EXODUS LESSON 48


    We will begin this lesson in Exodus 28:28 "And they shall bind the
breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a
lace of blue, that [it] may be above the curious girdle of the ephod,
and that the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod."

    Here, we see this lace strip of blue showing spiritually that the
heavenly is what holds all of this together.

    Exodus 28:29 "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."

    This is just telling us, over again, that a minister (then and now)
must keep his or her people upon his heart and think of their needs
before his own.

    Exodus 28:30  "And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment
the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when
he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the
children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually."

    This concern for his people was continued, as long as he was the high
priest. This tells our pastors of our churches today of the great
responsibility they have toward their members.

    Exodus 28:31  "And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all [of]
blue." Exodus 28:32 "And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in
the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about
the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be not
rent."

    This just means that around the neck where the head went through
was not left raw, where the linen garment could ravel away, but had
binding around the opening, so it wouldn't ravel out.

    Exodus 28:33  "And [beneath] upon the hem of it thou shalt make
pomegranates [of] blue, and [of] purple, and [of] scarlet, round about
the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:" Exodus
28:34 "A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a
pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about."

    These "pomegranates" which were the fruit of the land of the
Hebrews, represented to God that the high priests came from the people.
These "pomegranates" on the special robe of the priest were red, blue,
and purple. This could be associated with the fruit of the Spirit
spiritually. This robe of peace, that the high priest wore, had these
pomegranates, which was the fruit of the land, on it. This is
peaceable fruit. Jesus, who brought peace and rooted the Christian in
love, expects us to bear fruit.  These "golden bells" brought a
beautiful melody as he walked. In fact, it served two purposes. The
beautiful melody was pleasing unto God. If the high priest was not
accepted of God when he entered the Holy of Holies, and God killed him,
they could tell that the bells had stopped chiming, and knew he was
dead. They could drag him out with the rope tied to his leg. It
seemed, also, that if God didn't hear these bells ringing, when they
came in, He was angry with the priest. The high priest wore this
special garment, when he went to speak to God for the people. The
garment he wore on day of atonement, when he went into the Holy of
Holies, had no ornamentation. The shed blood, that he carried in and
put on the mercy seat, was what kept the high priest safe.

    Exodus 28:35 "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."

    This was just saying that, he must not come in unto God without God
being aware he was coming and going.  These bells sounded with every
step, and he could be kept up with easily with this sound.

    Exodus 28:36  "And thou shalt make a plate [of] pure gold, and
grave upon it, [like] the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE
LORD." Exodus 28:37 "And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may
be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be."
Exodus 28:38 "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 it shall be always upon his
forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD."

    The Hebrew word translated "mitre", here, is an unusual word in that
it was used only for the name of the high priest's headdress.  This
headdress of linen was very similar to a turban. This ribbon that went
around the head held this metal plate, that proclaimed "HOLINESS TO
THE LORD", in the front of the headdress. This "mitre", worn in
the presence of God seems to show the high priest's humility before
God. The linen this was made of symbolized righteousness. The person
representing the people to God must have righteousness. They must be
in right standing with God.  This "mitre" could be showing Jesus'
power and authority. Ezekiel chapter 21 verses 25-27, tells of
some person who really is evil having a mitre or diadem on,
proclaiming to be the leader of God's kingdom when, in fact, he is the
antichrist. He is told to remove this headdress of authority. It
appears that, he will be of Hebrew descent, and have great church power,
as well as world power. At any rate, this mitre shows power and
authority. This metal plate, which proclaimed Holiness to the Lord,
showed in the Spirit that the Lord must be on the mind of the high
priest always. The forehead is a symbol of man's mind or will.  A
person with the mind of Christ proclaims HOLINESS TO THE LORD. The
world calls people crazy who believe in God. The Christian's mind
should be stayed on God. Jesus is the greatest high priest of all
time. We read in Hebrews 4:14 "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."

We read in chapter 7 verse 26 of Hebrews, the qualities found in our
high priest, Jesus Christ "For such an high priest became us, [who is]
holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than
the heavens;" Hebrews 7:27 "Who needeth not daily, as those high
priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for
the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself."

     Exodus 28:39  "And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen,
and thou shalt make the mitre [of] fine linen, and thou shalt make the
girdle [of] needlework."

    This is just saying, again, that all of this was worked in fine
linen, a cunning needlework.

