The garments of the priests, Exodus 28:40-43 The “coats, girdles, and bonnets” of the priests were made from the same material as that of the high priest. By grace, God has made us partakers of the divine nature so that we can serve Him in a way that fits our capacity and the gifts He has given. While there were obvious differences in the garments and headpiece of the high priest, the priests' garments were also designed for glory and beauty.
The coats teach us about the righteousness of Christ that has been given to us by faith, and we have been covered to God’s satisfaction. The sash or “girdle” reminds us that when we serve God as priests and make offerings to Him, we should be “girded about with truth.” A firm girdle around the waist was used for support, and for a warrior, it was where he fastened his sword to defend the truth.
As priests, we are to have our “loins girded about” for service so that we might serve our Lord unencumbered by any carelessness. Our light should burn brightly as we “bring our thank offerings in.” When we enter the Holy Place to worship, our minds should focus on the One we worship and serve without distractions. We are to “be sober and hope unto the end for the grace to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Loose garments hinder progress. The “bonnets” were likely caps or headbands that were to be “bound” on the heads of the priests. They were not like the turban the high priest wore. The fact that the headpiece was bound teaches us that when we worship and serve the Lord, we are to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
All of the priests were to wear undergarments, “breeches,” that ensured their modesty. This symbolized a spiritual covering for our flesh or earthly nature. It contrasted with the culture of idol worshippers, who exposed themselves and were openly immodest. The first result of sin was that Adam and Eve realized their nakedness and felt shame. We are meant to understand that the righteousness of Christ has become extremely valuable to us because He provided a covering that erases our sins and clothes us with His imparted purity. All our iniquities have been covered.
“From the loins to the thighs” signifies that the strength of our walk with the Lord does not rely on ourselves. In God's presence, there is nothing of the flesh visible. Also, these garments were all provided by another. From the head to the feet, we are seen in Christ. What a blessed privilege to be part of the kingdom of priests.