctrinal editing), I would have grown up with a more robust Christology. Their form of the Lord’s Supper is saturated with Scripture, bathed in Prayer, steeped in Worship and full of intentional Teaching. The following instructions were provided to the priests with regard to the wearing of vestments. I have updated the antiquated spelling: 

 

Upon the day and time appointed for the ministration of the holy Communion, the Priest that shall execute the holy ministry, shall put upon him the vesture appointed for that ministration, that is to say: a white Albe plain, with a vestment or Cope. And where there be many Priests, or Deacons, there so many shall be ready to help the Priest, in the ministration, as shall be requisite: And shall have upon the likewise the vestures appointed for their ministry, that is to say, Albes, with tunacles.

 

This leads us to an important question: Where do priestly garments come from?

 

PRIESTLY GARMENTS UNDER THE OLD COVENANT

 

In the Old Testament, Exodus 28 records the instructions God gave to Moses for making priestly garments, beginning with the clothing for the high priest:

 

Make holy garments for your brother Aaron, for glory and beauty. You are to instruct all the skilled artisans whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, to make Aaron’s garments for consecrating him to serve me as priest. These are the garments that they must make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a specially woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make holy garments for your brother Aaron and his sons so that they may serve me as priests. They should use gold; blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; and fine linen.

 

Tremendous detail and symbolism went into making these garments and is detailed in Exodus 39. For a moment, I want to focus on one key aspect--These were Holy garments. They set the priest apart from the rest of the people. The priests were consecrated to the service of God and these robes were a reminder of their duty and position.

 

In Exodus 28 beginning in verse 39, God instructs that garments be made for the other priests from fine Linen.  

 

Make tunics, sashes and headbands for Aaron’s sons to give them glory and beauty…Make them linen undergarments… (Exodus 28:40-41)

 

They made the tunics of fine woven linen for Aaron and his sons. They made the turban and the ornate headbands of fine linen, the linen undergarments of finely spun linen, and the sash of finely spun linen, expertly embroidered with blue, purple and scarlet yarn. (Exodus 39:27-29)

 

Leviticus 16:3-5 also provides instructions about this type of priestly garments. Rather than the ornate high priests garments, on one occasion, Aaron and his successors were to wear the more humble apparel. In order to come into God’s Presence, on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the high priest was to bathe himself and then put on clean, white, linen undergarments. Over these he was to wear a linen tunic held on by a linen sash with a linen turban wrapped around his head. He was to be physically and ritually clean before entering into the most Holy place behind the veil in the tabernacle to meet with God.

 

In Chronicles 15:27, in the account of the Ark of the Covenant being brought to Jerusalem, we learn that the Levitical priests, including the singers wore white linen robes embroidered with blue, purple and scarlet yarn:

 

Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the music leader of the singers. David also wore a linen ephod.

 

This is the first historical mention of choir robes in recorded history. The Levitical singers dressed in white, embroidered priestly garments. This practice was picked up by Christian churches and has occurred throughout church history and even spread into secular choirs.

 

Dressing the High Priest: The symbolic significance of the high priest's attire under the OLD COVENANT

 

The articles of clothing prepared for the high priest were stitched with significant meaning. God's instructions for the clothing appears in Exodus 28 and chapter 39 describes how they were made. 

After completely covering his nakedness with linen underwear very much like shorts, the priest would don his ceremonial apparel.

 

1. THE SPECIALLY WOVEN TUNIC

The first item of clothing the priest put on was a tunic of checkered work. This tunic had long sleeves and covered his legs as well.  It was held on with a sash.

 

2. THE ROBE

 

You are to make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue yarn. There should be an opening at its top in the center of it. Around the opening, there should be a woven collar with an opening like that of body armor so that it does not tear. Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn on its lower hem and all around it. Put gold bells between them all the way around…The robe will be worn by Aaron whenever he ministers and its sound will be heard when he enters the sanctuary before the LORD and when he exits, so that he does not die.