    Exodus 28:40  "And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and
thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for
them, for glory and for beauty."

    Aaron's sons were to have special garments, as well, but they were
plainer. Their garments were for priests; whereas, Aaron's garment was
for the high priest. There were several differences. The son's, or
priests', clothing was made of fine white linen with no embroidery.
Their entire outfit was a coat, girdle, and bonnet. There was no
breastplate and no engraved stones.  These priests were really symbolic
of members of the churches today.  They had access to the Holy Place,
but do not bear the great responsibility for the people that the high
priest did. These priests had on white robes. The victorious
Christians in heaven are dressed in white robes of righteousness.
Jesus is the pattern the Christians look to. The high priest was the
pattern the priest looked to. This girdle, or belt, the priests wore was
the girdle of truth for the Christians' mentioned in chapter 6 of
Ephesians. These "bonnets" of the priests were for beauty and glory.
The Christians headdress is the helmet of salvation, Ephesians 6:7.

    Exodus 28:41 "And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and
his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and
sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office."

    It seems that the garments we have been describing above, and in
the last few lessons, were the only acceptable attire of the high priest
and his sons, the priests, when they came into the Holy Place or the
Holy of Holies to minister to God. There were no exceptions.  Each
garment had a purpose and a meaning. Moses was instructed to put these
garments on all of them, anoint them for the priesthood, and teach
them how to be acceptable to God.

    Exodus 28:42 "And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover
their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall
reach:" Exodus 28:43 "And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons,
when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when
they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy [place]; that
they bear not iniquity, and die: [it shall be] a statute for ever unto
him and his seed after him."

    These garments of righteousness (linen) were not to be decorated as
the embroidered coat.  These were used for a special purpose: to cover
the nakedness of the legs and hips. The first result of sin in the
Bible was that man discovered he was naked.  The Christian's sins have
been forever covered with the righteousness (white linen) of Jesus
Christ. One of our friends wrote a beautiful song about "Somewhere
Underneath The Blood". The truth is that our sins are no more. Jesus
Christ washed us in His precious blood, and our sins have been washed
away. We are clothed in white robes, washed in His blood.  We have
taken on His righteousness. We, too, are acceptable to God in our
white linen. Many in our society would try to do away with the blood
of the cross of Calvary. It is the shed blood of Jesus Christ that
makes us acceptable to the Father. If we did not have this blood of
the precious Lamb of God (Jesus Christ) covering us, our nakedness
(sin) would be unacceptable to the Father.  I believe this is the
spiritual meaning of these "linen breeches".








































                          Exodus 48 Questions


1.  What did this "blue lace" that joins show spiritually?
2.  Where shall Aaron bear the names of the sons of Israel?
3.  What is this saying to the ministers of our day?
4.  What two things were to be put into the breastplate?
5.  How long was a high priest to be concerned about his people?
6.  What color was the robe of the ephod to be?
7.  What two ornamental things were to be around the hem of the
    garment?
8.  What were the colors of the fruit mentioned?
9.  What were the bells to be made of?
10. What did the "pomegranates" spiritually mean?
11. What does Jesus expect Christians to do that is represented by
    these "pomegranates"?
12. What two purposes did the bells fulfill?
13. Describe the garment the high priest wore on day of atonement?
14. What protected him, when he went into the Holy of Holies?
15. What was the plate for the headdress made of?
16. What was the high priest's headdress called?
17. What was written on the plate?
18. This mitre, the high priest wore, showed ------------- to God.
19. "Linen" symbolizes what?
20. In Ezekiel, we read of an evil one wearing a mitre or diadem.  Who
    is he, probably?
21. What should be on the mind of the High priest continually?
22. Who was the greatest high priest of all?
23. Describe the Christian's high priest.
24. How did Aaron's sons' coats differ from Aaron's?
25. What garment do victorious Christians wear in heaven?
26. The girdle the Christians wear is what?
27. What is the Christian's headdress?
28. What was the headdress of the priests?
29. What was Moses to do to the priests to consecrate them to God?
30. What were the breeches to be made of?
31. What were their purpose?
32. What was the first result of sin in the Bible?
33. Our sins are not just hidden. If we are a Christian, they are
    what?
34. What is the move in the Christian world that would actually do
    away with our salvation, if it is successful?
35. What is the spiritual meaning of the "linen breeches"?