Garments of the High Priest: Mitre and Golden Crown

Now we welcome all in the Lord's precious name to the meeting tonight. We're certainly very glad to see all. Tonight is the last meeting as such on the garments for glory and beauty, though we have indicated during the week past that we will be looking at Aaron in his white pure linen coat which he wore on the day of atonement in Leviticus chapter 16.

That is the passage that we will read tomorrow. So we'll turn the chart around and look at the less colourful adornment, we'll hardly call it adornment, but the clothing of Aaron or the coat of Aaron as he went into the immediate presence of God into the holiest of all to accomplish the great work of atonement. A very significant chapter, Leviticus 16, and in a wonderful way points to the atoning work of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now compared to last night, our reading is much shorter. Again it's in Exodus chapter 28 please, Exodus chapter 28, and we're going to read from verse number 36. Verse 36 of Exodus chapter 28 please.

And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold and grave upon it like the engravings of a signet holiness to the Lord and thou shalt put it on a blue lace that it may be upon the miter upon the forefront of the miter it shall be and it shall be upon Aaron's forehead that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts and it should be always upon his forehead that they may be accepted before the Lord. Now we do trust that this short passage of scripture in Exodus that we've read that God indeed may bless it. Now so far looking at the garments of glory and beauty of Aaron we have been thinking of various aspects of his priesthood that points on to the glories and excellencies of our great high priest in heaven now our blessed Lord Jesus Christ.

For example the first item of clothing he would put on daily would be the coat worn next to his skin close to his body kept close to his body by the unseen girdle underneath the robe of blue and we have suggested that the coat the linen white coat brings before us the sinlessness of our Lord's priesthood underneath the robe of blue next the girdle the service of our Lord Jesus Christ as our great high priest then in this wonderful all of one piece blue robe the robe of the ephod we have the sphere of our Lord's present high priesthood ministry not on earth but in heaven so we have the color of the sky if you like the heavenly color the blue robe telling us where our Lord Jesus Christ functioned for us it's in heaven and not on earth then in the ephod we looked at the ephod also speaking of the manhood of our Lord Jesus Christ one thing I may have omitted to mention is that the word ephod means to get on or to get to oneself and that in a way is exactly what happened when our Lord Jesus became man he got as it were to himself manhood true manner sinless manner he became for the first time a real true man absolutely in his life day by day dependent upon God thank God this evening for the truth of the manhood a real man our blessed Lord Jesus Christ that renders him suited and fit and able to function for us and intercede for us at God's right hand he has been here before he has been a true man this is why we suggested in the ephod speaking of the manhood of the Lord Jesus his unique and lovely manhood that really it brings before us the suitability of fitness of our Lord Jesus to be our great high priest then last night we thought of the subjects of Aaron's ministry we have this in the four square breastplate on the heart of Aaron speaking to us of the love of Christ the affection or the compassion of Christ and we made a number of New Testament references to bring before us to refresh our hearts I trust with thoughts of the love of our Lord Jesus Christ how wonderful we have a high priest a great high priest in heaven right now and he serves us in undying love unchanging eternal love he serves us in love so there it is the breastplate secured on the ephod no way could it be separated from the ephod and indeed as we said also last night the golden chains prevented it from going down and the glue lace held it firmly in place so it couldn't rise above the heart and there we see the glue lace fastening the breastplate to the ephod so that's the subject of Aaron's priesthood pointing to the Lord Jesus who intercedes for us as believers we have all the twelve tribes there looking at the breastplate stones on the breastplate we can see the thought of individuality every individual tribe is there even the weakest or the smallest as well as the most illustrious like Judah there's individuality there's variety there's unity all the twelve tribes are there there is unity and there is security too security we did mention last night didn't we that there's no way these stones could fall off or they didn't hold their place loosely and so there was no way that they could fall out they were in their golden enclosures absolutely secure and that would tell us that our security in the Lord Jesus is divine it is indeed heavenly and eternal thank God that we're in Christ and we'll never lose our salvation it's called in the word of God an eternal and eternal salvation so how interesting is is the breastplate but now we come to this part this item of the clothing for glory and beauty of Israel's first high priest Aaron now notice the last piece of adornment that Aaron put on was