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The High Priest’s Garments (Part 3)
- Why Linen Garments

1st svc, 29 March 2009

preached by Pastor Joseph Prince

as noted by Yeo Choon Meng Terence

{CD is of the third service}

JESUS IS MAKING INTERCESSION FOR US

We are studying the high priest because Jesus Christ is our High Priest at the right hand of the Father. He “is made” our high priest – “after the power of an endless life” (Heb 7:16). Notice the present tense – “is” – it is the present day Jesus who is resurrected and enthroned with the Father who is our High Priest.

Intercession does not connote and mean praying all the time. Jesus very being and presence with His nail-pierced hands – is intercession before the Father.

As High Priest goes, so goes the nation. There were many righteous (although not every single one) high priests such as Aaron who made intercession for their people when they sinned. Thankfully, Jesus as our High Priest is always righteous and never dies (unlike the OT ones).

THE GARMENTS OF THE HIGH PRIESTS

Exo 28:40 And for Aaron’s sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets [NKJV - hats - literally, a turban] shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.

Exo 28:41 And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

Exo 28:42 And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:

Exo 28:43 And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy [place]; that they bear not iniquity, and die: [it shall be] a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him.

Aaron’s sons (a type of New Testament Believers) essentially wear the same type of garments as the High Priest.

All the items of the priestly garment are on the outside – external – to illustrate, to serve as visual aids for us to learn of the true spiritual truths on the inside of Jesus. In other words, what is on the outside on the High Priest is true of Jesus intrinsically.

The priests in the OT had to be without blemish. Therefore the Aaronic priesthood must have been very handsome.

The High Priest had on the gold ‘crown’ of his turban the words “Holiness to the Lord” (Exo 28:36) so that the people “may be accepted before the Lord” (Exo 28:38)

This is in stark contrast to religion which says that you must produce in order to be accepted.

Here, the acceptance of the people depended on Jesus.

TRUE SPIRITUAL WARFARE – OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST’S THOUGHTS

True spiritual warfare is to bring our thoughts to the obedience of Christ thought’s, not our thought’s. Put your thoughts on His obedience. Our own obedience cannot make us righteous, only Jesus’ obedience. Christ’s thoughts are the critical ones, not ours.

ALL EQUAL STANDING IN CHRIST

Today some denominations make it appear that some individuals (e.g. clergy) are closer to God than others. The truth is that all Believers in Christ are ‘priests’ – all have equal standing in Jesus. Although there are indeed different responsibilities and gifts within the Body of Christ and therefore, different rewards and privileges.

Jesus made for us a new and living way (Hbr 10:20) whereby we can all approach the Father boldly. In the past, there was fear in approaching the Father, lest they bear iniquity and die.

Headship in an organization, be it a church or in marriage, simply means that somebody had to decide and make decisions, whilst the other has to submit. [Editor: Submission means you whilst you may not personally agree with the decision, you follow through and implement it together with your leader in harmony and not strife.]

Husbands and wives have equal standing.

WHY LINEN ?

Only the very rich wear fine linen. Example: the rich man in the story of Lazarus (Luke 16:19) was clothed in “purple and fine linen”

Everything of the High Priest that is linen speaks of essential righteousness. The sons of the High Priest wear white linen and this tells us that we are already clothed in righteousness.

Ps 132:9 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.

Worry can cause you to become hot-headed, or it can cause you to have a bad night’s sleep and you wake up tired.

Linen cools you down. God does not want us to sweat for the good things in life.

Some of the greatest blessings come upon us when we are at rest. The more we try, the harder it is to receive from God, therefore be at rest., That is why the devil tries so hard to move us out of rest.

Jesus’ sweat — My Blessing !

Jesus’ blood — My Redemption !

HEIR OF THE WORLD

Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, [was] not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

That is why it seems that Grace can operate on secular Jews more readily as they are not trying to earn the blessings like Orthodox religious Jews.

LINEN IS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SAINTS

Rev 19:8 And to her [Editor: The Church] was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Jesus gave us this fine line — righteousness.

WHAT IS BEING COOL?

Hollywood actors who are vulgar are certainly not cool — they cannot control their mouths! Don’t let the world define what being ‘cool’ is.

A ‘cool’ Christian guy is when his wife loses her ‘marbles’ and slaps the man, and the ‘cool’ Christian guy does not retaliate. ‘Cool’ is when you have the power to retaliate against your enemies but you don’t.

A ‘Cool’ guy is true and has integrity towards his family, and is true to his word.

Cool is when you know something about someone but you do not disclose it to third parties because you know it will harm that individual.

