The Breast Plate of the High Priest
The Bible tells us that the high priest wore the breast plate which carried the twelve precious stones with the names of the children of Israel written on them. “So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the LORD continually” (Exodus 28:29).
The high priest carried the names of the tribes on the breast plate on his heart showing his love and affection for them. He prayed for the people repetitively before the Lord showing his responsibility for their salvation. Whenever he went into the tabernacle for the people, his heart was bowed before the Lord in humility for their sins and needs.
In like manner, Christ, our High Priest is now ministering before God on our behalf in the heavenly sanctuary. “We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man” (Hebrews 8:1, 2).
Christ our high priest bears on His heart our names for He loved us and gave himself for our redemption (Galatians 2:20). He has accepted the responsibility for our salvation, and thus the “government” of the kingdom of grace is laid “upon his shoulder” (Isaiah 9:6). What a blessing is His ministry to us.
The love of Christ constrains us (2 Corinthians 5:14), and His righteousness becomes a reality in our lives (Romans 8:3, 4). In all our “affliction,” He is “afflicted,” and He is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities” (Isaiah 63:8, 9; Hebrews 2:14–18; 4:14–16). As a kind, loving parent agonizes when suffering comes upon his children, so does God.
Therefore, let us “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). The believer who daily studies God’s word and prays will certainly receive a supply of divine mercy that will enable him to overcome all the powers of darkness (1 John 4:4).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
