02.24. THE EMBROIDERED LINEN COAT

THE EMBROIDERED LINEN COAT (The Priest’s Garments) AARON the high priest had distinctive garments “called, “Garments for glory and beauty.”

“And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and beauty.” (Exodus 28:2.) The garments were: A Breastplate. An Ephod. A Robe, A Broidered Coat. A Mitre. A Girdle. (Exodus 28:4.) The materials were blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. (Exodus 28:5.) When Aaron and his sons were consecrated to the priesthood the garments were put upon Aaron in the following order: The Coat. The Girdle. The Robe of the Ephod. The Breastplate. The Mitre. The golden plate on the Mitre. The inner linen garments came necessarily first. THE EMBROIDERED LINEN COAT “And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen.” (Exodus 28:39.) The coat was of fine linen.

It was of “woven work.” (Exodus 39:27.) Linen is a symbol of righteousness; as it is written:

“The fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” (Revelation 19:8.) The word “righteousness” should be written in the plural. It is righteousnesses.” As Aaron is a figure of our Lord Jesus Christ these inner garments of linen set forth His essential character, His moral cleanness, His purity, His sinless perfection. The testimony to His perfection is universal, overwhelming, conclusive. THE TESTIMONY OF PILATE “Pilate went out again to the Jews, and said unto them, I find in him—no fault at all.” (John 18:38.)

“Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.” (John 19:4.) “Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.” (John 19:6.)

“When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person.” (Matthew 27:24.) THE TESTIMONY OF PILATE’S WIFE

“When he (Pilate) was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man.” (Matthew 27:19.) THE TESTIMONY OF HEROD “And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people; and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.” (Luke 23:13-15.) TESTIMONY OF THE THIEF ON THE CROSS “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.” (Luke 23:39-41.) TESTIMONY OF THE CENTURION

“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.” (Luke 23:46-47.)

“And when the centurion, which stood over against him, and saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost (literally—commanded his Spirit to go), he said, Truly this man was-the Son of God.” (Mark 15:39.) TESTIMONY OF STEPHEN Stephen was speaking before the Jewish Sanhedrim. He said:

“Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers.” (Acts 7:2.) TESTIMONY OF THE APOSTLE PETER Standing before the Jewish Council he said:

“Ye denied the holy one and the just.” (Acts 3:14.) “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” (1 Peter 2:22.) TESTIMONY OF THE APOSTLE JOHN “In him is—no sin.” (1 John 3:5.) TESTIMONY OF THE APOSTLE PAUL “Who knew no sin.” (2 Corinthians 5:21.) “In all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15.) TESTIMONY OF DEMONS FROM THE BOTTOMLESS PIT

“And, behold, they (the demons) cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God?” (Matthew 8:29.) “And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the holy one of God.” (Mark 1:23-24.) “But when he (the demon) saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God?” (Mark 5:6-7.)

“When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God Most High?” (Luke 8:28.) TESTIMONY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

“And John (the Baptist) bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.” (John 1:32.) TESTIMONY OF GOD THE FATHER “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 17:5.)

“But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou roll them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.” (Hebrews 1:8-12.) His Own Testimony.

“Which of you convinceth (convicteth) me of sin?” (John 8:46.) The Answer of the World unto This Very Hour: “None.”

Men of all sorts and conditions testified to the perfectness of His life. The police officers who came to arrest Him returned to those who sent them and said:

“Never man spake like this man.” (John 7:46.) And watching Him at every step, listening to every word, the people said:

“He hath done all things well.” (John 7:36.) Perfect in deed, perfect in word, perfect in thought –the Perfect Man. The Linen Coat in the wonder of its weaving, and embroidery, in the perfection of its needlework, testify to the “beauty of holiness” inwrought with every fibre of His human texture.