HOW TO WALK IN RIGHTEOUSNESS CONSCIOUSNESS?

By walking in consciousness of being ‘cool’ — no stress in Jesus.

Linen also symbolizes ‘cool’ / no sweat.

Most busy time for the priests in ancient Israel was in April etc during the Feast Days but the priests stayed cool in linen, despite the activity and hot weather.

COAT OF MANY COLOURS

Only nobility wore sleeves which extended to the hand. Blue-collar workers wore short sleeves as they required the nobility to labor.

Gen 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he [was] the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of [many] colors.

The word translated into English as “coat” is the Hebrew word transliterated as kethoneth [pronounced kipponet ?] . Strong’s 3801 — tunic, under-garment (a) a long shirt-like garment usually of linen [from an unused root meaning to cover]

It is only Jewish tradition which holds that the coat was multi-colored. It is more likely in the context and in the general usage of the word in other OT passages that it was simply a long-sleeved linen garment. Pastor quotes the book “Scripture Manners and Customs” to support this view.

THEREFORE, Jacob by giving Joseph such a long-sleeved garment was indicating that Joseph was nobility or royalty and did not need to work. That is why when the brothers saw Joseph appearing in long-sleeves, it caused their jealousy to boil over — it rubbed salt into the wound — it was prior to this incident that Joseph declared to his brothers the dreams (Gen 37) that he had of the brothers being subject to Joseph’s authority. We can now better understand why the older brothers were upset of the concept that Joseph (then the youngest) was nobility and need no work whilst they toiled.

KETHONETH – LONG-SLEEVED COAT TO KNEES

Ex 28:40 And for Aaron’s sons thou shalt make coats [Editor: The Hebrew is kethoneth ], and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.

There were other Hebrew words used to describe garments or robes e.g. simlah (Strong’s 8071).

Thus it is very significant that kethoneth was chosen as the Hebrew word to be used in the Exodus passages to describe the garments used by the priests.

That Aaron’s sons (a type of the Believer) wore kethoneth , we can understand from this they and us are to refrain from working — for our salvation, blessing, etc.

ADAM AND EVE

Gen 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats [Editor: kethoneth ] of skins, and clothed them.

This is the first usage of kethoneth in the Bible. GOD was gave Adam and Eve these long-sleeved coats — garments of rest — and used these to clothe them. God was telling them to rest and that He would do the rest.

If you try to work for something, there is unbelief and you forfeit the blessing as you effectively negate the work of Jesus because HE has already done it already!

Only faith impresses God.

What the world has is — maybe and perhaps or peradventure. Whereas we have the Bible. The Bible is absolute certainty — absolutes, divine certainties, clear proclamations, eternal realities e.g. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ, shall have eternal life.

ZADOK = Hebrew, righteousness

Eze 44:15 But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:

Eze 44:16 They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.

Eze 44:17 And it shall come to pass, [that] when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.

Eze 44:18 And they shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches [EDITOR: or linen trousers (meaning) ] upon their loins; they shall not gird [themselves] with anything that causeth sweat.

Zadok (Priest of righteousness) — a type of present day Believer — is clothed in linen.

God hates sweat (self-effort) in ministry. Sweat only came after the Fall in Eden. It is the curse in operation that you have to, by sweat, earn a living, have a good family life, etc.

It is because Jesus sweat blood in another garden – Gethsemane – that we are redeemed and we do not need to sweat in our work. The more we rest, the more HE works for us.

When Jesus’ Blood covers you, it removes sin and God, the Father, cannot see the sin. Jesus’ Blood is the only thing that God the Father cannot see through.

OUTER GARMENT

In ancient times, the outer garment refers to one’s profession.

For example, you can tell if someone is a beggar by looking at his beggarly garments.

So when Blind Bartimeus in Mark 10:50 cast away his garments, he was making a bold statement of faith, in that he was casting away his insurance — his garments were his begging ‘license’ and putting his trust in Jesus completely. Bartimeus was indicating that he no longer required his garment to beg for a living but only Jesus. Be like Bartimeus — no longer put trust in the natural self, but in Jesus alone.

Mark 10:46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.

Mark 10:47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, [thou] Son of David, have mercy on me.

Mark 10:48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, [Thou] Son of David, have mercy on me.

Mark 10:49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.

Mark 10:50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

Mark 10:51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.

Mark 10:52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

THE SEAMLESS COAT OF JESUS

John 19:23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also [his] coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

John 19:24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

Psalm 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.[EDITOR: The soldiers in John 19 had unwittingly fulfilled Old Testament prophecy]

There is a church tradition that holds that Jesus’ outward garment was blue. We know that blue typifies Heavenly Grace. Resembles the High Priest in that Jesus wears all blue outside and white as inner garment.

