The breastplate of righteousness is mentioned in Ephesians 6:14 as part of the armor of God. In Ephesians, Paul instructs believers to “stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14 ESV). Here Paul uses the armor of a Roman soldier as a metaphor for the spiritual protection and weapons believers need in spiritual warfare against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:11).
In a Roman soldier’s armor, the breastplate was a crucial piece that protected the soldier’s vital organs like the heart from injury in battle. Paul similarly compares righteousness to a breastplate that guards a believer’s heart against the attacks of the enemy. So what exactly is this “breastplate of righteousness” that believers are exhorted to put on?
1. Christ’s Righteousness Imputed to Believers
Many Bible scholars believe the breastplate of righteousness refers primarily to the righteousness of Christ imparted to believers at salvation. When a person puts their faith in Christ for salvation, Jesus’ perfect righteousness is imputed or credited to their account (Romans 4:22-25).
Though believers still commit sins and are imperfect, they are declared righteous before God through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Believers essentially put on Christ’s righteousness like a breastplate that covers their heart and guards them against any accusation or attack from the devil related to sin and guilt.
This view is supported by the close connection Paul makes in Ephesians 6 between righteousness and justification by faith: “having put on the breastplate of righteousness…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:14, 17). The Word of God declares believers righteous based on Christ’s finished work, so Scripture is like a spiritual weapon enforcing the reality of Christ’s righteousness protecting the believer.
2. Personal Righteousness and Holiness
While Christ’s perfect righteousness is imputed to believers by faith, some Bible teachers also see the breastplate relating to the believer’s growth in personal righteousness and holiness. Earlier in Ephesians, Paul instructs believers to “put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24).
Sanctification is the ongoing process of the Holy Spirit renewing us to be more like Christ. From this view, the breastplate of righteousness refers to the righteous character produced in believers by the Spirit, protecting us from succumbing to temptation and sinful habits.
Living in obedience and pursuing righteousness make it harder for the enemy to find a foothold in our hearts. The more we grow in holiness, the more impervious we become to arrows of accusation from the spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:16).
This personal righteousness is also a powerful weapon in spiritual warfare: “The sinful self loves what is shameful, while the Holy Spirit fills you with light and leads you into righteousness, truth and integrity – all Christlike qualities” (Ephesians 5:9). As believers walk in the light and righteousness of Christ, it dispels darkness and overcomes evil (Romans 12:21).
3. Righteousness by Faith and in Action
In light of these perspectives, we can view the breastplate of righteousness as encompassing both the righteousness of Christ imparted to us by faith when we believed, as well as the continual pursuit of righteousness and holiness in our personal lives.
Christ’s perfect righteousness is our starting point, empowering us to grow in practical righteousness as we cooperate with the Holy Spirit. We live out this righteousness in our moral choices, thoughts, attitudes and actions. While we will always struggle with sin this side of eternity (1 John 1:8), the trajectory of our lives is toward Christlike righteousness as we walk by the Spirit.
The breastplate of righteousness has both objective and subjective elements. The finished work of Christ and the imputed righteousness we receive through faith provide objective protection from the enemy’s accusations. But growing in righteousness through obedience also fortifies our hearts from attacks related to moral compromise and unChristlike behavior.
In both aspects, righteousness serves as an essential piece of armor protecting our hearts from the schemes of the devil. As John Murray summarizes, “To have put on the breastplate of righteousness means that we have been justified by faith in Christ and are walking in holiness of life.”
4. Old Testament Background
The use of the breastplate as a vital piece of armor draws imagery from the Old Testament. Isaiah 59:17 describes the Lord putting on righteousness like a breastplate as part of His armor. The high priest in the Old Testament also wore a breastpiece or “breastplate of judgment” that carried the names of the 12 tribes, essentially bearing their judgment or sin before God (Exodus 28:15).
In light of this Old Testament imagery, the breastplate of righteousness for believers carries connotations of both righteous character and justification. As we grow in personal holiness, we bear the fruit of righteousness in our lives. But we also bear Christ’s righteousness before God, which protects our hearts from condemnation and judgment.
5. A Guard for Our Heart
Why does Paul emphasize the breastplate of righteousness as guarding our heart in particular? In Proverbs 4:23, Solomon warns us to guard our hearts diligently, “for everything you do flows from it.” Our thoughts, desires, motives and actions flow from the state of our heart.
As Jesus said, “From within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within.” (Mark 7:21-23). The condition of our heart determines whether we live in righteousness or wickedness.
By putting on the breastplate of righteousness, we guard our hearts from the onslaught of the enemy’s temptations to pride, lust, greed, hatred and other sins. Righteousness protects us from not only outward behavior but also the inward thoughts and attitudes of the heart that can provide access points for spiritual attacks.
6. Righteousness and Repentance
If we stumble in our walk with Christ and succumb to sin, regularly putting on the breastplate of righteousness also involves repenting and receiving God’s forgiveness and cleansing. We see this dynamic illustrated in the Old Testament temple services.
