THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #180 | THE LIFE OF MOSES #161

Pastor Christopher Choo

Lesson 3866

THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #180

THE LIFE OF MOSES #161

MOSES AT MT.SINAI#60

THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES ( Part 19)

THE GOLDEN FRONTLET ON THE HIGH PRIEST'S HEAD: HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD #1

"A golden plate was fixed on Aaron, the High Priest’s

head, engraven with the words “Holiness to the LORD.”

Aaron was hereby reminded that God is holy, and that His

priests must be holy, devoted to the Lord.  

This must appear in

their forehead, in open profession of their relation to God.

It must be engraven like the engravings of a signet;

deep and durable; not painted so as to be washed off,

but firm and lasting; such must our holiness to the Lord be.

Christ is our High Priest; through Him sins are forgiven us,

and not laid to our charge. 

Our persons, our doings are

pleasing to God upon the account of Christ."

~Matthew Henry

The above quotation was the revelation of Matthew Henry a respected commentator of the Bible.

The priestly crown or frontlet (צִיץ ṣîṣ/tsiyts) was the golden plate or tiara worn by the Jewish High Priest on his mitre or turban whenever he would minister in the Tabernacle or the Temple in Jerusalem.

The root tzitz (צִיץ) means “to blossom” or “a flower” and as such is employed by the picturesque metaphors in Isaiah 27:6, 28:1, 40:7-8, referring to the floral descriptions of Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 6:18-35) and the blooming of Aaron’s rod (Num. 17:23).

This latter instance is particularly interesting, because just as a tzitz appeared on the Aaron’s rod so is the Aaronic high-priest supposed to wear a tzitz on his forehead. 

The commandmentregarding the crown is found in Exodus 28:36–38:

[36] "And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and engrave upon it, like the engravings of a signet: HOLY TO THE LORD. [37] And thou shalt put it on a thread of blue, and it shall be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. [38] And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, and Aaron shall bear the iniquity committed in the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow, even in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD."

The Tzitz was a small rectangular plate of solid gold, engraved in Hebrew letters with "HOLINESS TO THE LORD," and having holes drilled in each of the four corners through which blue cords were threaded (Exodus 39:31) which held the frontlet onto the High Priest's priestly turban. 

Traditionally, it is understood that one set of cords went around the High Priest's head at the base of the frotlet, and the other went over the forehead, all meeting at the back of the head to hold the frontlet in place.

Exodus 39:30 refers to the tziytz as the "holy crown".

The garments of the High Priest were for glory and beauty,

representing the beauty of the life separated unto God.  (Exodus 28:2)

Jesus is our High Priest. In Hebrews 4:14 it is written:

"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest,

that is passed into the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,

let us hold fast our profession."

Every Child of God has been made part of the Priesthood

By the Lord –

I Peter 2:5 says:

"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."

Again in I Peter 2:9

we read:

"But ye are a Chosen Generation,

an Holy 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."

And Revelation 5:10 tells us 

"And hast made us unto our God

Kings and Priests

and we shall reign on the earth."

We worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness with a holy mindset

a holy attitude

and holy purity

that comes from within

This is our crowning achievement - to be holy as God is holy - thanks to the imputed righteoueness of Christ.

The Crown of Thorns He wore is our Crown of Glory. This happened at the Divine Exchange of the Cross.

And our righteousness founded in Him will allow us to present ourselves and  stand before God as His Royal Priesthood - as bona fide representatives of Holiness Unto the Lord.