The Priesthood

Up to this point (Exodus 28) God has been revealing Himself (in type) in Christ to man. Now we find Him providing a way for man to be represented in His presence; hence, what follows concerns access to Him. The vessels that have been omitted are those that are used in drawing nigh to God, and these are described after the question of the priesthood is considered. The priest was the medium through which the people had to do with God. He represented the people, and ministered on their behalf. God’s character was such, and man’s condition was such, that man could not know what God required of him, nor could he stand in God’s presence, so a mediator is provided. Garments in Scripture speak of walk and character. Here the garments of the priest are described, and bring before us the character of God’s beloved Son in His office as High Priest. What is needed for God’s presence is necessarily symbolized also. Aaron and his sons were chosen of God to minister to Him in the priest’s office. Aaron, when viewed alone, is a type of Christ as the High Priest for all believers now. When Aaron is associated with his sons, he is a type of the Church; that is, they together form in type the priestly family, believers now being made priests unto God. We get, then, in Aaron and his sons, the Church in association with Christ, and in Aaron, as looked at alone, a type of our great High Priest. It was the high priest only who could represent the people, and none but Christ can represent those who are saved. One Christian cannot represent another before God. All Christians have access to God, as priests, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 2:5-9).