the mitre and the golden crown it's interesting it's the last to be detailed it's the last to be made it's the last that he actually put on and we have a little hint and glimpse of the kingship of the Lord Jesus in this golden crown it is called in the book of Leviticus chapter eight a holy a holy crown what's the last thing just about that God is going to do with our Lord Jesus what's the last thing just about he's going to bring in the Lord Jesus Christ into this world there's going to be the second advent and in the scene of the Lord's very rejection God is going to vindicate Christ the nation of Israel will be restored it's God's great prophetic program to establish Christ as king he will be a universal king all over the world in the millennial reign he will be a wise king an ideal king God's ideal king oh yes and Isaiah tells us in Isaiah 32 a king shall reign in righteousness so not only is he a universal king a wise king a king of great discernment he'll judge between the nations he's a righteous king he will rule in absolute righteousness he'll be the king of the kings and the lord of his lord of lords how wonderful to think of the destiny in view for the Lord Jesus of God's program for our Lord Jesus he's going to be a universal king and he's going to reign we believe from scripture a thousand years six times over in Revelation chapter 20 we read a thousand years a thousand years a thousand years no amount of spiritualization of that can get rid of the fact there's going to be a literal kingdom spiritual kingdom yes a righteous kingdom yes but a literal kingdom millennial kingdom the kingdom of God will be established on earth and God will rule a theocracy through our Lord Jesus Christ you see the only one worthy to have as it were the crown of gold the regal kingly crown upon his head is our Lord Jesus Jesus Psalm 21 verse 3 says put the crown a golden crown on his head Psalm 132 verse 18 says God will clothe his enemies the enemies of Christ the Messiah the king with shame but his crown listen to this his crown shall flourish on his head whose head the Messiah's head our Lord Jesus Christ no priest in Israel could ever become a king but in our Lord Jesus Christ and especially when he comes back to the earth to reign here be a king only in the Lord Jesus Christ do we see priesthood and kingship combined Zechariah 6 we have a wonderful prophetic vision there tells us a priest as a priest our Lord Jesus the Messiah Israel's Messiah will sit upon his throne how wonderful priesthood and kingship combined so beautifully balanced so perfectly in our blessed Lord Jesus Christ interesting about the golden crown the kingly crown we could ask the question tonight couldn't we think of this why was the mitre made it was made beloved so that this kingly crown of gold could be placed upon it with the words engraved upon it holiness unto the Lord I said I've got some up-to-date information in my several visits to the temple treasury in Jerusalem one in Israel I noticed in there they had so many things to get ready for the Messiah their Messiah to come this is what they believe I mentioned they've got the two silver trumpets the altar of incense all kinds of things to do with Judaism in the past Israel's history religiously and they have they have to the garments of the priest the high priest I didn't notice last time I was there actually but maybe they didn't have a golden crown they may might have had some substitute I don't know why do I say this this is interesting because they have just finished after working for about a year on this golden crown they've just finished it and they're quite excited about it these Jewish rabbis or the orthodox Jews quite excited about it do you do you know that that crown that they've made in Jerusalem by skillful craftsmen is worth over thirty thousand dollars it's made of 600 grams of gold very nice very interesting but the Lord will not need to wear them when he comes to the earth in all their preparation for the Messiah these dear Jews are blinded blinded they have no time for Jesus if you mention him in conversation they would spit upon you and how do these orthodox Jewish people or rabbis refer to our Lord Jesus in this way the hangman the hangman what a terrible description of the Savior the hangman a term indeed of humiliation yes thank God the veil is over the heart of Israel one day 2nd Corinthians chapter 4 it'll be taken away their eyes will be opened to behold the beauties of the Lord and that they made a terrible mistake humanly speaking in crucifying their very Messiah that's interesting about the golden crown in fact I was told that a little bit different to that they've made it in such a way that it doesn't matter how small or how big the head of the priest may be it'll fit the head but let us think of a typical value and nature of the mitre and his holy golden crown to begin with I see three things do you see them I see what Christ is to God the pure linen mitre as God looks upon it as the high priest moved in God's sanctuary in the holy place with his garments of glory and beauty God would look upon it what Christ is to God his own perfect pure sinless son but I also see not only that I see what Christ is in himself pure and then I see what Christ is to every believer to be fine did you catch or did you not understand this very unusual statement at the end of verse number 38 in fact at the beginning it should be