Leviticus 16:4

Holy garments. At first there were but few priests, and the high priest generally assisted the common priests in their work. As the numbers of the priests increased, he did so less frequently. Eventually, he assisted his brother priests only upon the Sabbath days, the new moons, and at the three annual feasts. The common priests were considered his deputies, and when they officiated, their ministry was accepted as if the high priest himself had performed it, except that they could not officiate in his stead on the Day of Atonement. He was the priest; and whenever he officiated he wore the glorious golden garments that pertained to his exalted office. These costly garments not only were adorned with gold and precious stones (Ex. 28:13-36) but were also embroidered with the colors of the sanctuary and with fine thread of pure gold (Ex. 28:4-6). Clad thus the high priest represented Christ in His divine glory as the Son of God.

On the Day of Atonement the high priest himself officiated in all parts of the service, assisted by the other priests. He conducted the daily morning and evening services arrayed in these golden garments. But for the unique ritual of the Day of Atonement the high priest wore the holy “linen garments” (Lev. 16:23) used exclusively upon this occasion. These “holy garments” resembled those of the common priests, except for the variegated embroidery of the latter. They were probably also of a finer texture than those of the common priests.

The high priest changed his garments several times during the day, and with each change washed his entire body. At the first light of dawn, according to the Talmud, he removed his personal clothing and attired himself in the golden garments; in these he conducted the regular morning service. This completed, he removed the golden garments and put on the “holy garments” for the special services of the day (v. 4). These he later exchanged for his golden garments, for the evening service (vs. 23, 24). At the conclusion of the evening service he changed once more to his personal clothing and retired from the sacred precincts of the sanctuary. Whereas the high priest clad in his golden garments represented Christ to the people, in his “holy garments” he typified Christ in His mediatorial capacity as a representative of the people before God (GC 422).

The spotless white of the garments of the high priest upon the Day of Atonement typified the perfection of character he and the people sought through the rites of that day. As the high priest “came forth to the waiting congregation in his pontifical robes; so Christ will come the second time, clothed in garments of whitest white” (AA 33). And as at the close of the special services of that day the people were “clean” from all their sins (v. 30), so when Christ appears before His people they will be “without fault before the throne of God” (Rev. 14:5; Eph. 5:27; Col. 1:22; Jude 24; Rev. 19:8).