The Priest with Dirty Clothes

The first time I read this to my girls, the 7 year old listened well and and the 3.5 year old wasn’t quite as engaged. It’s a long story. But since then the 3.5 year old has asked for us to read this book several times and listens really well. It’s so beautifully written and illustrated. The analogies the author gave for our sin and Jesus’ sacrifice so we can stand before God are simple enough for a young child to understand but are so rich in meaning and engaging for any age. The end of the story connects the analogies with the real message of the gospel.

R.C. Sproul is a trusted theologian in our home, and this book is another reason why! With careful wording and thorough explanation of the Gospel, you can be assured that your child will be offered a clear, complete presentation of the beautiful story of Christ's imputation of righteousness to us! Gorgeous illustrations and winsome writing make this a sure bet for your kids. I wasn't sure my kids would make it through the whole thing since it's a 15-minute read, but my six year-old and three year-old girls were spellbound!

On Sunday morning, I was preparing for worship. My ten year old son came bolting onto the platform. He had important news to share - news that probably had something to do with a new video game or Lego set. Nathan said with a smile on his face, "R.C. Sproul's new book is out!" We purchased the book and by 2:00 p.m. he had completed R.C.'s newest treasure. My son says, "Dad, you've gotta read this book. It's really cool." Who can argue with an eager ten-year old who is excited about a new book by R.C. Sproul? The Priest With Dirty Clothes is story based on Zechariah 3:1-5. The story illustrates the theological realities that emerge, including justification by faith alone and imputation. At the end of the day, Sproul intends to communicate rich biblical truth that make up the gospel message. The story-telling vehicle is a creative way to drive these important truths into the hearts and minds of children. Sproul's book is beautifully illustrated and is appropriate for young children and pre-teens. But the message Sproul communicates is for everyone - namely, sinners need a new set of clothes; they need a new heart. And Christ, our great high priest is the only One qualified to grant what we need most.

A lovely parable-like story based on Zechariah 3:1-5 illustrating the everlasting truth of Christ the Son's sacrifice on our behalf in order that we may receive His eternal righteousness before God the Father. The family discussion questions at the conclusion reinforce the truths of the story simply, efficiently and biblically.

I love listening to R.C. Sproul’s teachings. He has helped me to better understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ and has helped me to see the holiness of the Triune God more reverently. When I found out that he was writing children’s books I was excited to read some of them to my kids. Presenting the Gospel clearly to children can be a difficult task. Too often we water it down to the point that Jesus’ righteousness is ignored or underplayed and all we’re left with is some God-man named Jesus who (for some odd reason) decided to die on a cross for us. There is rarely an explanation that God is holy and just; that due to our inherent human sinfulness we fall so far short of his demands. Rarely do we hear stories that tell our children of the magnificent exchange of Christ’s righteousness for our unrighteousness. R.C. Sproul does a tremendous job of telling the Gospel for what it is. I was thrilled and teary-eyed as I read this story to my three boys. The Priest with the Dirty Clothes follows the vision in Zechariah 3:1-5. Plenty of other reviews give a better summary so I will skip out on that. My seven year old was able to enjoy the story and comprehend its message. My six year old got bored, and my four year old enjoyed the reading time. I would recommend this book to any parent. If you want your child to grasp the content then I would recommend reading it or having them read it when they are on a first to third grade reading level. Also of note, the reference to Zechariah 3 in the beginning helps keep the story grounded in scripture. The questions at then end help remind the parent and children clarify their comprehension. Again, I highly recommend this book.

I heard this book read on the radio and immediately ordered it for my grandnieces and nephews. It is a wonderful story that points to deeper truth for the children to carry with them. Love it, love sharing it!

I think Dr. R.C. Sproul takes an important doctrine in theology, and made it very easy to understand. This work will be priceless in explaining the concept of imputation.

I love these children's stores by RC Sproul. They do a fairly good job of illustrating the Gospel without being cheesy. Clear but seemingly understandable for a child.

My daughter is at an age when she knows how Jesus died and rose again, but she doesn't understand why. We bought this book to help explain that. At first, I was concerned that the book was too wordy and that my four year old daughter would lose interest. But she absolutely loves it! She repeatedly asks for it over Dora, and Disney Princess books even! What I love about this book: explains the substitution aspect of Christ's death, illustrations are excellent What I don't love about this book: I think it could be a little shorter and faster paced and still maintain the same excellent message. I am also a little leery about the priest/bishop/ high church imagery (although that can also be used in a positive way to teach that religion doesn't save, only Christ does). I would strongly recommend this book to anyone with children 4-8 years old.

