Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Exodus
Book: Exodus
Chapter: 28
Overview:
Aaron and his sons set apart for the
Priest's office, Their
garments.
(1-5) The
Ephod.
(6-14) The
Breastplate, The
Urim and
Thummim.
(15-30) The robe of the
Ephod, The plate of the
Mitre.
(31-39) The garments for
Aaron's sons.
(40-43)
1-5 Hitherto the heads of families were the priests, and
offered sacrifices; but now this office was confined to the
family of
Aaron only; and
So continued till the
Gospel
Dispensation. The holy garments not only distinguished the
priests from the people, but were emblems of that holy conduct
which should ever be the
Glory and beauty, the
Mark of the
ministers of religion, without which their persons and
ministrations will be had in contempt. They also typified the
Glory of the Divine majesty, and the beauty of complete
Holiness, which rendered
Jesus Christ the great High
Priest. But
our adorning under the
Gospel, is not to be of
Gold and costly
array, but the garments of
Salvation, the robe of
Righteousness.
6-14 This richly-wrought
Ephod was the outmost garment of the
high
Priest;
Plain Linen ephods were worn
By the inferior
priests. It was a short
Coat without sleeves, fastened close to
the body with a
Girdle. The shoulder-
Pieces were buttoned
together with precious
Stones set in
Gold, one
On each shoulder,
On which were engraven the names of the children of
Israel. Thus
Christ, our High
Priest, presents his people before the
Lord for
a memorial. As
Christ's
Coat had
No seam, but was woven from the
top throughout,
So it was with the
Ephod. The golden bells
On
this
Ephod,
By their preciousness and pleasant sound,
Well
represent the good profession that the saints make, and the
pomegranates the
Fruit they bring forth.
15-30 The chief ornament of the high
Priest, was the
Breastplate, a rich piece of cloth, curiously worked. The name
of each
Tribe was graven in a precious
Stone, fixed in the
Breastplate, to signify how precious, in
God's sight, believers
are, and how honourable. How small and
Poor soever the
Tribe
was, it was as a precious
Stone in the
Breastplate of the high
Priest; thus are all the saints dear to
Christ, however men
esteem them. The high
Priest had the names of the tribes, both
On his shoulders and
On his breast, which reminds us of the
power and the
Love with which our
Lord Jesus pleads for those
that are his. He not only bears them up in his arms with
almighty strength, but he carries them in his
Bosom with tender
Affection. What comfort is this to us in all our addresses to
God! The
Urim and
Thummim,
By which the will of
God was made
known in doubtful cases, were
Put in this
Breastplate.
Urim and
Thummim signify
Light and integrity. There are many conjectures
what these were; the most probable opinion seems to be, that
they were the twelve precious
Stones in the high
Priest's
Breastplate. Now,
Christ is our
Oracle.
By him
God, in these
last days, makes known himself and his mind to us, Heb 1:1,2;
Joh 1:18. He is the true
Light, the
Faithful Witness, the
Truth
itself, and from him we receive the
Spirit of
Truth, who leads
into all
Truth.
31-39 The robe of the
Ephod was under the
Ephod, and reached
down to the knees, without sleeves.
Aaron must
Minister in the
garments appointed. We must serve the
Lord with holy fear, as
those who know they deserve to die. A golden plate was fixed
On
Aaron's
Forehead, engraven with "
Holiness to the
Lord."
Aaron
was hereby reminded that
God is holy, and that his priests must
be holy, devoted to the
Lord. This must appear in their
Forehead, in open profession of their relation to
God. It must
be engraven like the engravings of a
Signet;
Deep and durable;
not painted
So as to be washed off, but firm and lasting; such
must our
Holiness to the
Lord be.
Christ is our High
Priest;
through him sins are forgiven to us, and not laid to our charge.
Our persons, our doings, are pleasing to
God upon the account of
Christ, and not otherwise.
40-43 The
Priest's garments typify the
Righteousness of
Christ.
If we appear not before
God in that, we shall
Bear our iniquity,
and die. Blessed is he, therefore, that watcheth, and keepeth
his garments, Re 16:15. And blessed be
God that we have a High
Priest, appointed of
God, and set apart for his work; furnished
for his high office
By the
Glory of his Divine majesty, and the
beauty of perfect
Holiness. Happy are we, if
By the
Law
spiritually understood, we see that such a High
Priest became
us; that we cannot draw near to a holy
God, or be accepted, but
By him. There is
No Light,
No Wisdom,
No Perfection, but from
him;
No Glory,
No beauty, but in being like unto him. Let us
take encouragement from the power,
Love, and compassion of our
High
Priest, to draw near with boldness to the
Throne of
Grace,
that we may obtain
Mercy, and find
Grace to help in time of
need.