The Mitre

Open your Bibles, please, to the book of Leviticus, chapter 8, verse 1:

LEVITICUS 8

This passage of Scripture describes the garments of the high priest as Moses placed them upon Aaron. Now we come to the study of the last piece of clothing that was placed upon the high priest. Glance again at verse 9:

LEVITICUS 8

Turn, please, to Exodus, chapter 28, to notice the instructions which God gave Moses and the compliance of Moses with these instructions related to this garment called the "mitre". In Leviticus, chapter 8, we were simply told that Moses placed this garment on the high priest in its order. We need to know something about it. Notice with me, please, verse 36:

EXODUS 28

In this paragraph we are interested only in the mitre, though there are references to other garments because they were made of the same material. Turn, please, to Exodus 39, where we find the record of Moses' compliance with God's instructions. Notice in verse 27:

EXODUS 39

I think it would be well for us to notice what is actually said about the mitre. When the facts are firmly fixed in our minds, we will endeavor to learn their spiritual significance. First of all, the mitre was made of fine linen, which is significant in connection with the tabernacle. Nothing is said about the form of the mitre. We do know what it was like because the word "mitre" is the transliteration of the Hebrew word which means "to wrap around". So we know that the mitre was in the form of a turban, a fine piece of linen that was wrapped around the head. A plate of gold was placed on this turban of fine linen over the forehead. On this plate of gold were engraved like the engravings of a signet--that is, deeply carved as they would have been carved upon the seal of a king--the words "HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD". This gold plate was fastened to the linen bonnet by blue lace. This is the plate of gold that was put upon some blue lace and tied onto the linen bonnet.

The high priest, whenever he went into the presence of the Lord in the Most Holy Place, wore this turban. He never considered going into the presence of the Lord without wearing this turban. Why? Was this just because he was to be dressed up when he went into the presence of the Lord, or was there just a specific reason? Turn back to Exodus, chapter 28, and notice verse 38. Here are given two reasons why Aaron wore this turban in the presence of the Lord:

EXODUS 28

In this verse are two reasons Aaron wore the turban. One is found in the statement that "Aaron may bear the iniquities of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts." That may seem a bit difficult to understand, so let me paraphrase it simply and say that Aaron wore the turban in order to take upon himself any imperfections or any uncleanness in the worship of the children of Israel.

We need to recognize that exactly for what it is worth. The worship of the children of Israel was not perfect. Nothing can be accepted by God unless it is perfect. So Aaron, the high priest, wore the turban with the plate on the forefront in order that whatever was lacking in the worship of the Israelites could be borne by him and the worship would be accepted.

The second reason the turban was worn is found in the last statement of verse 38. It is a much simpler statement and easier to understand. It is the phrase, "that they may be accepted before the Lord". He wore the turban not only that their worship might be accepted, but that they themselves might be accepted before the Lord.

We are studying the garments of the high priest not with the idea that the garments should be imitated in the ecclesiastical garments worn by certain men of the clergy, but in order that we may learn their spiritual significance. We will study the mitre from a twofold standpoint: first, in relation to Jesus Christ, our great High Priest; then in relation to us. What are we to learn from this turban in relation to Jesus Christ, our great High Priest? Why did the High Priest wear this turban? So that the Israelites might be accepted before the Lord. As Aaron wore the turban that the Israelites might be accepted before the Lord, so the Lord Jesus Christ appears in the presence of God at this very moment in order that we may be accepted before the Lord.

Turn, please, to Hebrews, chapter 9. Here the Holy Spirit makes reference to the Old Testament tabernacle as compared to the original tabernacle in the heavens. In verse 23, he said:

HEBREWS 9

Let us think for a moment about what we are reading. The Old Testament tabernacle, as we will see when we study the sacrifices recorded in the Old Testament, was purified by means of earthly sacrifice. But when the Lord Jesus Christ appeared in Heaven, it was necessary that a better sacrifice be offered, a more valuable sacrifice. Of course, as you know, that sacrifice was Himself. Look at verse 24:

