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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