Chapter Summary

Directions about the priesthood.

Discussion Questions for Exodus, Chapter 28

1. What words would you use to describe the garments that were made for The High Priest? What similarities do you see between the garment and the tabernacle? Why does this matter? What does this communicate to you? How might this impact how you read Romans 13:14? "Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires." (NLT)
2. Looking at question one from a different perspective, how might the similarities between the garment and tabernacle impact the way you read Isaiah 53:4? "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted" (ESV) Christ wore the sins of all people before The Lord.
3. We read in Exodus 28:35 that the garment "shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the LORD, and when he comes out, so that he does not die." (ESV) If the people and Aaron knew that had to wear this in order to stand before The Lord, what would this reveal to them about entering into the presence of The Lord? The requirement was a matter of life or death. What would this teach them?
4. "So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the LORD." (Exodus 28:29, ESV) What a powerful image of priesthood. In addition to question 3, how does this verse help you understand what Christ did on the cross? What is the importance of being in regular remembrance of The Lord? What does regular remembrance look like for you today?
5. “And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.” (Exodus 28:2, ESV) How does this verse make you feel about the holy garments? How do you perceive them? How does Isaiah 61:10 shape the way you see them? "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." (ESV)
6. "You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him for my priesthood." (Exodus 28:3, ESV) What does this verse teach you about the activity and presence of The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament? Does it expand your understanding of how the Holy Spirit can work?
7. The Israelites names were engraved into the garment. (Vs. 21) What would this mean to them? What kind of mental and heart shift would this do for them, considering the years of slavery their people had recently been freed from?
8. What purpose did the tools of Urim and Thummin serve? How did God replace those tools after the cross?
9. "After you put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests." (Exodus 28:41, ESV) Why do you think they were to follow the order of anointing, ordaining, and consecrating? Is there significance in the order the passage lists them?
10. Overall, how does the passage help you consider Jesus as the Great High Priest? How does it shape the way He came? What contrasts do you see between Christs priestly garments on the cross and Aarons priestly garments? What does this teach you about Jesus?

Key Words/Phrase

Ministry, v. 1.

Characters

God, Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Eleazar, Ithmar.

Strong Verse(s)

29, 41.