 

Next, the priest would place his blue robe over the tunic. The robe was to have a collar with an opening like that of body armor so that it could not be torn. What an interesting comparison. It was blue, sleeveless and worn underneath the ephod. The hem of the garment was decorated with pomegranates interspersed with bells that served as a sort of alarm to announce the priest’s presence so that when he entered the sanctuary before the LORD he would not die.

 

3. THE EPHOD with THE BAND

 

They are to make the ephod of finely spun linen embroidered with gold, and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn…The artistically woven band that is on the ephod must be of one piece…

 

An ephod was a type of vest to be worn over the robe. This one had a special sash to wrap around the waist as a belt which was a separate matching piece made of the same material as the vest and embroidered with needle work. Two onyx stones were attached to the shoulder straps of the ephod which may have functioned as clasps or buttons to hold them together. Each stone was inscribed like a seal with 6 of the names of the sons of Israel engraved upon it. These were memorial stones, serving as a constant reminder of God’s covenant with the man Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel and with his descendants.  

 

4. THE BREASTPIECE

 

You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, in skilled work

 

The breastplate was for making decisions and judgements. It was worn on top of the ephod and attached to the ephod by cords of blue yarn tied through gold rings. It contained 12 stones arranged into 4 rows of 3, corresponding to the 12 tribes of Israel, named for Jacob’s sons. Each stone was engraved with a seal bearing the name or symbol of one of the 12 tribes.

 

The items Urim and Thummim were placed inside the breastpiece. These items, small stones, were somehow used to reveal God’s will. No one knows how they were used, but they were a means of consulting God, to discern his judgements, to make decisions for Israel.

 

5. THE TURBAN with the DIADEM

 

Finally, a Linen turban was wrapped around the head of the priest. On the turban there was a to be a gold medallion engraved like a seal with the words “Holy to the Lord.”

 

Exodus 39:30 describes how they made it:

 

They made a medallion, the holy diadem, out of pure gold and wrote on it an inscription like the engraving on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD. They attached a cord of blue yarn to it in order to mount it on the turban…

 

This medallion was placed into a diadem which was golden crown worn across the forehead. When we see the word LORD in all capital letters, this indicates that the original Hebrew word there is YHWH, the personal name of God. The priest was consecrated and set apart as Holy to Yahweh.




 

PRIESTLY CLOTHING UNDER THE NEW COVENANT

 

Now here’s the twist, under the New Covenant, ALL believers are priests.

 

You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. -1 Peter 2:5,9

 

And He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father— to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. –Revelation 1:6

 

All who place their faith, hope and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation are priests and are given special spiritual clothing. Isaiah spoke of this promise. The first verses of Isaiah 61 deliver the words that Jesus read in the synagogue about himself. Verse 3 begins to make promises about this new type of clothing that God would provide:

 

The Spirit of the LORD GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, he has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful crown/headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit, that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. –Isaiah 61:1-3

 

Continuing further down chapter in verse 9, God promises a new covenant, an everlasting covenant, and then verse 10 proclaims:

 

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress and as a bride adorns herself with jewels.

 

Jesus told his disciples: I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high. (Luke 24:49)

 

Paul teaches: For those of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a garment.

 

These verses relate clothing directly to our salvation and receiving the Holy Spirit, just as the Lord promised through Isaiah. They show us the fulfillment that when we receive Jesus as our Savior, we are clothed with salvation and robed in righteousness. we exchange ashes for beauty. Our mourning is replaced with gladness. Instead of fear and trepidation we are given confidence and can boldly praise God


Revelation chapter 7 bears witness to a great multitude of people from every nation, tribe, people and language being saved and standing before Jesus and the throne of God. Their clothing is white robes which represents the salvation they have received and their right standing with God to stand before his very Presence as they exclaim exuberant praise to Him for their salvation. 