HEBREWS 9

When we were studying the tabernacle in detail, we noticed the Most Holy Place. Aaron went into the Most Holy Place. The Holy Spirit is telling us here that it was an illustration of the true tabernacle which is in Heaven:

HEBREWS 9

The Lord Jesus Christ is in Heaven now. He is at the right hand of the throne of God for a specific purpose. He is appearing in our behalf. Everything about the turban worn by the high priest of the Old Testament illustrates precious spiritual truths relating to this fact. Before the Lord Jesus Christ could appear acceptably in the presence of God for us, it was necessary for several things to occur. One of them is found in chapter 2 of the Philippian letter:

PHILIPPIANS 2

This passage says that the Lord Jesus Christ, when He came to this earth and died on the Cross, was indicating His complete obedience to the Father. What has all this to do with the turban? What did the turban do? It covered the head of the high priest, did it not? Of what is a covered head representative in the Scriptures?

Turn, please, to I Corinthians, chapter 11, and notice the subject of the covered head. We are studying these Old Testament truths from a new Testament standpoint.

I CORINTHIANS 11

Keep in mind that this is a New Testament regulation, not an Old Testament regulation.

I CORINTHIANS 11

Who is the head of the woman? The head of the woman is the man. If a woman prays or prophesies with her head uncovered, then she is dishonoring her head. Someone may say, "Do you mean at home, before you to to bed at night?" No. Look at the first part of the chapter and you will realize that Paul is talking about public assembly. The apostle says that if a woman prays or prophesies in public assembly with her head uncovered, she is showing disrespect to her husband: "Every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven."

I CORINTHIANS 11

The word "power" means "covering". Why the translators translated it "power" instead of "covering" we do not know. The idea of this passage is that a covering represents subjection.

Going back to the Old Testament picture, when the high priest covered his head with a turban in the presence of the Holy God, he was indicating that the basic characteristics of a high priest who was to bear the iniquities and the imperfections of the people was obedience. If the Lord Jesus Christ had not been obedient to death (Philippians 2:8), He could not stand now in the presence of God for you and for me. Remember that the only reason we are accepted is because he was obedient.

You may say, "I thought that we are accepted because we are obedient." No, you are accepted because He was obedient. As we will see, all the obedience it is possible for us to manifest would still not make us acceptable before the throne of grace.

Notice that emphasis regarding the turban is placed upon the fact that the forehead was covered. We believe in the verbal inspiration of the Scriptures. We do not believe that any word should be passed over as unimportant. If the Holy Spirit thought to emphasize the fact that the forehead of the high priest was covered when he went into the presence of the Lord, we should recognize its importance. What is the significance of the forehead in the Scriptures? Turn, please, to Ezekiel, chapter 3. Here we find the first mention of the forehead in the Scriptures from a symbolic standpoint. It is not the first time the forehead is mentioned in the Scripture. The first time it is mentioned is in chapter 28 of the book of Exodus. Here is the first time it is mentioned from a symbolic standpoint.

EZEKIEL 3

This is just a symbolic way of saying that when the Word of God is received and digested, it becomes sweet to the taste.

EZEKIEL 3

God said to Ezekiel, "You are a prophet now. Go speak to the house of Israel. They will not pay a bit of attention to you. I am not sending you to people who do not understand your language. Perhaps if I had, those people would have listened to you. I am sending you to a people who understand your language but still will not respond to your message because they are hardhearted. They have not listened to Me, and they will not listen to you."

EZEKIEL 3

Here is Ezekiel with the message of God. Here is the nation of Israel as they receive the message of God. What do they do? They butt their heads. Their foreheads are together. Literally? Well, of course not. How could one man butt heads with an entire nation? It is a symbolic representation of the conflict of wills--the will of the prophet as he declared the whole counsel of God and the will of the people as they refused to obey, the one opposed to the other. The forehead becomes representative of the will. There is not place for self will in the presence of God, even on the part of God's Son.

That is why, when the high priest entered into the presence of God, he was clothed with a mitre. A turban covered his forehead to symbolize that the will of the high priest was subject to the will of God.