upon Aaron's forehead that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things that's a strange expression what a combination of a combination of words that Aaron shall bear the iniquity of the holy things what does that mean what does it mean our service is often stained with sin our prayers our worship our service is not what it should be but the intercessory work of our Lord Jesus as our high priest in heaven renders what would be unacceptable because we are sinners and sin clings to us renders our service our prayers our worship perfectly acceptable to God Aaron should bear the iniquity of the holy things you think of all the holy things to do with the offerings all the ritual everything that God prescribed called holy things but the offerers and those who served in that old economy were sinners sin as I've said clung to them but thank God there was a wonderful merciful provision to hallow those things to make them perfectly acceptable to God through the mediation through the intercessory work through the service and assistance of the high priest Aaron it's easy to apply that isn't it and I trust we're in a good of this tonight that we have a great high priest in heaven who renders our prayers to God acceptable even our worship of Christ acceptable acceptable and our service acceptable otherwise what difficulty there would be what disappointment there would be we would hardly know that we're in the presence of the Lord or know or enjoy the reality and blessing of his presence apart from the great high priestly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ did you know fellow believer tonight there's a threefold bearing in connection with Aaron the high priest if you look at verse 28 he bears their names on the breastplate if you look at verse 13 he bears their problems Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord he bears their interests he bears their problems and decisions and difficulties and thirdly in verse 38 he bears their service Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things isn't this suggestive isn't this most interesting most fascinating to think that Aaron in his service in a priestly way bore the interests of the people of God bore the judgments of the people of God even bore the service of the people of God is it not so beloved with our Lord Jesus Christ has he not made our interests his own has he not got such a deep interest and care about us personally individually your interests are known to him your need is known to him your name is known to him he never forgets you what an uplifting truth this is but just as Aaron his first high priest bore the interests of the people in his daily service Godward with his garments of glory and beauty so our Lord Jesus Christ there he is in heaven our interests are his own you know that's very sweet that's certainly a consolation to me and I hope it is to you just to think that I'm upon the heart of the Savior he never forgets me he unceasingly cares for me it's real but he not only not only like Aaron bears our interests he bears our judgments it is after all the breastplate in his call of judgment do you have questions unsettled do you have problems even over the Word of God you don't understand everything do you have difficulties and problems in your life come to the Lord Jesus be frank and free with him tell him all that's in your heart come to the throne of grace to use the language of Hebrews 4 and find grace to help in time of need there were those who came before Solomon and opened their heart to him just like the Queen of Sheba but what is Solomon's wisdom compared to the infinite divine wisdom eternal wisdom of our Lord Jesus Christ very often as believers when we have questions when we're in difficulties when we don't know what to do or what to think or say we seldom see the need to get into the presence of the Lord himself and tell him all about it and as Peter says cast all your care upon him for he cares for you maybe you've seen before it's nice isn't it in first Peter 5 and verse 7 there's two different words for care there cast in all your anxious care upon him for he affectionately cares for you isn't that lovely there's a parallel to this Psalm 55 that has to do with the tribulation time and the remnant and how they'll be persecuted and have to live in the period of the Antichrist the beast who will have worldwide control he won't even allow any man or woman to have a conscience about things what does it say cast thy burden upon the Lord and he will sustain me what a word they needed and will need in the tribulation time difficult though it is and will be in the pressure and the suffering cast thy burden upon the Lord he'll sustain you some will be martyred for their faith and preaching the kingdom and saying the king is coming back some will suffer death no matter cast thy burden upon the Lord and he will sustain me are we used to this child of God are we in the habit of this you see our Lord is our great high priest he not only intercede for our interests he's not only concerned about our interests and as I've heard he makes our interests his own sweet and very blessing that isn't it but judgments questions problems we may need an answer we may need light shed upon the sacred page there may be other things in our lives that we don't understand and we have a problem about you may not immediately get an answer maybe we'll have a test in time but get