John Calvin Commentary Exodus 28:42

"And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover the flesh of their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:" — Exodus 28:42 (ASV)

And you shall make them linen breeches. Since men, in their natural levity and perversity, seize upon the very slightest causes of offense to the disparagement of holy things, and so religion easily sinks into contempt, God here, as a precaution against such a danger, delivers a precept respecting an apparently trivial matter, namely, that the priests should cover their nakedness with breeches.

The point is, that they should conduct themselves chastely and modestly, lest, if anything improper or unseemly should appear in them, the majesty of holy things should be impaired. Some, therefore, explain the clause “that they may minister in holiness,”¹⁷² as if it were said, “that they may be pure from every stain, and may not desecrate God’s service.” In my opinion, however, the word קודש kodesh, should be taken for the sanctuary; and this is the more natural sense.

A threat is added, that if they neglected this observance, they would not do so with impunity, since they would bring guilt upon themselves. Nor can we wonder at this, since all carelessness and negligence in the performance of sacred duties is closely connected with impiety and contempt of God. What immediately follows as to its being a perpetual law or statute, some, in my judgment improperly, restrict to the precept respecting the breeches, for it has a natural reference to the other ordinances of the priesthood.

God therefore declares generally, that the Law which He gives is not for a little time, but that it may always remain in force as regards His elect people; from which we infer that the word עולם gnolam¹⁷³ whenever the legal types are in question, reaches its fulfillment in the advent of Christ; and surely this is the true perpetuity of the ceremonies, that they should rest in Christ, who is their full truth and substance.

For, since in Christ was finally manifested what was then portrayed in shadows, these figures are established, because their use has ceased after the manifestation of their reality. And this we have already seen was long ago foretold by David, when he substitutes for the Levitical priesthood another “after the order of Melchisedec” (Psalms 110:4); but the dignity being transferred, as the Apostle well reminds us, the Law and all the statutes must of necessity be transferred also (Hebrews 7:12).

The ancient rites, therefore, are now at an end, because they do not accord with the spiritual priesthood of Christ; and in this the twofold sacrilege of the Papacy reveals itself, in that mortal men have dared to substitute another third priesthood for that of Christ, as if His were transitory, and also, in their foolish imitation of the Jews, have heaped together ceremonies which are directly opposed to the nature of Christ’s priesthood.

They reply, indeed, that His priesthood remains entire, although they have innumerable sacrifices; but they vainly endeavor to escape by this subterfuge, for if it was unlawful to change, or to innovate anything in the legal priesthood, how much less is it lawful to corrupt the priesthood of Christ by strange inventions, when its integrity has been ratified by the inviolable oath of God? The Father says to the Son, “You are a priest forever;” what good is it then to make the silly assertion that nothing is taken away from Christ, when an innumerable multitude (of priests) are appointed? How do these things accord: that He was anointed to offer Himself by the Spirit, and yet that He is offered by others? That by one offering He completed His work for our full justification, and yet that He is offered daily?

Now, if there is nowadays no lawful priest except one who possesses in himself what was foreshown in the ancient types, let them bring forth priests adorned with angelic purity, and as it were separate from the ranks of men; otherwise, we shall be at liberty to repudiate all who are defiled by the very slightest stain. From this, too, has arisen their second sacrilege, namely, that they have dared to obscure the brightness of the gospel with a new Judaism. They were entirely without the means of proving their priesthood, and so their easiest plan was to envelop their vanity in an immense mass of ceremonies and, as it were, to shut out the light by clouds. Therefore, believers must be all the more diligent to beware of departing from the pure institution of Christ, if they desire to have Him for their one and eternal Mediator.

¹⁷² “To minister in the holy place.” —— A. V.

¹⁷³ The primary signification of this word is hidden; hence a period of time, of which either the end or the beginning is hidden; and therefore frequently it is used for hence a period of time, of which either the end or the beginning is hidden; and therefore frequently it is used for eternity, or as in the or as in the A. V., for ever. —— W.