Why the outward garment parted 4 ways? One for each corner of the world – North, South, East, West.

The inner garment (coat) was white linen and was without seam. It is believed that Jesus’ earthly mother, Mary, made this inner garment. We can surmise this from the fact that immediately after John 19:24, Mary is mentioned immediately after the soldiers gambled for this inner garment (John 19:25-27) when Jesus looked upon her.

John 19:23 tells us that “without seam” — this informs us that there is nothing ADDED — nothing joined (by sowing) — this speaks of JESUS! He is perfection and without sin.

We, as Christians, have things added on eg. righteousness, fruit of spirt etc.

JESUS is intrinsically righteous, etc.

Jesus gave us His righteousness.

When one is righteous, all prayers are answered. When the righteous call, God will answer. No good thing will God without from the righteous (Psa 84:11). The prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16). The seed of the righteous is delivered (Proverbs 11:21).

When you find Jesus, you will find yourself in Him . Therefore, read the Bible to find Jesus, and not to find yourself in the pages.

WHY THE INNER OF GARMENT COULD NOT BE DIVIDED

John 19:24 tells us that the inner garment was precious and therefore could not be divided. This is because the inner garment – white linen – represented righteousness. Righteousness cannot be divided!

Why did the soldiers gamble for the whole of the inner garment? The soldiers represent the World. For the World, there is no guarantee of anything. The World is gambling for righteousness and they know it not!

The whole world outside the Kingdom of god is gambling because everything in their lives is uncertain.

Everything outside of God is a form of gambling e.g. stock market is full of uncertainties. One is hoping that money will grow etc.

Only the things of God are certain — divine certainty. Eg. Sowing , tithing, divine health

Why is the world gambling for righteousness? They know that the moment they are right with God, they receive blessing, then their worlds and bodies etc are put right.

The World is gambling for what we (Christians) have already.

We are under the Melchizedek priesthood of Jesus where there is only one certainty — blessing and no cursing (as Jesus took all the curses on the Cross).

STAY COOL IN THE MIND

To flow in righteousness, stay cool in head and body. Linen on the headgear (stay cool in the mind — as worry, fear, anxiety, etc is a form of non-coolness as well).

While resting in bed, you can be worrying too. Don’t worry about tomorrow as Jesus gives us Grace only for today.

Stop thinking (in a negative sense or mode) and start living life. Don’t pick up the evil or negative thoughts. Ignore them. Don’t care where the thought came from — whether it was from the devil or from your flesh. Just know that Jesus has dealt with these thoughts at the Cross.

EXAMPLES OF ERRONEOUS THOUGHTS

Wives — No one can be a better husband than your Husband. He can take your nonsense and still be there. Husband is far better than any Korean film actor. When you like someone, it does not mean you love them (this can apply to celebrities, etc)!

Men, and Women — When you appreciate a colleague at work, it DOES NOT mean that you love them.

Cool is when you keep passions under control.

Hollywood uses the label – cool – on actors who are really not cool because they are unfaithful to their wives, etc.

PROUD PEOPLE

When you meet a proud person, know that this individual is actually very insecure. Therefore, pity them!

If we encounter an individual who needs a flashy car, clothes, etc because they are insecure, pity them.

If you meet a proud person, pity them and tell them “I know you have some insecurity somewhere”

However at the same time, don’t kow-tow or be afraid of any mortal person whose breath is in God’s hands. “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Hbr 13:6)

People who cannot serve are more often than not — proud and not humble.

Before one can serve, you must be humble and be secure and know who you are i.e. your identity in Christ.

Jesus knew where He came from, His Purpose and Where He was Going. Jesus knew and was secure in His identity. He knew He came to serve and therefore He was not proud.

LINEN CLOTH USED TO WASH FEET

John 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

John 13:2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s [son], to betray him;

John 13:3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

John 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

John 13:5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe [them] with the towel wherewith he was girded.

The Greek word that is translated into towel in John 13:5 is transliterated as lention or lenteon and refers to a linen cloth or towel (Strongs’ 3012).

Jesus used a linen cloth to wash his disciples feet!

After the Fall of Adam and Eve, Man’s spirit was deadened and his spirit was separated from his body. GOD also cursed the devil and he was to eat dust.

Dust speaks of death. Recall the funeral recitation, “ashes to ashes, death to death …”

Psa 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

IF the dust is not washed away, you feel dry and you get ‘blocked’ from moving. We need the washing of the Water of the Word.

If you feel down, you most likely have been affected by dust. The solution is to listen to preaching in Church, read the Bible or a good Christian book etc. Dust does not like water.