The same Hebrew word for righteousness (tsedakah) is used to describe the breastpiece worn by the high priest. After sacrificing sin offerings for the people, it notes the priest would leave to remove his linen garments and put on other clothes after making atonement, “and made atonement for himself…and sacrificed the burnt offering and the people’s offering and made atonement for himself and for the people” (Leviticus 9:8, 16:24).
Likewise, even after we have put on Christ’s righteousness, we continue to need confession, repentance and cleansing from sin through Christ’s blood to maintain righteousness and a clean conscience in our walk with Him. Examining our hearts and receiving God’s discipline also helps strengthen this vital armor protecting our lives (Psalm 141:5, Hebrews 12:7-11).
7. Link to Other Pieces of Armor
The righteousness breastplate is also interlinked with the other armor Paul describes in Ephesians 6. For example, taking up the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) helps cut away sin and unrighteousness from our hearts and lives. God’s Word makes us “clean” through studying and obeying it (Psalm 119:9, John 15:3).
The shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16) protects us from doubts and unbelief that may lead to sin and compromise. As we fix our eyes on Jesus through faith, it affects our hearts and behavior: “And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure” (1 John 3:3).
The gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15) reminds us we have inward peace and wholeness in Christ, which removes fear and anxiety that may cause us to stray. As Isaiah 26:3 promises, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”
8. A Community Breastplate
While each believer must personally put on Christ’s righteousness as protection, Scripture also emphasizes righteousness as a community breastplate. After describing the armor, Paul instructs believers to pray for “all the saints” to have understanding of the armor (Ephesians 6:18), showing our protection is interconnected.
As we mutually stir one another to righteous conduct and warn one another against deceptive sin, we help cover our community with righteousness (Hebrews 10:24, James 5:20). Maintaining righteousness together provides stronger reinforcement against wickedness spreading in the body of Christ.
9. The Armor of Light
In Romans 13:12, Paul similarly exhorts believers “to put on the armor of light” which then motivates loving actions in the surrounding community:
“Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Romans 13:13-14)
The breastplate, armor, and clothing of righteousness all refer to the same reality of embracing Christ’s righteous character which transforms how we live. As we are covered by the light of Christ’s righteousness, our lives dispel the fruitless works of darkness (Romans 13:12).
10. The Breastplate and the Devil
While Ephesians 6:14 specifically mentions the breastplate of righteousness in relation to spiritual warfare against the devil, righteousness is also a powerful weapon against him more broadly.
For example, Isaiah 11 prophesies about Jesus saying, “Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist” (Isaiah 11:5). Likewise, we take up Christ’s righteousness against the devil, who is unrighteous.
1 John 3:10 sums up the contrast: “This is how God’s children and the devil’s children become obvious. Whoever does not do what is right is not from God, especially the one who does not love his brother.” While Satan promotes wickedness and rebellion, God’s Spirit leads us into righteousness, love and peace.
The more we walk in step with the Spirit and grow in righteousness in Christ, the less room we give the devil to operate. Resisting the righteous breastplate and giving him openings through sin only brings destruction: “The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start” (1 John 3:8).
But as we abide in Christ and His righteousness, we can overcome the evil one: “I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one” (1 John 2:14). Clothed in God’s righteousness, the devil ultimately cannot harm us.
11. A Righteous Breastplate for the Church
While the breastplate of righteousness has clear personal and corporate implications, what are some ways churches and ministries can specifically put on this armor?
1. Preach the liberating gospel of justification by faith in Christ alone. Righteousness starts with recognizing we are declared righteous because of Jesus’ finished work, not our own goodness.
2. Equip believers with Bible studies on pursuing holiness and actions flowing from a righteous, Christlike heart.
3. Model godly integrity and righteousness in leadership. Leaders’ compromised character can dishearten and disable an entire church body.
4. Expose and biblically confront sins eating away at the church’s testimony like sexual immorality, greed or deception.
5. Surround new and struggling believers with discipleship and mentoring relationships to fortify their spiritual armor.
6. Provide confidential settings for believers to confess sins, receive prayer and find healing to walk uprightly.
7. Preach on maintaining righteousness and purity in the home. Guarding our families starts with guarding our own hearts.
8. Cultivate a community of honest yet loving accountability about growth in Christlike character and righteousness.
9. Engage issues of social justice and defend the vulnerable as part of living out the righteousness of Jesus.
10. Model repentance and transparency about weaknesses in the body of Christ.
12. The Ultimate Victory
The breastplate of righteousness is an essential piece of armor protecting our hearts and lives. Yet there is still a greater righteousness to anticipate. We strive for holiness now, but look forward to absolute sinless perfection in the kingdom of Jesus (1 John 3:2, Jude 24).
The book of Revelation gives us a glimpse of the future fulfillment of God’s righteousness: “Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection…they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6).
As we put on the righteousness of Christ now through the Holy Spirit, let us keep our eyes fixed on reaching the goal that Paul described:
“I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” (Philippians 3:8-9)