into the habit tell him the Lord all about it these three bearings are interesting aren't they he bore their interests he bore their judgments and here in this verse verse 38 he bore the iniquity of their holy things you see how we need the Lord Jesus Christ you may not realize what's happening when you pray or when you come together as a Christian assembly to worship but he's interceding we do it all through the medium of our Lord Jesus Christ God is the object of worship Christ is the subject of worship the Holy Spirit is the power of worship that's the Lord Jesus Christ that inspires the worship and leads the worship and leads the singing and renders even that service so beautifully perfectly acceptable to God if you don't take much from the ministry even tonight take away the thought of the threefold bearing three things Aaron bore in his service daily and transfer those thoughts what Aaron did to something higher and greater what our Lord Jesus as our great high priest does yes we do see I trust we do in the mitre the white mitre and the golden crown engraved upon it holiness unto the Lord which brings me to the point passing on from the subject of our Lord's high Christian ministry see typified in the 12 stone on the brushlet we come now to the standard of his priesthood what's the standard of the high priestly ministry of Christ holiness holiness Aaron had to be daily reminded with an external reminder on his four holiness unto the Lord God would not allow him to forget that the standard in which he had to serve was holiness yes our Lord Jesus Christ when he was here and even now in heaven listen never never needs any external reminder to be holy he is holy inherently holy eternally holy always holy absolutely holy he is the holy one with the right hand of God now these are wonderful things beloved concerning our Lord Jesus put it another way to what we put it already what Christ is to God what Christ is in himself and what Christ is to us we cannot do without him bearing the iniquity of the holy things that they not only the offerings and service that they but the people of the nation that they may be accepted of Jehovah of course we're coming back to the mitre and the golden crown we have the mind of Christ don't we the mind of Christ his divine mind suggested in the head the mitre on the head his divine mind his pure mind linen oh yes so Philippians 2 let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus what kind of mind was that a humble mind thank God for the Lord's humility an obedient mind thank God for the Lord's obedience it says Paul in Philippians 2 verse 2 be like-minded having the same love be one accord and of one mind let nothing be done through strife or vain glory look not every man on his own things but every man on the things of others you see if he was humble God expects us in a minor sense to be humble if he was obedient God expects us to be obedient listen what are the elements and ingredients of assembly unity local church unity these two things like-mindedness humility humility of soul and heart and attitude and disposition and obedience implicitly to the word of God you cannot expect unity harmony in the assembly if these two things are not to the fall think about it so when I look at the pure white mitre the golden kingly crown that's the sense of the word crown there holy crown yes in the kingly crown what do we have we have God's perfect attribute what's that holiness we have Christ's priestly assistance he bears the iniquity of the holy things we have the believers permanent acceptance what does it say at the end of the little passage to the mitre and the golden crown that they may be accepted before the Lord isn't that lovely the nation I take it the people accepted before the Lord that was wonderful in a way but not as wonderful my friend tonight as our acceptance in Christ says Paul to the Ephesians chapter one accepted in the beloved isn't that lovely isn't that precious and thrilling accepted in the beloved that's our position but our acceptance in Christ goes further than that and I take it in 1st John 4 verse 17 listen carefully have you ever read the statement I'm going to refer to do you remember it listen as he is even so are we in this world I was quite a while trying to understand that you know what I'm going to tell you tonight if the Bible hadn't said what it does in 1st John 4 verse 17 I would never never never believe it I think this is one of the most wonderful precious truths touching the believer in all the word of God and I'm not exaggerating listen to it again as he is not as he was in the past on earth as man that's true that's wonderful no no not as he was listen as he is as he is even so are we in this world now if the verse has said allow me to say as he is even so we're going to be oh I could have taken that in I could have appreciated that as he is even so I'm going to be we believe that's true we will be where he is in heaven we will be with him blessed companionship we will be like him blessed conformity we shall be satisfied when we are with his likeness blessed contentment how wonderful it will be to be with our Lord Jesus Christ but John in that first epistle of his in chapter 4 verse 17 doesn't say as he is so we will be however true and it is true that is but he says as he is so are we in this dark world will he catch it tonight will he be in the good of it tonight here is one greater than