Leviticus 8:2-30 Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams… The ephod with its girdle signified the beautiful character and the exalted service which are becoming to the Holy Place; and the shoulder-pieces and the breastplate, with the precious stones and the engraving on them, signified that the children of Israel as a whole, and each child individually, was borne on the strong shoulders and carried in the warm heart of their representative in the presence of the Lord, giving the conceptions of strength to sustain and love to cherish; the Urim and Thummim added the thought of heavenly guidance along a path that "shineth more and more unto the perfect day"; the pomegranates and bells on the blue robe of the ephod symbolised heavenly fruitfulness and joy; while the climax of all was reached in the golden graving of "Holiness unto the Lord." You see how rich was the symbolism of the high priestly vestments. And how expressive as types of the glory and the grace of our great High Priest! The Lord Jesus needed no priestly vestments; for He had the great realities, of which these were only the symbols. He really possessed the lovely character which was only symbolised in the ephod; and no "curious girdle" was needed to make it evident that it was a high and holy work in which He was engaged. His strength to save and His love for lost sinners were so conspicuous all through His strong and loving life, that onyx stones upon His shoulders or precious stones ripen His breast would have been superfluous. No symbol of Urim and Thummim was needed for One who could say: "I am the Light of the world; He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." Nor were bells and pomegranates needful on that garment hem, the very touching of which, in the spirit of trembling faith, brought health to a cheek that for twelve years had been pale, and joy to a heart that after every remedy had been tried in vain, had bidden farewell to hope (Luke 8:43, 44). And why should there be a plate of gold with "Holiness to the Lord" inscribed upon it, on the forehead of One who could fearlessly issue the challenge: "Which of you convinceth Me of sin?" — One who was really, as the Other was only symbolically, "holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners"? Verily, in a far higher sense is it true of Him than it was of Aaron, that "Holiness unto the Lord" is "always on His forehead, that we may be accepted before the Lord." (J. M. Gibson, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread; |
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