There are many passages of Scripture to which we might turn to verify that the will of the Lord Jesus Christ was subject to the will of God. We will turn only to the basic one, Psalm 40, because it is the source of a number of quotations in the Scriptures. It represents a conversation that was carried on in Heaven between God and His Son before the Lord Jesus Christ ever came to the earth. When the Lord Jesus Christ was speaking about His future entrance into the earth in verse 6, He said:

PSALMS 40

That is, "You have made me your bondslave."

PSALMS 40

That is, the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament would not meet the demands of God fully. Something else had to be done. What could be done? The only thing that could be done would be for God's Son to come to the earth and be the perfect sacrifice for sin. So the Lord Jesus Christ said:

PSALMS 40

Perhaps you are saying, "I thought these were the words of David." Well, remember that David was a prophet as well as a psalmist. If you should take the time to turn to chapter 10 of the book of Hebrews, verses 5-7, you would find the Holy Spirit telling us that David did not speak these words himself. He spoke these words for the Lord Jesus Christ. This is one of the Messianic Psalms, a Psalm that speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ.

What does the Psalm say? The Lord Jesus Christ committed His will completely and fully to the will of God in order that we may be accepted before Him.

Do you realize that everything about the turban speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ, the perfect sacrifice on our behalf? I would like for us to think about this turban in relation to us as individuals, in relation to us whom the Lord Jesus Christ is representing in the presence of God.

We remember two reasons Aaron was appearing in the presence of God. He was appearing in the presence of God first that the worship of the Israelites might be accepted because even their very best worship was imperfect. He was appearing in the presence of God in order that they themselves might be accepted before the Lord. The acceptance of our worship and the acceptance of ourselves is portrayed in a striking way in the symbolism of this garment worn by the high priest.

Let us see whether we can recognize some of these truths. Think with me about the word "plate". Remember that there was a golden plate upon which was engraved "HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD", and the golden plate was fastened to the linen turban by blue lace. What was the significance of that plate? The word "plate" is a translation of the Hebrew word which everywhere else in the Old Testament is translated "flower". That would mean that there is a symbolism related to the plate and the flower. What would it be? Turn with me to Isaiah, chapter 40, verse 3:

ISAIAH 40

Look at the word "flower". It is a translation of our same Hebrew word.

ISAIAH 40

What does this paragraph teach us? If we should boil it down to one simple statement, we would say that it teaches us of the brevity of life in comparison with the eternity of God. Have you noticed how quickly a flower withers? Oh, how quickly it withers, almost as soon as it is plucked. That is life. Life is over almost before it is begun. What did God instruct Moses to do? He said, "I want you to make a plate using this word "flower". I want you to make it of something that is representative of the divine. I want you to make it out of gold, for gold is representative of that which is lasting, of that which is divine."

Are you getting the picture? Our life by itself would last a brief threescore years and ten, and if by reason of strength fourscore years (Psalm 90:10). But when one's life is touched and changed by the power of God, it does not last for a brief span; it lasts for all eternity. Even though you may die and your spirit may leave your body, if you are a born again believer, you do not die. You simply change location. That is brought to our attention by the golden plate.

Did you notice with what that golden plate was fastened to the turban? Blue lace. When we were studying the tabernacle, we found that blue was representative of heavenly grace, so we are reminded that our life is not dependent upon us; it is dependent upon the grace of God. The plate of gold was fastened by blue lace to a turban of linen. Linen is representative of righteousness. Do you remember what was written on that golden plate? HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD. Do you remember that "sanctification" is another word for "holiness"? Do you remember what the turban covered? The head, the fount of wisdom.

Think back over what I have said. What words have I emphasized? Wisdom, grace, sanctification. Turn with me, please, to I Corinthians, chapter 1, where we find that everything that was represented by this headdress worn by Aaron in the Old Testament is made ours literally in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ:

I CORINTHIANS 1

Why are we going to Heaven? Is the fact that you are trusting Christ the only reason? Are you sure? Don't you have to do a little bit of something? Well, Beloved, if there is one thing for you to do to go to Heaven other than to trust in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, then everything I have said to you is without foundation or fact because the Lord Jesus Christ appears in the presence of God now for us, and everything about this mitre of the high priest indicates that it is all of grace and not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:9). We are boastful creatures. We like to boast so we say, "I believe you have to trust Christ, but I believe you have to do something yourself, too." That is the flesh; that is boasting.

