Hello and welcome to today’s exciting Bible study on Exodus 28. In this chapter, we will read and study about priests and the garments for the priests. According to biblical scholars, the events of Exodus 28 occurred around 1446 B.C.
As usual, I encourage you to turn to Exodus 28 in your Bible. Kindly invite the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read and study Exodus 28 with me. I mention this in all the Bible Studies because it is only through the Holy Spirit that we get fresh revelation and knowledge to understand the word of God. No one else can teach you better than the Holy Spirit Himself. I am using the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, just in case you want to know.
In the Bible Study on Exodus 26 and 27 we read and learned about God’s instructions for the Tabernacle and its courtyard and burnt offering altar. In this bible study on Exodus 28, we will learn about God’s instructions for the preparation of the Priesthood garments, the Ephod, the Breastplate, the robes and the turban.
Backstory on Exodus 26 and 27
In Exodus 26 and 27, God gave instructions to Moses concerning the construction of the Tabernacle, its courtyard and the altar of the burnt offering. He also instructed them on how to tend to the lamp. The people were to bring fresh olive oil every day and Aaron and the priests were to tend to it also during the evening.
Now, without any further delay, let us study together and learn what Exodus 28 are about, shall we?
Exodus 28 Summary
The Lord instructed Moses that Aaron and his sons were to minister to Him as priests. The Lord gave special instructions concerning the garments of priesthood which were to be made by gifted artisans whom the Lord Himself had filled with the spirit of wisdom. The garments were a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skillfully woven tunic, a turban and a sash made for glory and beauty.
He instructed that the Ephod was to be made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread and finewoven linen which were to be artistically worked with two shoulder straps joined at its two edges and an intricately woven band. On two onyx stones the Lord instructed that the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob) were to be engraved accordingto their order of birth with each stone bearing six names each (there are a total of 12 tribes of Israel).
And Aaron was required to bear their names on his shoulders as a memorial before the Lord. The stones were to be set in settings of gold and two chains of braided cord of pure gold were to be fastened to the settings.
The Lord gave instructions concerning the breastplate of the judgment. It was to be made according to the worksmanship of the Ephod. It shall be doubled into a square and they were to put settings of stones in it four rows of three stones each. The first row shall contain sardius, topaz, and emerald, the second turquoise, sapphire, and diamond and third jacinth, an agate and an amethyst and the fourth a beryl, an onyx and a jasper.
The stones shall have the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob)- twelve in total and each stone shall have each of their names. The Lord gave further instruction about rings of gold to connect the breastplate to the ephod using a blue cord. The Lord also instructed to put the Urim and Thummim over Aaron’s heart when he goes before the Lord. So Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel over his heart before the Lord continually.
The robe of the ephod should be blue and its hem were to be made of pomegranate of blue, purple, scarlet, and gold bells between them all around. In this way when Aaron ministers its sound will be heard when he goes to the holy place before the Lord and when he comes out so that he may not die. The Lord instructed them to make a plate of gold and engrave on it like the engraving of a signet the words ‘Holiness to the Lord”. This plate was to be attached with a blue cord to the front of the turban of the priest. Aaron was to bear it on his forehead at all times and bear the iniquity of the holy things which the Israelites hallowed in all their holy gifts.
He instructed them to skilfully weave a tunic of fine linen thread and make a sash of woven work. Aaron’s sons also were to have their tunics and sashes. Hats were to be made for them for glory and beauty. He instructed Moses to anoint them, consecrate them, and sanctify them so that they can minister to the Lord as priests. They shall have lines trousers from waist to thigh which they were required to wear whenever they came to the tabernacle of meeting or when they came near the altar to minister in the Holy Place so that they did not die because of iniquity.
Exodus 28 Commentary
1. Exodus 28:1-4
The garments for the priesthood are different from any other garments that any of the Israelites had. There was a distinction between the priests and the people, including Moses. The priestly garments were of a specific type and color. Aaron and his sons were chosen by God to minister to Him.
2. Exodus 28:12-14
The priest was to carry the names of all the tribes of Israel as a memorial before God. In short, he represented the people before God. This is what Jesus does as our High Priest before God. He intercedes for us. He represents us before God.
3. Exodus 28:15
The breastplate is called the breastplate of judgment. Before Jesus arrived on the scene, Aaron carried the breastplate of judgment on his heart before God as a memorial. Now, we as believers have the breastplate of righteousness on us according to Ephesians 6, also where Apostle Paul tells us to put the full armor of God, where he talks about the breastplate of righteousness. Through the blood of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice, we have been declared righteous before God because our judgment was placed on Jesus on the Cross.
4. Exodus 28:29,30
The breastplate of judgment over Aaron’s heart as a memorial before God also indicates how God judges. Man judges another man by his actions, especially in a judicial system. However, when God judges, He judges man by the heart. If you think evil in your heart and didn’t do it anyways, you are still guilty of that thing you thought, even if you didn’t do it. Every action, be it good or bad, is first conceived in the heart. And, then if you go ahead and do the evil that you thought in your heart, you will be judged anyway. So, there is no way of escape. This is why no man could keep the law (the Ten Commandments). The law was given to point out sin to show the Israelites the need for a Saviour.
Exodus 28 Lessons/ Revelations
What can we learn from Exodus 28?
1. Aaron the High Priest vs Jesus Our High Priest
Aaron the high priest was an old covenant high priest. He needed to bring the blood of an animal to atone for his sins too. With the new covenant which is better than the old, Jesus is our High Priest ministering before God day and night on our behalf. His blood is on the mercy seat speaking for us. Aaron and his sons were priests, however, only Aaron was the High Priest who would be allowed to enter the Holy of Holies. Scripture also declares that we are kings and priests unto God and we minister to the Lord.
However, Jesus is our High Priest in the Order of Melchizedek. It is His perfect and ultimate sacrifice that paid the penalty of sin that came with Adam’s treason. Through Adam’s treason death came into the world, and through Jesus, eternal life is offered to every human who would accept Him (Jesus) and His sacrifice on our behalf. He bore our sins and judgment on Himself just as Aaron bore the names of the tribes of Israel before God. Here, the Ephod and the Breastplate was a memorial before God whereas the blood of Jesus is our testimony and Jesus and His wounds itself are a testimony and a memorial before God to what He did for us though His death, burial, and resurrection.
2. We approach God through Jesus
From these chapters on Exodus, including this one on Exodus 28, we read that the High Priest was the only one who entered the Holy of Holies and only Aaron and his descendants were allowed to be priests ministering to God and there were rules in place to prevent them from dying when they entered the tabernacle. We too approach God through Jesus Christ as He is our High Priest and mediator. He is the one who intercedes for us.
When we approach God through Jesus, we approach Him from a place of righteousness because of Jesus’s blood and sacrifice. That is why we start and end prayers with ‘in Jesus name‘. Without Jesus we would be guilty before God because of our fallen nature inherited through Adam. We have no means of justifying ourselves. When we approach the Father in Jesus name, we are righteous (justified) and covered by His blood. Therefore, we can approach His throne of grace boldly without shame or guilt or condemnation.
Conclusion
This concludes the bible study on Exodus 28. I hope you enjoyed this free bible study and found it helpful in your Bible study journey. Feel free to share it with your friends and family. Also, share your thoughts and what the Holy Spirit has revealed to you about Exodus 28. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Until next time!