Describing the Bride of Christ which is the Church Revelation 19: 18 describes what John saw as he glimpsed into the future:


She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints. 


God will purify and prepare his people for that special day. This verse reminds us that when we get to heaven we will all be washed clean, whiter than snow. It also reminds us that we have been saved for a purpose. God has prepared good works in advance for us to do. 


The New Testament also contains direct relationships between what the priestly garments represented and what has become our spiritual reality.

 

THE TUNIC and THE ROBE

 

I find it interesting that the Tunic with its sleeves and special design so resembles what a warrior would wear as a cushion underneath his armor and the instructions for the Robe directly state that it was to be like body armor in its construction. While it provided no physical protection, it does point us to an important spiritual reality. In Ephesians 6:13-18, we are given a bold description of this symbolism:

 

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish the flaming darts of the evil one and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

 

Did you notice the priestly function of all believers? Paul admonishes us to offer prayers and requests for all of the saints, for all believers. In the same way that the priests represented the people before God, we now do the same for one another.

 

THE EPHOD and THE BAND

 

The Ephod bore the names of the 12 sons of Israel. The priest carried them with him on his shoulders as he represented them as he ministered before God. Now we as believers represent others as we bring our prayers and intercessions before Him. We pray for each other and minister to each other.

 

The 2nd Sash, or band was a belt around the waist. The elaborate design and embroidered workmanship that was put into it indicates that it performs more than simply a practical function. As we just read from Ephesians, the priestly belt represents TRUTH. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. As Christians we must be girded with truth, telling people the truth and leading them to the truth of the good news about Jesus. Satan is the father of all lies. These lies keep people from coming to God. The Holy Spirit with which we are clothed is the spirit of truth. We represent God to unbelievers as his priests, breaking through a world full of deception as we wield the truth of his word like a sword. But we mustn’t use the word to attack people, but to defend them like a sword that shatters lies and sets people free.  

 

THE BREASTPIECE

 

In Ephesians 5, we are instructed to put on the full armor of God so that we can resist evil and stand up against the devil and his schemes. Verse 14 admonishes us to put on the breastplate of righteousness. The priestly breastplate was for judgment. Under the New Covenant in Christ, we have already been judged and declared righteous. When we accepted Jesus, we were immediately put into a right standing with God, Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to us, credited to our account.

 

The 12 precious stones of the breastpiece are identical or nearly identical to the gems mentioned in Revelation 21: 19-20 that describe the foundations of the Holy City. This causes me to remember the promise of heaven.  A few of the stones are described in archaic Hebrew which is a little difficult to translate into English, but the 12 stones included such gems as carnelian, topaz, emerald, turquoise, sapphire, diamond, jacinth, agate and jasper. 

Such jewels also adorn the covering angels that surround God and reflect His glory. In the same way, the reflective splendor of the jewels reminds me that we are now priests, meant to reflect God’s glory.

 

It is interesting that the breastplate covered the heart. The Urim and Thummim it contained were used to discern God’s will. Now, we have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us by speaking directly to our hearts.

 

THE TURBAN WITH THE DIADEM

 

Isaiah equated the priestly headdress with both righteousness and salvation.

 

By Jesus’ day, the medallion was placed into a golden crown which had engravings of the saccharum grass, causing it to bear some resemblance to the garland that would be awarded to the winners of ancient races. There are several references to such a crown, or laurel wreath in the New Testament.

 

Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown. -1 Corinthians 9:25

 

James 1:2 calls it the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

 

1 Peter 5:4 calls it the crown of glory that will never fade away.

 

2 Timothy 4:8 calls it the crown of righteousness. There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.

 

These descriptions are not contradictory, they are complementary. The crown represents our salvation which brings righteousness, eternal life and God’s glory reflected in us that will never rot or fade away. Our trust in Jesus is rightly placed and our hope can never be taken away, our salvation cannot be lost or removed from us.