Aaron our blessed Lord Jesus Christ as he is what does that mean as he is in heaven says John we have boldness with regard to the day of judgment we do not have any anxious thoughts about the day of judgment our sins are gone we're saved we're in him we'll not have to stand before the great judgment day the great white throne we have boldness in view of that day but he says as he is so are we in this world as he is in heaven how is he up there he's welcomed by the father so are we how is he up there he is near to the father so are we as he is he's dear to the father so are we so near near we couldn't be but in the person of thy son let him write us we are a thrilling truth what a pressure near as he do you believe that do you enjoy that nearness to God through the Lord Jesus Christ yes we have been brought now by the blood of Christ Ephesians 2 but this is something even in a sense more wonderful but as he is welcome near dear accepted so are we in this world let me say again if that hadn't been written in the inspired and followable word of God I never never would have believed it and let me say again is one of the great statements of scripture one of the great doctrinal truths of scripture touching our eternal security touching our acceptance in Christ there used to be an old man now long since gone to glory at some time of the day he would be heard to say more than once during the day at least once in a day every day he would say this are you listening John's nine monosyllables all in the row are my delight and comfort wherever I go I like that see that verse first John 4 verse 70 that statement is in nine monosyllables oh look I'm not giving you a grammar lesson check it out I like it John's nine monosyllables all in the row are my delight and comfort wherever I go how wonderful beloved to be accepted in Christ and to move daily in the appreciation of it how close we have been brought to God how dear we are to God how near we are to God welcomed in heaven able at all times through our Lord Jesus Christ to tread God's courts to come inside the veil speak the great God of eternity as our Father through the Lord Jesus Christ these things are unique to Christianity and we need dearly to thank God and bless God for these things I hope you're glad you're saved and on the way to heaven and I hope you appreciate your position your position in Christ I said recently that one of the hardest things as I move among the Lord's people is to try myself too first to try to get a believer's condition into line with his position or his state into line with his standing you know exactly what I mean very often there's unbalance very often there's inconsistency in our lives between what we are in Christ positionally and what we are actually and conditionally very often we're far removed from what God intends us to be and we should sit up and be alert and awake and be careful with our lives seek to please God and be in the good of these truths especially acceptance God's perfect attribute holiness Aaron needed to be reminded of that we too we too first Peter 1 what's the mandate for holiness be ye holy what or who is the model of holiness for I am holy saith God what's the motive for holiness for as much as we have been redeemed yes by precious blood not with silver and gold past the time of your sojourn here in fear says Peter that's the mark of holiness the model I'm holy the mandate the command be holy it's binding upon us as ever it was the day the model the mandate and the mark reverential fear for God Aaron couldn't afford to make a mistake in his daily ministry he had to attend to it very conscientiously and responsibly attending to himself making sure that everything was right as God desired it what about the need of practical holiness in our lives I remember reading about a little girl in a big cathedral with her aunt in London I think it was England anyway I don't know why this comes to mind for what it's worth we'll illustrate the point and she looked up the little girl of about nine the stained glass windows and the people on them she said to her aunt who are these people auntie on these windows oh my dear they're the saints the saints you know what she replied oh now I know auntie what saints are they are those that let the light shine through see the sun was streaming through the windows she wasn't far from the truth certainly the light of heaven should be upon our consciences our countenances the light of heaven should shine out from us we are a heavenly people after all think of God's perfect attribute holiness holiness unto the lord engraved upon the gold of black the kingly crown God is no less holy than he was at Sarnia or in the day of Pentecost he's inflexible unchanging in his holiness please remember that expect us to be holy his perfect attribute yes but thank God for the priestly assistance of our lord Jesus without which we could not be accepted before God in prayer or worship or service anything to do with our relationships to God we are sinners even in our holiest moments we are sinners sin affects us clings to us and God knows that that's why we need a high priest in the person of our lord Jesus at the hand of God but what about not only his perfect attribute his priestly assistance but for the believer what is the lord Jesus Christ towards the believer we see the believers permanent acceptance it's that they not just the offerings i take it but the