The Torn Robe

“And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled.”Leviticus 10:6 · KJV

“But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.”Matthew 26:63 · KJV

“Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”Matthew 26:64 · KJV

The high priest was under a standing law: he must never tear his garments, no matter the grief. “He shall not... rend his clothes” (Lev 21:10). His robe was to stay whole.

At the trial of Jesus, when Jesus confessed He was the Christ, “the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy” (Matt 26:65). Caiaphas broke the one law that guarded his office, and in the act of condemning the true High Priest he disqualified himself. The picture is exact: the false priest tears his robe and is finished; the true Priest keeps a seamless robe (John 19:23) and is glorified. One high priest tore his garment and lost his office. The other kept His and opened heaven.