And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.
The ephod was a skillfully and finely worked priestly garment made of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined white linen, with both its materials and its workmanship specifically directed by the Lord. It was the high priest's outer, shorter, sleeveless garment, worn over the blue robe and over the white linen dress of the common priest, made of costly material with beautiful workmanship befitting his exalted station. It was held by a beautifully wrought girdle of the same colors and had gold-embroidered shoulder pieces holding two onyx stones bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
God distinctly specified the material and style of dress to be worn by those ministering before Him in tabernacle service in the holy place, requiring a particular style in accordance with their work in the priest's office. This divinely directed dress was required before coming into God's presence in the sight of the congregation, because God is so high and holy that failure to comply with His conditions brought death. God gave special instruction through Moses about everything connected with His service, requiring order in everything and especially cleanliness, with nothing slack and untidy in those who come into His holy presence.
God may be honored or dishonored by the apparel of those who officiate before Him. The reason for this care and reverence in apparel and deportment by those in sacred office is that a right impression may be made upon the people and their awe and reverence for God and His sacred service preserved. It gives the people an exalted idea of God and His requirements, showing that God is holy, His work is sacred, and everything connected with His work must be holy and free from impurity and uncleanness, with all defilement put away from those who approach God.
Aaron's dress was symbolic, showing that God has a preference concerning the dress of those who serve Him. The dress of Christ's followers should likewise be symbolic, representing Christ, and should be neat, modest, and pure, without changes made merely to follow fashion or display vanity. The heavenly ministry fulfills this pattern, with Jesus clothed in precious priestly garments and wearing a breastplate as He enters the second apartment of the sanctuary.
The ephod was a skillfully and finely worked priestly garment made of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined white linen, with both its materials and its workmanship specifically directed by the Lord. It was the high priest's outer, shorter, sleeveless garment, worn over the blue robe and over the white linen dress of the common priest, made of costly material with beautiful workmanship befitting his exalted station. It was held by a beautifully wrought girdle of the same colors and had gold-embroidered shoulder pieces holding two onyx stones bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
God distinctly specified the material and style of dress to be worn by those ministering before Him in tabernacle service in the holy place, requiring a particular style in accordance with their work in the priest's office. This divinely directed dress was required before coming into God's presence in the sight of the congregation, because God is so high and holy that failure to comply with His conditions brought death. God gave special instruction through Moses about everything connected with His service, requiring order in everything and especially cleanliness, with nothing slack and untidy in those who come into His holy presence.
God may be honored or dishonored by the apparel of those who officiate before Him. The reason for this care and reverence in apparel and deportment by those in sacred office is that a right impression may be made upon the people and their awe and reverence for God and His sacred service preserved. It gives the people an exalted idea of God and His requirements, showing that God is holy, His work is sacred, and everything connected with His work must be holy and free from impurity and uncleanness, with all defilement put away from those who approach God.
Aaron's dress was symbolic, showing that God has a preference concerning the dress of those who serve Him. The dress of Christ's followers should likewise be symbolic, representing Christ, and should be neat, modest, and pure, without changes made merely to follow fashion or display vanity. The heavenly ministry fulfills this pattern, with Jesus clothed in precious priestly garments and wearing a breastplate as He enters the second apartment of the sanctuary.