Exploring the Word of God ____Unit 1: The Law

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Exodus: Birth of a Nation
Priestly Worship
Chapters 28:1 - 31:11

THE PRIESTHOOD  CHAPTER 28

Verses 1-5: Aaron, the high priest, typifies Christ (Hebrews 9). Aaron’s holy garments for "dignity and honor" (Exodus 28:2) represent the glory and beauty of Christ as our High Priest.

Verses 6-14: The ephod was an apronlike garment worn under the high priest’s breastpiece. It had shoulder straps and an embroidered waistband, and was worn over a robe. On top of each of the shoulder pieces was an onyx stone encased in gold and engraved with the names of six tribes of Israel.

Verses 15-29: The breastpiece was embellished with precious stones engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel. When Aaron wore this into the Holy Place, it foreshadowed Christ bearing the names of Christians in God’s presence (Romans 8:34).

Verse 30: Mystery surrounds the purpose of Urim and Thummim, meaning "Lights and Perfections." They were used to ascertain God’s will on special occasions (Ezra 2:63). They were closely associated with the breastpiece of judgment and suggest the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Verses 31-35: Robe of the ephod: The bells on the hem of the robe spoke of God’s acceptance of the priestly sacrifice. As long as the people heard the tinkling of the bells, they knew that the high priest was still alive in the Most Holy Place. This meant that God was satisfied with their atoning sacrifice. In contrast, Christ, our High Priest, "lives to intercede" for Christians today (Hebrews 7:25).

Verses 36-38: The gold headplate was inscribed with the words, "Holy to the Lord," analogous to the holiness and purity of Christ’s priesthood (Hebrews 7:26).

Verses 39-43: Underneath the special high priestly regalia, Aaron wore the same vestments as the regular priests. This indicated that the dignity and honor that characterized Aaron (typifying Christ — Hebrews 4:14) also characterized his sons (typifying Christians in this age — 1 Peter 2:9). The linen undergarments (Exodus 28:42) typify the righteousness of Christ imputed to the believer (Revelation 19:7-8).

Verses 1-4: The washing: This cleansing in water, in which Aaron participated because he was a sinner, symbolizes our "rebirth and renewal" (Titus 3:5; John 3:5). Christ, as our "holy, blameless, pure" High Priest (Hebrews 7:26-28), did not need to be cleansed. Nevertheless, he yielded to John’s baptism in the Jordan to identify himself with sinners and fulfill the Old Testament prophecies (Matthew 3:13-17).

Verses 5-25: The clothing and anointing: Aaron was clothed with splendid garments. His anointing was symbolic of "the Spirit of God descending" on Christ (Matthew 3:16; Acts 10:38). It is important to note that Aaron alone was anointed before the blood was shed (the consecration of the priests required various offerings in which the shedding of animal blood took place). This sets Aaron apart as a striking picture of Christ, who was anointed as God in the flesh and lived a sinless life. Christ did not need to be redeemed as we do.

Verses 26-46: Special food for priests: This was fitting for those who represented the people before God in sacrifice and worship.

Verses 1-10: The altar of incense was made of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold; it was 11.5 feet square and 3 feet high. Equipped with horns and poles for transporting it, the altar was located in the Holy Place in front of the curtain. Aaron offered incense twice daily.

The incense fittingly symbolizes prayer, which, like an ascending sweet aroma, rises acceptably to heaven (Revelation 5:8; 8:3). No "other incense" (Hebrew: q^etoreth zarah, meaning "incense that is strange or foreign to the law") was to be used (Exodus 30:9).

Verses 11-16: The atonement money: True worshipers had to be redeemed. All adults in any national census were on an equal footing — all needed redemption — shown by the payment of the half shekel.

Verses 17-21: The bronze basin: This washbasin was used by the priests to cleanse their hands and feet. It is symbolic of the washing of water through the Word (Hebrews 10:22; Ephesians 5:25-27; John 13:3-10). As Christians, we, too, must be continually cleansed and purified from sin (1 John 1:9).

Verses 22-33: The anointing oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Only those who have been cleansed (forgiven) can properly worship God (John 4:23; Ephesians 2:18).

Verses 34-38: The incense: The ingredients are listed, as in the case of the anointing oil. Once again, only those redeemed (Exodus 30:11-16), cleansed (verses 17-21) and anointed (verses 22-33) can truly worship God.

This chapter shows that when God selects men and women for a particular job, he also equips them to do it. Verse 3 is one of the earliest references in the Bible to the guiding work of the Spirit of God.