What does putting on the breastplate of righteousness mean?

Answer 1

A breastplate is a piece of armor used in battle to deflect an enemie's weapon from entering the heart or other vital organ in the chest area.

The Bible names the "Breastplate of Righteousness" as one piece of the "spiritual armor" God's elect must wear in the "struggle of life."

"Therefore put on the FULL ARMOR OF GOD, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." (Eph.6:13 NIV)

The Bible defines "Righteousness" as: "The Ten Commandments"; God's law.

"My tongue shall speak of Thy Word: for ALL THY COMMANDMENTS ARE RIGHTEOUSNESS." (Ps.119:172)

Peter tells us that Noah was a "preacher of Righteousness" [II Peter 2:5]... meaning, by biblical definition, that Noah preached to his generation the Ten Commandments [that the world today doesn't believe existed until Moses].

But, the spiritual piece of God's Armor, the Breastplate of Righteousness... "protects the heart."

It's a Spiritual safeguard of God's Wisdom, Knowlesge and Understanding of His law in one's heart against the verbal, hurtful "slings and arrows" of hateful persecution flung at God's elect in the world.

King David says of God's laws: "Through Thy precepts I get Understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Ps.119:104-105) The Commandments are designed to be our guide in life.

And: "O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day." (verse 97)

And: "Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them." (verse 165)

God's Commandments seem to be a great offense to much of modern professing Christianity, today... ridiculing and belittling those who dare to utter King David's heartfelt words; "O how I love Thy law!"

Yet, God's Word commands His elect to "put on the Breastplate of Righteousness" -- instill in your heart the laws of God. For He tells us that every last Child of His WILL HAVE HIS LAWS WRITTEN THERE before He is done with mankind.

"For this is the covenant that I will make with the House of Israel after those days [after He returns to earth with His Kingdom], saith the Lord; I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MIND, AND WRITE THEM IN THEIR HEARTS: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people: and they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for ALL SHALL KNOW ME, from the least to the greatest.

"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness[their breaking of the Commandments], and their sins and their iniquities [the transgression of the law - I John 3:4] will I remember no more." (Heb.8:10-12)

Those whom God is calling now are having God's Commandments written in their hearts... that they might see beyond the persecution of the world against them... and not be offended by the world's ignorance of His Truth.

God's Commandments are summarized by the word; LOVE. Dedicated Love for God... and for one's fellowman. It's fulfilled through God's act of Mercy performed by Jesus Christ when He died for man, created in God's image -- to redeem man from the god of this world, to whom the first man sold himself in the beginning [see Gen.3].

The wearer of God's Breastplate of Righteousness "Loves" those who persecute him. The wearer of God's Armor was probably a persecutor once himself. But, filled with God's Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding... they are able to see beyond the verbal and physical abuse of others... and extend God's Mercy that they received, toward others.

God's Breastplate of Righteousness is "having the Love of God in one's heart" toward mankind -- which is contrary to selfish human nature.

It's overcoming one's nature... and yielding to the Commandments of God. And due to God's Selfless Love revealed in their heart... they Love others as all men naturally and selfishly love themselves.

The Breastplate of Righteousness is the "Selfless Love of God" in one's heart toward others. It's Loving and Keeping the Commandments of God [contrary to much of modern professing Christianity].

"...here are they that KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, and THE FAITH OF JESUS." (Rev.14:12)

The Breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS is the spiritual safeguard of God's Love around one's heart that reflects God's Love outwardly toward others.

Another piece of God's Armor, the Shield of FAITH, however, is more versatile [according to God's Word, ABOVE ALL]... and is held out away from the body, able to be swung around in all directions: "...wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." (Eph.6:16)

We're told to put "all" of God's Spiritual Armor on in order to successfully wage our personal war to overcome the world... as well as our own selfish nature, through Jesus Christ.

The Breastplate of Righteousness, however, is God's Commandments; Spiritual Heart Protection.

Answer 2

It means using righteous thoughts and behaviour to protect one's heart from being ruined by evil which is another name for sin or unrighteousness. JP