If you are talking about the fact that a born-again Christian should live a life yielded to Christ, you are exactly right, for every man who is born again is a new creature in Christ Jesus. But if you say that that new life is necessary for you to be accepted of Christ, you are denying what this portion of the Word declares.

Go back to Exodus, please, chapter 28, so there will not be any misunderstanding about it, and notice the second reason the high priest made his appearance before the Lord wearing the mitre:

EXODUS 28

Here are holy things, things that are consecrated to the Lord. Who consecrated them to the Lord? The children of Israel. But what are we reading in this passage? We are reading that even a holy thing which is dedicated to God is so imperfect that God cannot accept it unless it is covered by the blood of Christ. Who are we to talk about what we do making us acceptable in the sight of God? Turn, please, to the book of Job, and notice a speech that Eliphaz made to Job to convince him that there surely must be something wrong with Job:

JOB 15

His saints are angels. You do think an angel is pretty good, don't you? Some people are so confused about the Scriptures that they think that when people die, they become angels. They think it is a step up because in the minds of men, angels have a connotation of that which is good. But did you see what we read in verse 15? God cannot trust even His angels. Why can He not? Well, some of them sinned. There is no record in the Bible that any more of them will sin, but there is nothing in the Bible that says they will not. This Scripture would indicate that maybe some of them do. God does not trust them. He said:

JOB 15

We talk about the pollution of our atmosphere because of all the fumes, gases, odors, etc., and it is polluted. It is not safe to live in some big cities where there is so much pollution in the air. Someone says we should go up into space because it is clean up there. Well, not as far as God is concerned. God said that even the space is polluted. How in the world did it get polluted? Did God not create it perfect? Yes, He did. But the Devil sinned and God cast him out of Heaven down through space, and he left a slimy trail through space. Even the heavens are unclean in God's sight. Look at verse 16:

JOB 15

That does not please us, does it? It does not make us look too good. Why, if even the heavens are not clean in God's sight, if He does not trust even the angels, what makes us think there is anything that we could offer to God that would be clean and perfect?

You see, there is no need to talk about works. There is no use to talk about righteousness. How many times have people said, "I believe I will go to Heaven because I read my Bible and I go to church and I teach a Sunday School class and I do, I do, I do." Well, we are glad you are doing those things if you are a born-again believer, but they will not make you acceptable before the Lord because even they are unclean in His sight. I think this whole truth can better be expressed by a story that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself told. Chapter 17 of the Gospel of Luke has in it a number of encouragements of faith. In verse 7 the Lord Jesus said:

LUKE 17

The Lord Jesus Christ was talking about an ordinary custom of that day. They had servants who worked in the field in the daytime, and when they came in at night, they served supper to their master and attended to his wants. After all the household chores were done, they could eat. We will not enter into a discussion of whether that was right or wrong, fair or unfair. It was the condition that existed and the Lord Jesus Christ recognized it as such. He said in verse 9:

LUKE 17

Does he say, "Thank you for doing what I expected of you; I appreciate it so much."? Certainly not! That was what he was being paid for. He was not doing any special favors. He was still in debt to his master, no matter how much he served. Look at verse 10:

LUKE 17

For the sake of discussion, suppose you have done everything you knew God wanted you to do. You did not fall in regard to one thing. You did everything He told you to do. Suppose that were true. I will be perfectly honest with you; I don't think it is true. If you were to stand up and tell me you had done everything that God had commanded you to do, I think I would pray for you. I could not believe you. If I were to stand here and tell you that I have done everything that God has commanded me to do, you had better pray for me and stop listening to me, because I am a liar.

But suppose you have done everything that God commanded you to do. You could strut in the presence of God and say, "Now, God, accept me. I have done everything you told me to do." No! All you can do is to bow your head and say, "Lord, I've done everything you told me to do, but I am unprofitable still. I am still not worthy of Heaven. I am worthy of Hell." If we are willing to admit that we have not done everything we have been commanded to do, how much more unworthy are we, and how much more do we need a great high priest with His head covered to appear in the presence of God in our behalf.

