I mentioned the other day that we are studying materials that Glenn Pemberton prepared on the book of Leviticus. I’m thoroughly enjoying the study.

Last Sunday we were looking at the Day of Atonement in our class. Dr. Pemberton pointed out something that I had never thought of. On the Day of Atonement, when the High Priest was preparing to enter the Holy of Holies, he did something pretty interesting. He took off the prestigious clothing that he normally wore and put on linen garments. Let me quote from the teacher’s notes:

Q. What strikes you about the clothes Aaron must wear when he enters God’s presence?
A. These are not the ornate vestments that he normally wears (Exod 28; Lev 8) rather these are the clothes of a common servant. Only after Aaron has finished his work in the most holy place is he permitted to put the ornate clothes back on (Lev 16:23-24).
Q. Do you see any significance in this changing of clothes?
A. Yes. A person does not enter the presence of God dressed up like someone important, but in humility – dressed as a servant.
Special Note to the Teacher: In the not too distant past, some argued – based on the fine clothing of the priests – that Christians should always wear their finest clothing to worship God. Oddly, these instructions for the Day of Atonement suggest exactly the opposite: When a person enters the presence of God he should be dressed in the clothing of a servant (i.e., with humility), not expensive clothes (cf. I Tim 2:9-10).

I’d never thought of this. What about you? Do you agree with the conclusions?

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