In John 13, Jesus says that Christians are bathed all over by His Blood (verse 10) but it is their daily walk that needs the washing of the Word.

After washing with water, Jesus used His linen girdle to dry the feet. Many ministries use the Water of the Word to wash the feet but do not use linen. They say “Old Testament prescribes this law ….” But they do not say that Jesus has come to fulfill that law. In other words, these ministries do not close a subject with righteousness and they leave the congregation feeling condemned by the law. Other examples could be: (a) if the minister simply says wives you must submit but they do not say wives you can submit to your husbands because you are righteous. (b) ministers simply say that you can only take communion if you are worthy, ministers should instead emphasize that Christians are indeed worthy because Jesus has given them his righteousness.

It seems that according to a recent documentary on TV concerning the Amazon River, the most dangerous threats to an individual’s personal safety are not large predators like snakes or other wild animals but microbes. It is therefore very important to keep the feet dry. If feet are left wet for too long, cracks develop in the skin which allow the microbes to attack, hence weakening the individual and making him easy prey for bigger things like anacondas. The moral of the story — guard your feet! Lest the small things bring you down.

Don’t mix “wool” law and “linen” grace – Explain bible principles by drying using the linen cloth of Grace.

GO AND SIN NO MORE

There is no such thing that God will bring upon you a worse thing after you are healed from that disease if you choose to continue in sin.

If an individual is unwell. Know this: That God is not involved in the sin in the first place which brought about the sickness.

When the bible reports that Jesus said “Go and sin no more”, He is simply saying that the individual is healed from the sickness e.g. lung cancer so do not go back to the sinful lifestyle (in the case, smoking) which made it conducive for the sickness in the first place.

Jesus was punished on the Cross even for this so called ‘worse’ things.

The name of Jesus Christ AFTER the Cross and HIS resurrection is higher and more exalted than before. The passage in Matt 17:21 and Mark 9:29 which implies that certain demonic spirits can only go out “by prayer and fasting” is before the Cross. Now post-Cross, ALL demons bow to the name of Jesus Christ. The Epistles of Paul, John, Peter, etc which follow the Gospels contain the full revelation of the Word of God.

IT SHALL NOT TEAR

Exo 28:31 And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all [of] blue.

Exo 28:32 And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be not rent.

The robe of the High Priest is blue and speaks of Heavenly Grace – the Man of Grace – Jesus Christ. In Exo 28:32, we see that it was created in such a way that it could not be torn. This is because God does not want the robe to tear as it supports His people – symbolized in the gems on the breastplate.

Lev 21:10 And [he that is] the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;

We also see this truth further supported in Lev 21:10 where the High Priest is instructed not to rend his clothes.

BUT CAIAPHAS THE HIGH PRIEST RENT HIS CLOTHES?

Mat 26:59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

Mat 26:60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, [yet] found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

Mat 26:61 And said, This [fellow] said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

Mat 26:62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what [is it which] these witness against thee?

Mat 26:63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

Mat 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Mat 26:65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

Jesus did not answer the high priest the first time as He did not want harm to come to His disciples as a result of this interrogation. Only when He was put oath (Mat 26:63) that He had YES to the question of whether He was the Son of GOD. In Hebrew, it was an emphatic YES.

Note that in Matt 26:65, the high priest rent his clothes although he was forbidden to do so under the Law. Caiaphas (the old high priest) tore his clothes in front of Jesus, the new high priest after the order of Melchizedek. This symbolically inaugurated the start of a New Covenant and a New Priesthood. The new priesthood only blesses and not curses and blesses (old priesthood). The old priesthood was subject to death. Jesus has the power of an endless life – the God-Man. The priest of Law tore his clothes before the priest of Grace.

Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

As there has been a change of priesthood, there is a change in the law. We are no longer under LAW but under GRACE !

BOTH RICHES AND HONOUR ARE FROM GOD

1 Chronicles 29:12 Both riches and honour [come] of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand [is] power and might; and in thine hand [it is] to make great, and to give strength unto all.

1 Chronicles 29:13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

David realized this and he turned around and glorified God. This should be our attitude as well.

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IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: THE ABOVE NOTES WERE DRAFTED BY, DEVELOPED, COMPILED AND ORGANISED BY YEO CHOON MENG TERENCE IN HIS PERSONAL CAPACITY ON 27 APRIL 2009 AND ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS ARE HIS ALONE. THE ABOVE NOTES ARE NOT REPRESENTATIONS OF, ATTRIBUTABLE TO OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH NEW CREATION CHURCH OR JOSEPH PRINCE MINISTRIES