Someone may say, "Do you believe in eternal security?" I do. "You mean you think you are good enough for God to save?" No, that is why I believe in Him, because I am not good enough. "You believe," someone may ask, "that a Christian is saved and saved forever?" Yes, I do believe that. If I did not believe that, I would have no hope because I have been talking about how unworthy I am and how unworthy you are, and how everything depends upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

I would like to leave you with two passages of Scripture. One is found in chapter 7 of the book of Hebrews. Keep in mind that the book of Hebrews is a commentary on the Old Testament section of the Word at which we have been looking. In this chapter there is a comparison and a contrast of the priests such as Aaron and the priest that the Lord Jesus Christ is:

HEBREWS 7

We need a high priest like that, a priest who is separate, harmless, undefiled, who is able to stand like that always in the presence of God for us. Listen to me: If the Lord Jesus Christ should for one little second refuse to stand in the presence of God for us, we would be hopelessly lost. If for one moment He refused to plead for us, we would be lost. That is why we read in the first part of verse 25 that He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him.

Have you ever been to the uttermost? That is a word which describes the farthest lengths to which you can go. He is able to save from the beginning to the end. He is able to save all the way through if we are faithful, and if we are careful what we do, and if we don't grieve Him. Is that what it says? That is not what it says, is it? It says He is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. Turn, please, to Romans, chapter 5:

ROMANS 5

For when we were yet without strength for what? To save ourselves. We were unable to do anything about it.

ROMANS 5

Paul is amazed. He said that you will hardly find a man who will die for a righteous man. Do you know what a righteous man is? A righteous man is a man who says, "I owe you a dollar, and I will pay you a dollar. I will not settle for $.98. But believe you me, you owe me a dollar, and don't expect me to settle that for $.98 either--a dollar for a dollar." That is a righteous man. You will not find very many people who will die for a fellow like that. When misfortune comes against him, whether you say it or not, you think it serves him right, the tightwad. That is what Paul is saying here.

He said, "Peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die." What is a good man? A good man is full of mercy and kindness. He understands your faults and your failings. You owe him a dollar, and you to to him and say, "I don't have it." He ways, "Oh, forget it, we'll work it out some way." You find people who will die for a man like that.

Look at the next statement. God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners--individuals for whom no one would die--Christ died for us. You see, we did not deserve it. The only reason He can give is that He loved us. That is all. Look at verse 9:

ROMANS 5

What are we reading? Beloved, we are reading that even when we were enemies of God, God loved us enough to let His Son die for us. What happened to us when He died for us? We were reconciled to God. There was no more enmity. We became members of the family of God. How ridiculous can you get, then, to think that God would let one of His own perish? Why, He would die for you. And if He died for you and you were saved by His death, how much more you will be saved by His life!

How do I know I am going to Heaven? Someone says, "You have been preaching a long time, and I suppose you have helped a few people, and you try to do what is right. I guess you will go to Heaven." If all of that were true, that would not guarantee me Heaven. Do you know why I know I am going to Heaven? One day the Lord Jesus Christ died for me. When I saw the truth in the Word of God, I received Him as my Savior. I said, "Lord Jesus, You did die for me. I believe it, and I accept you now." He said, "All right, if you accept Me, from here on out I will take charge of your case."

Every time I offer a prayer to God, all the holiness of Heaven wants to reject that prayer because it comes from an imperfect heart. But the Lord Jesus Christ says, "No, you have to listen to him, because he is praying in My name. When he prays in My name, you have to hear what he says." "Oh, but Jesus, he is impure. He is unlovely." "I know that, but he is praying in My name."

Do you see what I am talking about? I have some money. I want to make an offering to the Lord. All of Heaven shouts, "Don't accept it; it is unclean money! It has been touched by unclean hands. He is an imperfect man." The Lord Jesus Christ says, " Wait a minute. He trusted Me. I am His Savior. I am burying the iniquity of his unclean worship. It has to be accepted."

I am giving all the glory to Christ. It has to be His.