
Peter says believers are a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5), drawing parallels with the priesthood established under the Law. Peter packs a lot of information and theological truth in that one metaphor. So let’s take a few posts to break down what Peter wants us to understand. The first thing is God has cleansed us from our sin. This week, let’s consider how priests are clothed.
Old Testament priests wore specific clothes.
In Exodus 28, God details how Aaron and his sons (and all future priests) should be clothed in order to enter God’s presence and serve in the Tabernacle and later the Temple. The overall purpose is the convey the authority of the priest as God’s representative to the people.
First, he had an ephod. An ephod was essentially a tunic. It was a sleeveless garment, in this case made of linen, but with beautiful stitchwork. It was always worn with a breastplate. The breastplate had precious stones inset in, each one representing one of the twelve tribes. It also had the Urim and Thummin. The breastplate’s purpose was to show the priest represented the people before God and that he carefully discerned God’s will. He also had a high priest’s robe that was worn under the ephod. While Scripture gives more details, consider the bells around the hem of the robe. The priest could not enter the Holy Place or serve without those little bells jingling. He had a linen tunic to wear under everything. Finally, he had a turban with a gold nameplate at the front inscribed HOLY TO THE LORD. All of these served as a reminder that everything the priest did was done as part of God’s consecrated purposes.
Believers are clothed in righteousness.
While believers may change their actual clothes as a matter of modesty or propriety, our clothing is more figurative. Paul explains to the Ephesians that they should now “put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). The righteousness is not our own but what was imputed to us by Christ.
Just as the Old Testament priests had other pieces in their wardrobe, we should add to the righteousness. In Colossians 3:12-14, Paul says we are to put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering and love. All of those help us in our mission to bring others into the kingdom. We carry a burden for others and joyfully serve and minister to them. We depend on God for direction. We never lose sight that everything we say and do is consecrated to God.
Of course, there is much more detail and symbolism with the priests’ garments. (Perhaps that’s a series for another time.) But even in this quick overview, we see that we represent God best when we are clothed as He prescribed, reflecting His character.
The next step for Aaron and his sons was anointing. Next week we’ll see what that means for us.