Imperishable Crown

Put the holy crown on his head…Exodus 29:6

This was how Aaron was set apart as God’s high priest. The ceremony took seven days to sanctify Aaron and the Tabernacle to make it Most Holy, Exodus 29:37. Holiness is serious business to God. Whatever touches the altar must be holy, Exodus 29:37. For this reason, Jesus shed His blood so we could share in His righteousness as a gift: But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and all who believe. For there is no difference, Romans 3:21-22. Because you believe in Jesus Christ through faith, you share in the righteousness of God.

Crowns are mentioned in the New Testament. The most important is recorded in Revelation 19:12: His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Him. This of course, replaced the crown of thorns He wore to the cross, Matthew 27:29. The 24 elders wore crowns, Revelation 4:4. The beast rising out of the sea with seven heads with ten horns wore ten crowns, Revelation 13:1. The locust coming out of the pit wore crowns, Revelation 9:7. Which corresponds with Jesus’ warnings in Matthew 24 and 25.

Crowns was mentioned by Jesus in His letter to the church in Philadelphia. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. Jesus does not mention which of the many crowns mentioned in the New Testament this crown is. It could be the crown of life Jesus wrote about to the church in Smyrna, be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life, Revelation 2:10.

James wrote about a crown of life, James 1:12: Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Could this be the same crown of life mentioned by Jesus? Peter writes about a crown of glory in 1 Peter 5:4: and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. Paul wrote about the crown of righteousness in 2 Timothy 4:8: Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. That includes you!

Porter Barrington in his Master Outline Number Seven, writes about Rewards. In his outline, he spends most of his time on crowns. In his opinion, the rewards of our good works (not for salvation, but because of our salvation) are referred to as five crowns in The New Testament: 1) The Crown of Life, James 1:12 2) The Crown Imperishable, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 3) The Crown of Rejoicing, 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 4) The Crown of Righteousness, 2 Timothy 4:5-8 and 5) The Crown of Glory, 1 Peter 5:2-4.

Aaron was made worthy of wearing the crown by the ceremony of The Law. You were made worthy of your crown by Jesus Himself. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing, 2 Timothy 4:8. If your crown is for good works, you may follow the example of the 24-elders and cast your crown before the throne, Revelation 4:10. If your crown is the righteousness of Jesus, you cannot take it off!