What was the significance of the priestly garments?

Response

Exodus 28 provides a detailed account of the attire that God instructed the priests to make and wear. These were considered “sacred garments” designed to confer dignity and honor upon Aaron and his sons (verse 2).

God instructed Aaron to wear the “breastpiece of decision” to signify that the high priest represented the people before God: “Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart . . . as a continuing memorial before the Lord” «And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually. », (Exodus 28:29). It was known as the “breastpiece of decision” because the Urim and Thummim, associated with the breastpiece, were used to discern God’s will in various matters.

Certain elements of the priestly garments served a protective purpose. The high priest was mandated to have gold bells attached to the hem of his garment, so that “the sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the Lord and when he comes out, so that he will not die” «And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not. », (Exodus 28:35).

The turban was a simple white cloth, with a gold plate positioned on the forehead. Engraved on the plate were the words “Holy to the Lord.” This gold plate “will be on Aaron’s forehead continually so that [the children of Israel] will be acceptable to the Lord” «And it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and itShall always be upon his forehead, so that they may be accepted before the LORD.” , (Exodus 28:38). This reminder of consecration, placed conspicuously on the outfit, symbolized the importance of approaching the Lord God in holiness.

All the garments worn by the Old Testament priests symbolized being set apart for God’s work of atoning for sin. Compliance with the “dress code” was mandatory. This requirement is noted in verse 43: “Aaron and his sons must wear [the garments] whenever they enter the tent of meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die.”

While such elaborate garments may seem unusual today, God used these distinct garments to set His spiritual leaders apart from the other Israelites. Each piece of the priestly garments held significance related to the work the priests performed. The Israelites lived with a continual reminder of the importance of the priestly work. They also had a foreshadowing of Jesus, the “great high priest” «Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. », (Hebrews 4:14), who would carry out God’s plan of atonement in true holiness and perfection.