The Seamless Robe

“Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.”John 19:23 · KJV

“They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.”John 19:24 · KJV

“And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.”Exodus 28:31 · KJV

When the soldiers crucified Jesus they divided His clothes four ways, but His coat “was without seam, woven from the top throughout” (John 19:23). Rather than tear it, they cast lots for it.

The high priest's robe was woven in one piece so that it would not tear (Exod 28:32); the tearing of a priestly garment was disqualification. Jesus wore a seamless robe to the cross, the garment of a High Priest, and the men who killed Him refused to tear it, and by refusing fulfilled a psalm written a thousand years before: “they parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots” (Ps 22:18). They tore the veil, which was His flesh, and would not tear the robe, which was His office. Even the soldiers preached without knowing it.