Exodus Chapter 28 Verses 1-3  

:1 “And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons. 2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. 3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.”

Aaron was to be the High Priest of the children of Israel.  His sons were to be the priests under Aaron.  This order would continue even after the death of Aaron, as the oldest qualified living son would ascend to the office of the High Priest and the male descendants of Aaron would be the priests.  The High Priest would go into the most holy place accomplishing the service God had assigned to him.  The priests would serve in the holy place accomplishing the service God assigned to them.   

In the New Testament order, Jesus Christ is the High Priest after the order of Melchisedec.  The born-again children of God are assigned to the office of priests:

    1.  Heb. 6:20 “Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

    2.  Rev. 1:5 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

    3.  1 Pet. 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

    4.  1 Pet. 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 

Those who occupied the office of the High Priest and the priesthood had a requirement that they wear holy garments.  Not just any garments would do to serve in these offices.  They were to wear the garments ascribed to them by God.  These garments were for glory and for beauty.  In comparison to the Old Testament type, the Lord Jesus Christ wore holy garments for glory and for beauty and the children of God who occupy the office of priest also have a holy garment they are to wear in their service to God. 

Aaron’s garments were to be made by those who were filled with the “spirit of wisdom.”  Likewise, Christ’s holy garments are made for him by the Holy Spirit of God.   

Aaron’s garments consecrated (set him apart) that he may minister in the office of the High Priest.   

Verses 4-5 

:4 “And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. 5 And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.” 

In the above are listed six garments that make up the holy garments of the High Priest.  Later in this chapter Moses was instructed to make linen britches for Aaron and his sons.  This brings to a total of seven garments that were to be on the high priest when he ministered in his office.  Seven is the bible number associated with completeness.  These seven make up the complete covering needed by the high priest in order to minister in that office. 

The garments were to be made of five materials which consist of five colors.  The colors are gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and white.  Five is associated in the scriptures with the subject of death.  Gold is associated with kings and kingdoms.  Blue is associated with law or commandment. Purple is associated with royalty.  Scarlet is associated with war or blood.  White is associated in the scriptures with righteousness.  These all point to the Royal (purple) King (gold=Christ) fulfilling the law (blue) to a jot and a tittle and making the perfect sacrifice on the cross (scarlet) to redeem his people from their sins and to impute his righteousness (white) unto them.  This was the work of our High Priest after the order of Melchisedic (Jesus Christ) who offered himself as a lamb without spot unto God.