Exodus 28-29:

Priestly Vestments:
The priests shall wear sacred vestments to include a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a brocaded tunic, a miter, and a sash.  Just as the Tabernacle colors, so too the priests vestments “shall use gold, violet, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen.”  Royalty, kingly, sacrifice, and righteous purity. Onyx stones shall bear the 12 names of the tribes of Israel.  The breastplate should have four rows of “precious stones” with the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.  The “Breastpiece of Decision” shall have “Urim and Thummim” over his heart so he can discern the decisions of Yahweh.  The white fine linen tunic is reminiscent of the “seamless tunic” Jesus wore at the Last Supper and to the Crucifixion. Jesus is the High Priest, wearing the garment of the High Priest, who offered Himself up as the sacrifice.  He is priest, prophet, and king.  Priestly vestments are part of the inheritance of the Catholic Church with her priestly vestments, and special vestments for the Bishops and Pope, such as the miter.  Aaron and his sons shall be anointed and ordained and consecrated to the priesthood.  This is another inheritance to the Catholic Church that of anointing, ordaining and consecrating.  The Catholic Church, sacraments, priesthood, and liturgy all have a very Jewish feel to them, and for good reason.  That is where they came from!

Priestly Sacrifices:
At the consecration of the priests they are to “with fine wheat flour make unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil.” (Ex. 29:2)  The unleavened cakes and wafers are striking in image to the hosts of the Eucharist. This may be foreshadow again of the Holy Eucharist to come.  They are also to “wash them with water.”  They use water for ritual purity, reminiscent of Jesus instituting the priesthood at the Last Supper and He washed the Apostles’ feet.  Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on the bull and then slaughter it, pour some blood on the “horns of the altar” and the rest pour out “at the base of the altar.”  Then, slaughter a ram and burn it, as a “sweet smelling oblation to the Lord.”  Take the other ram and slaughter it, and sprinkle it on Aaron’s vestments so “their vestments may be sacred.”  Then, they are to take “one of the loaves of bread” and “one of the wafers” and make a “wave offering” to the Lord. Again, this is a kind of Eucharistic bread and wafer “wave offering” to the Lord. We see “bread” and “flesh” linked together in the priestly sacrifice and offering to the Lord.  “At the entrance of the meeting tent Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram and the bread that is in the basket.” (Ex. 29:32).  “They themselves are to eat of these things by which atonement was made..” “Two yearling lambs as the sacrifice established for each day; one lamb in the morning and the other lamb at the evening twilight.” (Ex. 29:38-39)  These are sacrificed with “fine flour” “cereal offering.” Yahweh promises to consecrate the meeting tent and the altar, saying, “I will dwell in the midst of the Israelites and will be their God.” (Ex. 29:45)

Leave a Reply