people in the nation remember that that they may be accepted let us glory in our acceptance in Christ far far greater acceptance than ever is or could have enjoyed or even in the future when they're restored in the righteous nation the church will be near and have a unique place as the bride to God and to Christ and even Israel will marvel at this relationship this unique relationship between the church redeemed by blood and Christ the heavenly bride the dignity the unique position of the bride will be preserved throughout the whole of the millennial reign of Christ and also in the unending day of God when time will be no more we're part of the bride of Christ we have a glorious future as well as the present acceptance can you not see all these things and more typified in this last item of peace of adornment the crowning adornment the mitre the golden kingly crown speaking not only of the priesthood of our lord Jesus Christ but his kingship may I put it may I put it just another way still we're only touching to use the example or use the expression thinking of the gums we're only touching beloved the hem of his garment there's a fullness about Christ a sufficiency a wonder about the lord Jesus I trust we get to know him more every day and I trust every day is more precious to us than he was the day before and very real too it might be worth saying the pure linen mitre the sons of priests the priesthood had bonnets not a mitre quite the same way they certainly didn't have a crown of gold on the forefront as Aaron had is distinguishing with his garments for glory and beauty as Israel's only high priest a covering on the head of a man or a woman in particular covering usually suggests the thought of subjection that's why a sister in an assembly of God a church of God gathered to the name of the lord Jesus Christ has to have a head covering on her head her hair is not sufficient that's natural but artificially she's to have a hat or a veil a covering on there on there why because of the angels go back to Genesis and creation and Adam and Eve before the fall of man angels were present and as they looked down upon Adam and Eve they saw God's order a woman with her long hair and other things we can't go into detail about that look 1st Corinthians 11 is not cultural cultural it's divine order that's why Paul goes right back to creation to prove this but at any rate I just refer to the passage about the head covering because it suggests the subjection of the sister to man and man is in subjection with no head covering to Christ and Christ is subject to God that subjection doesn't imply inferiority don't ever have the idea dear sister because you wear a head covering in the assembly gathering that you are inferior to the brother no thousand times no that's not according to the scripture when we think of the subjection of Christ to God is there any idea in that of inferiority it's Christ inferior to God no no you fill a very important role sister in the assembly I didn't intend to go along this line but it is connected so when I look at the head covering the might of Aaron I think of the subjection of Christ to God then when I think of the golden kingly crown I think of the sovereignty of Christ the sovereignty of Christ over all the world when he will reign pardon me but when I think of the high priest bearing the iniquity of the holy things and think of the Lord Jesus in that way typified I see the service of Christ towards his believing people his unending his much needed we cannot do without his high priestly mediation and ministry for us is that not clear go away from these meetings especially tonight with a greater appreciation than Christ you had at the beginning even of this meeting of Christ and how much you need him in heaven as the right hand of God his subjection to God is seen in the mitre his sovereignty over the world his king kingly crown is seen in that golden holy crown held perfectly in place by the blue lace to the mitre but Christ's service towards us as believers is absolutely necessary and we are to value it is there more or there's a few more things another preacher could come along next week and give you a nice a nice outline or or aspects that I've never thought about that's the word of God isn't it but I've tried to exalt the saviour I've tried to bring before you the precious aspects of the personal work of our great high priest in heaven our Lord Jesus I've tried to bring these things into line in the new testament to confirm our typical view of these garments tomorrow it'll be no less significant we'll turn that chart around and we will look at that plain white coat that Aaron will have and take in with him and wear on the great critical day of atonement upon which all the sacrifices and service of Israel absolutely depended he couldn't afford to make a mistake have any accident we will look at that tomorrow he didn't go in Mark you and this is all I've got to say because I want to say a little bit about this he did not go in as some think I've been amazed even in some tabernacle commentary books they think he went in on the day of atonement God in these beautiful resplendent garments no no no no no he went in without adornment it is a very critical holy occasion and Aaron must not must not draw attention to himself but more much more tomorrow come back I want you to come back if you can please lovely to see you thank you for coming shall we pray