Exodus 28:2

Holy garments. Leaving the description of the inanimate things of the tabernacle, we now come to the men who were to officiate therein. Having chosen those who were to be His priests, God proceeds to clothe them with the special garments that were to be their insignia of office.

For glory. The garments were to be “for glory,” in order to elevate the priestly office in the eyes of the people, so that they would regard the priestly ministrations with greater reverence. This priestly apparel would also serve to distinguish the priests as a class by themselves, in a certain sense above the rest of the nation. Also, the garments were to the priests themselves a constant reminder of their holy station, and of its demand for consecrated living. The garments helped to impress them that they were “stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Corinthians 4:1).

For beauty. The holy garments were “for beauty,” to harmonize with the richness and splendor of the tabernacle in which the priests were to minister, and to emphasize the “beauty of holiness” (1 Chronicles 16:29; Psalm 29:2; 96:9). The beauties of nature indicate that the Creator is a lover of beauty, and that He looks with favor upon beauty in the worship we give to Him. The garments of the high priests were not only different from those of the common priests, but much more attractive. Gold was worked into their very texture, precious stones made them glitter. Everything was done to make them lovely and impressive. The priests were to wear their sacred garments when they served in the sanctuary, but never at other times (see Exodus 35:19; Leviticus 16:4, 23, 24; Ezekiel 42:14; 44:19). These garments were representative of the character of God, which He sought to have reproduced in the hearts and lives of His people (see Isaiah 64:6; 61:10; Zechariah 3:3, 4; Matthew 22:11; Revelation 19:8). The fact that the colors and materials of the high priest’s garments were the same as those used for the veil and entrance curtain of the tabernacle suggests the lesson that the character of the worshipers, as represented by the high priest, must harmonize with the character of the sanctuary (see Matthew 5:48; 22:11-13; Ephesians 1:3, 4; 2:6; Colossians 3:1, 2; James 1:27; 1 John 2:15-17).