 

The words Holy to Yahweh were placed as a seal into the medallion which was placed into the Diadem and worn over the forehead.  In the same way that God placed his seal on the forehead of the high priest, He has promised to seal us through the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 1:22 assures us that He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. This truth is represented in the book of Revelation when the seal is given to set God’s people apart:

 

Do not harm the land or the seas or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God. –Revelation 7:3

 

In the same way that God placed his name on the forehead of the high priest, now his name will be placed on believers, all of whom are priests:

 

They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. –Revelation 22:4

 

The priestly turban and crown with the medallion in it were a “type” of object lesson, pointing forward to the spiritual reality that, as believers, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, marked as children of God, reconciled with God and restored through Jesus. His name is on us and we are his.

 

CONCLUSION

 

The New Testament neither prescribes nor prohibits the wearing of literal vestments in worship. The white color of the linen priestly garments represented purity, being washed clean, whiter than snow. They remind us of our salvation and our right standing with God.

 

I believe Scripture shows that our clothing is spiritual under the New Covenant and no priestly garments are required. Though I do not favor them, I have no particular problem with churches using choir robes, baptismal gowns or even white vestments for the serving of communion or other types of participation in worship. When non-ordained church members are wearing these items, it reminds us that we are all priests and equals. But when vestments are used to separate the professional clergy from the people in the pews, then we have a problem.

 

My first experience with vestments was not a positive one. I will never forget being invited to play with a brass quintet for the dedication of a Catholic church. The steeple had finally been placed and the Bishop himself came down in flowing green robes for the ceremony. There may have even been a Cardinal present. The local Catholic priest from our town assisted daily with our middle school band and prepared 5 or 6 of us (mostly non-Catholics) to travel and perform for the service. There were several memorable things about that event, such as choking on the incense burning behind my chair, getting paid like a professional and the organist playing in the wrong key, but what really stands out was the Bishop standing there in all of his priestly array, pompously holding out his ring for people to kiss…seriously. The beloved priest from our town walked past with us and didn’t kiss the ring. I saw the fear in his eyes as he realized what he had done. He want back, apologized profusely, humiliated himself, knelt down and kissed the ring. It was not long before he was transferred…

 

Such priestly hierarchy is unbiblical. Such actions to require someone to prostrate themselves before a man is wickedness. There is a new High Priest:

 

Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens—let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. –Hebrews 4:14-15

 

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. -1 Timothy 2:5-6

 

There is no New Testament office of priest because all believers are now priests and equal before God. There in only one High Priest and one mediator between God and man, and that is Jesus. The rest of us are HIS priests who serve Him and each other. Any use of vestments that causes a separation or hierarchy between believers is inappropriate and should be resisted.

 

Just as the priest’s garments and the engraving on the crown set him apart, we have been called “Holy to Yahweh,” and are set apart for His service. The high priest had to wear bells and special clothing to enter into God’s Presence. Now we can approach him confident and unafraid. In the same way that God designed clothing to give the priests glory and beauty, He has given us a beautiful crown instead of the ashes of our former life. As sparkling gems reflect the sunlight, He allows us to reflect His own glory and beauty. He has replaced our filthy rags with the clean white garments of salvation. He has taken away the sin and shame that separated us from him and given us robes of righteousness. In the same way that God meticulously planned the apparel of the priests, if you are a believer, then you and I have been carefully and impeccably well-dressed by our Loving Creator.

 


 

Resources Consulted

 

Holy Bible: CSB, ESV, KJV

The Complete Works of Josephus, trans. William Whiston

Encyclopedia of Bible Life, Madeleine S. Miller & J. Lane Miller

Illustrated Dictionary of Bible Life and Times

Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon

Eerdmans Handbook to the Bible

The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary

Zondervan Handbook to the Bible

Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, JFB

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible

HCSB Study Bible notes

NKJV Spirit Filled Life Bible notes

Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia (vestments, high priest)

The Book of Common Prayer (1549), Oxford World’s Classics

 

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