And thou shall make the breastplate of judgment
Called a "breastplate", because worn upon the breast of the high
priest; and a breastplate "of judgment", because it was to put
him in mind that he should do justice and judgment in the
execution of his office, and that he should have at heart the
judgment of the people of Israel; and in difficult cases should
ask it of God, and faithfully declare it to them: it was, with
the twelve stones in it, an emblem of the church and people of
God, borne upon the heart of Christ our great High Priest, who
are made righteous by him, yea, the righteousness of God in him,
and are called by his name, the Lord our righteousness; the
judgment or government of whom is committed to him, and which he
exercises, by appointing laws and ordinances for them, by
constituting and qualifying persons to act under him, to explain
those laws, and see them put in execution, by vindicating and
protecting them, and by the open justification of them at the
last day:
with cunning work, after the work of the ephod thou shall
make it;
wrought with divers figures in a very curious manner:
of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of
fine twined
linen, shalt thou make it;
a piece of stuff interwoven with threads of gold, or golden
wires, and with threads of yarn, of blue, purple, and scarlet
colours, and with threads of fine twined linen six times doubled;
all which may signify the beautiful array of the saints, with the
several graces of the Spirit; and especially their being clothed
with fine linen, called the righteousness of the saints; that
raiment of needlework, and clothing of wrought gold, the
righteousness of Christ, consisting of his obedience, sufferings,
and death, fitly expressed by these various colours.
