Christ in all the scriptures The sons of Aaron

 Christ in all the scriptures

The sons of Aaron  Exodus 28v40-43

We have before established that the family of Aaron were priests by birth, and this truth bears repetition, as it is important to understand the function of God's people today.  Back then there was a priestly caste system, such as is practised today in many religions, including some nominal Christian groups, by the wearing of distinctive clothing.  There is no such system in the Church of God; all God's people are priests as clearly asserted in Peter's 1st epistle.  There is no form of clergy and laity today in scripture. 

"Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ"-2v5. 

"Ye are a chosen  generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people (God's treasured possession); that ye should shew forth the praises (virtues, excellencies) of Him who hath called you out of darkness in to His marvellous light"-2v9.

Holy priesthood is Godward in worship, as we offer up spiritual sacrifices; Royal priesthood is manward in witness as we demonstrate to men of the excellencies of our God.

We are so by new birth-1v23, and not by any personal distinction or achievement.  In the Aaronic priesthood, there were restrictions (refer Leviticus 21), and these represent moral deficiencies.  Also there was order in functioning, as in 1st Chronicles 24, King David instituted 24 courses of the priesthood, and each course functioned in order.  Apart from those limiting factors, all the sons of Aaron were priests under the High Priest of the day.  Similarly, all God's people today are functioning priests under Christ.

As such, this brings upon us a dignity that should be marked by a certain decorum, and in Exodus 28 we have the illustration of this in the clothing they must wear as they operate as priests.  As we have seen, clothing in scripture is typical of character, and the four items of clothing-the coat, the girdle, the bonnets, and the breeches-all denote some aspect of behaviour that should mark those in priestly function.  Since that applies to all believers we are all responsible.  The coat speaks of salvation; the girdle of self-control; the bonnets of subjection; the breeches of  sanctity.  Each of these are expounded in 1st Peter as being the proper attire of those engaged in public service.  We are, at all times, every one of us, engaged in this service, and these attributes should mark us continually.  God instructed Moses to "anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that that they may minister unto me in the priest's office"-chapter28v41.  These three rituals will be the  subject matter of chapter 29.

The coats of fine linen (material not defined, but assumed to be the same as Aaron-28v41 and 39v27).  Clothed in righteousness given to them-as Isaiah 61v10 says, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness...".   Clothing is used a lot to denote our salvation-refer Job 29v14; Psalm 132v9; Zechariah 3v4; Revelation 3v4; 19v8, to name but a few.  Peter, who described our priestly status, unfolds the traits that mark us in our service.  He speaks about the gift of salvation which is given to us...1st Peter 1v5; 1v9; 1v10; 2nd Peter 1v1; 3v15.   He calls it an inheritance-1v4; it is a high calling-1v15; 2v9; 2v21; 3v6; 3v9; 5v10; 2nd Peter 1v3.  In light of the wonder of our salvation, Peter says we should be "clothed with humility"-4v5.

The girdles of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet of needlework-28v40 and 39v29.  Girdles were used in the Middle East to gather long flowing garments which they wore.  Their purpose was to avoid entanglement when they were at work, in service, or at war.  Thus the girdle represents self-control.  Peter uses this in his teaching of the Christian priesthood, when he says "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ"-1st Peter 1v13.  It means to be prepared for action; to be alert; to adjust any flaws in your character so as not to hinder your testimony for God.  In 1st Kings 18v46, Elijah outrun Ahab, who was in a chariot, by "girding up his loins".  Control of self is a major bible subject, and should be part of our lives as redeemed people.  

The bonnets represent subjection in scripture.  Today, headwear is often worn to draw attention, but in the bible the opposite was the purpose.  Whether we think of the High Priest in subjection to God or the priests in subjection to the High Priest, the purpose was of deference the one to the other.  Paul introduced the principle in the Christian Church in 1st Corinthians 11v2-16, that a head covering for women was a matter of deference, ultimately to God.  This does not suggest superiority or inferiority, for Christ is not inferior to God; neither are women inferior to men.  It is a matter of subjection to acknowledge Divine order in creation.  It is the teaching of headship, not lordship, and refers to the role each is to play in worship.   We should not confuse the cultural and creational arguments in this chapter to disregard what is a simple design of God.  Peter develops the issue of subjection, an attitude of mind in Christian society, involving many aspects of life.  The spirit of subjection is the very essence of Christianity of which our Lord is the supreme example.  Peter writes:

Submission to public authorities  1st Peter 2v13 "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king as supreme, or to governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that to well".

Subjection to masters or employers  1st Peter 2v18 "Servants be subject unto your masters with all fear (respect); not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward (perverse)".

Subjection of wives to husbands  1st Peter 3v1/5-6 "Likewise ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands...after this manner in old time, the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves being in subjection unto their own husbands: even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord...".

Submission of younger to elder  1st Peter 5v5 "Likewise ye younger submit yourselves unto the elder...".

Submission of all of us to each other  1st Peter 5v5 |"Yea all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble".

Respect to the word of God, both Old and New testaments  2nd Peter 3v1-2  "That ye be mindful of the words which were spoken by the holy prophets, and of the commandments of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour".   Their words are His words!

The breeches speak of sanctity, another subject developed by Peter.  These were to cover private parts, or as the text says, to cover their nakedness.  The nearest in our language is "breeks" that our mothers spoke about.  There was a saying in Scotland in school holidays "Eight weeks to tear yer breeks, and a day and a hawf tae mend them".  Mandatory in the service of God is cleanliness and purity, so Peter writes about this profusely:

1st Peter 1v15  "But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy."

1st Peter 2v1  "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies. and envies, and all evil speakings...".

1st Peter 2v11-12 "Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles...".

1st Peter 3v10-12 "...let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace and ensue it.  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous...".

1st Peter 4v2-3 "That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.  For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries".  

It is a solemn, if privileged, occupation to serve God as a priest, and we must rise to the calling in the fear of God.  At all times, our great High Priest is there to guide us.