Exodus 28 “What Is Beautiful?”

Exodus 28 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• The Wonderful Cross – Chris Tomlin
• Jesus Paid It All | Reawaken Hymns
• Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace) – Hillsong Worship

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• Exodus 28 – The Jewish Priestly Garments – Lesson for Kids
• Hope in the Lord | Holy Land Adventure: Egypt VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Power Shuffle | True North VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Won’t Worry ‘Bout A Thing | Shipwrecked VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth arelocated in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

After giving instructions concerning the tabernacle and its furnishings, God provides guidance about the priests’ garments. First, He commands that Aaron and his sons be set apart as priests (v. 1). From this point on, the priesthood begins to be inherited by the descendants of Aaron from among the tribe of Levi. Special “sacred garments for Aaron that are glorious and beautiful” (v. 2) must be made. The priest’s garments consist of an undergarment, an outer robe, a breast piece, an ephod worn over them, a turban for the head, and a sash tied around the waist (vv. 3–5). A detailed description of the priestly garments follows, showing how important the priesthood was considered.

Verses 6 through 14 contain instructions about the ephod. The ephod is a decorative garment worn over the breastplate. On the shoulder straps of the ephod, two onyx stones must be placed, engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. The names are to be engraved in order of birth, six on one stone and six on the other, with each stone set in a gold filigree. Wearing the ephod and standing before God symbolized standing in the representation of the entire people of Israel.

Verses 15 through 30 contain instructions for the “breastpiece of decision.” This breastpiece is to be made square in shape and must be adorned with twelve precious stones, arranged in four rows of three stones each. Each stone is to be engraved with the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Inside the breastpiece of decision, the “Urim and Thummim” (v. 30) are to be placed. The Urim and Thummim were sacred lots used in the sanctuary to discern God’s will concerning the people.

Verses 31 through 35 provide instructions for Aaron’s outer robe. It is to be made entirely of blue fabric. Along its hem, pomegranate-shaped tassels are to be attached, alternating with golden bells. When the high priest enters the Most Holy Place alone to perform sacred rites, the people outside would listen to the sound of the bells to know what he was doing. If no sound was heard, something had gone wrong with him.

Verses 36 through 38 give instructions regarding the medallion to be fastened to the high priest’s turban. The medallion is to be made of pure gold and engraved with the words “Holy to the Lord.” It must be attached to the front of the turban and always worn by Aaron. This serves as a reminder that the offerings presented by the people must not be offered carelessly. If the people present their offerings improperly, the priest is responsible.

Verses 39 through 41 contain instructions for Aaron and his sons’ undergarments, turban, and sash. The undergarments are to be made in a way that covers their lower body so that their nakedness is not exposed. Exposing the lower body during the act of worship would be considered irreverent before God (vv. 42–43). This command also serves to distinguish Israelite worship from pagan religions, where sexual immorality was often intertwined with ritual practices.

Meditation:

Aaron’s garments were made to be “glorious and beautiful” (v. 2) to symbolize the glory and majesty of God whom he represented. The priest represented the people before God, and God before the people of Israel. That is why the priestly garments included gemstones engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. When the people saw the priest dressed in glorious and beautiful robes, they did not think of the man himself, but of God.

Humans tend to forget what they cannot see and fixate on what is visible. People often directed their attention to the priest when he appeared in splendid, beautiful garments. The priest was responsible for redirecting their attention not to himself but to God. However, many priests passively accepted the ignorant and blind devotion of the people. As a result, corruption and moral decay began to take root, and religion became a performance of deception.

Jesus offered the perfect sacrifice through His own blood on the cross. Appointed as the perfect High Priest, He entered the heavenly sanctuary—not made by human hands—and presented His blood as the eternal and complete atonement offering. Because of this, there is no longer any need to offer sacrifices using the blood of animals. Since there is no more need for sacrifice, there is also no need for a temple or priests. Now, we have only Jesus Christ, our eternal High Priest.

Jesus does not need “glorious and beautiful garments.” The wounds on His body are more glorious and beautiful than any splendid priestly robe. When we look to the cross, we see the glory and majesty of God. Those who understand the glory and majesty revealed through the cross will lament when they see ornate sanctuaries or clergy dressed in elaborate garments. They recognize that such things reflect a fixation born of not knowing the true glory and majesty revealed on the cross. As Jesus said, such things must be torn down, “not one stone will be left on another.”

Prayer:

Lord, though Your precious blood has washed our eyes clean, we still find ourselves glancing at glorious, splendid, luxurious, and dazzling things. Oh Lord, have mercy on us. Open our eyes to the beauty of Your body nailed to the cross, so that we may see You who dwell in the lowly places, the dark places, the poor places, and the places of sickness. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: God’s true beauty and glory are not found in fancy clothes or shiny buildings, but in Jesus, who showed His love for us by dying on the cross. When we see the cross, we remember what is truly glorious—God’s love, humility, and sacrifice.

• For Preschool-Elementary
  • What kind of clothes did the priests in the Bible wear, and why were they special?
  • What makes Jesus more beautiful than fancy clothes?
  • Where can we look today to see how much God loves us?
    
• For Youth
  • Why do you think God asked the priests to wear such glorious and beautiful garments?
  • What does Jesus’ cross teach us about what is truly beautiful and important in God’s eyes?
  • When are you tempted to focus on appearances (like popularity, fashion, or status), and how can remembering Jesus help you see differently?