This is the second children's book written by Dr. Sproul that I've given to my grandson. R.C. Sproul is one of the foremost authorities on reformed theology, and I want my grandson to be indoctrinated into this particular view of the Gospel. My grandson loves his book, "The Donkey Who Carried a King" is another of Dr. Sproul's books that my grandson loves.

The first time I read this to my girls, the 7 year old listened well and and the 3.5 year old wasn’t quite as engaged. It’s a long story. But since then the 3.5 year old has asked for us to read this book several times and listens really well. It’s so beautifully written and illustrated. The analogies the author gave for our sin and Jesus’ sacrifice so we can stand before God are simple enough for a young child to understand but are so rich in meaning and engaging for any age. The end of the story connects the analogies with the real message of the gospel.

R.C. Sproul is a trusted theologian in our home, and this book is another reason why! With careful wording and thorough explanation of the Gospel, you can be assured that your child will be offered a clear, complete presentation of the beautiful story of Christ's imputation of righteousness to us! Gorgeous illustrations and winsome writing make this a sure bet for your kids. I wasn't sure my kids would make it through the whole thing since it's a 15-minute read, but my six year-old and three year-old girls were spellbound!

On Sunday morning, I was preparing for worship. My ten year old son came bolting onto the platform. He had important news to share - news that probably had something to do with a new video game or Lego set. Nathan said with a smile on his face, "R.C. Sproul's new book is out!" We purchased the book and by 2:00 p.m. he had completed R.C.'s newest treasure. My son says, "Dad, you've gotta read this book. It's really cool." Who can argue with an eager ten-year old who is excited about a new book by R.C. Sproul? The Priest With Dirty Clothes is story based on Zechariah 3:1-5. The story illustrates the theological realities that emerge, including justification by faith alone and imputation. At the end of the day, Sproul intends to communicate rich biblical truth that make up the gospel message. The story-telling vehicle is a creative way to drive these important truths into the hearts and minds of children. Sproul's book is beautifully illustrated and is appropriate for young children and pre-teens. But the message Sproul communicates is for everyone - namely, sinners need a new set of clothes; they need a new heart. And Christ, our great high priest is the only One qualified to grant what we need most.

A lovely parable-like story based on Zechariah 3:1-5 illustrating the everlasting truth of Christ the Son's sacrifice on our behalf in order that we may receive His eternal righteousness before God the Father. The family discussion questions at the conclusion reinforce the truths of the story simply, efficiently and biblically.

I love listening to R.C. Sproul’s teachings. He has helped me to better understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ and has helped me to see the holiness of the Triune God more reverently. When I found out that he was writing children’s books I was excited to read some of them to my kids. Presenting the Gospel clearly to children can be a difficult task. Too often we water it down to the point that Jesus’ righteousness is ignored or underplayed and all we’re left with is some God-man named Jesus who (for some odd reason) decided to die on a cross for us. There is rarely an explanation that God is holy and just; that due to our inherent human sinfulness we fall so far short of his demands. Rarely do we hear stories that tell our children of the magnificent exchange of Christ’s righteousness for our unrighteousness. R.C. Sproul does a tremendous job of telling the Gospel for what it is. I was thrilled and teary-eyed as I read this story to my three boys. The Priest with the Dirty Clothes follows the vision in Zechariah 3:1-5. Plenty of other reviews give a better summary so I will skip out on that. My seven year old was able to enjoy the story and comprehend its message. My six year old got bored, and my four year old enjoyed the reading time. I would recommend this book to any parent. If you want your child to grasp the content then I would recommend reading it or having them read it when they are on a first to third grade reading level. Also of note, the reference to Zechariah 3 in the beginning helps keep the story grounded in scripture. The questions at then end help remind the parent and children clarify their comprehension. Again, I highly recommend this book.

I heard this book read on the radio and immediately ordered it for my grandnieces and nephews. It is a wonderful story that points to deeper truth for the children to carry with them. Love it, love sharing it!

I think Dr. R.C. Sproul takes an important doctrine in theology, and made it very easy to understand. This work will be priceless in explaining the concept of imputation.

I love these children's stores by RC Sproul. They do a fairly good job of illustrating the Gospel without being cheesy. Clear but seemingly understandable for a child.

My daughter is at an age when she knows how Jesus died and rose again, but she doesn't understand why. We bought this book to help explain that. At first, I was concerned that the book was too wordy and that my four year old daughter would lose interest. But she absolutely loves it! She repeatedly asks for it over Dora, and Disney Princess books even! What I love about this book: explains the substitution aspect of Christ's death, illustrations are excellent What I don't love about this book: I think it could be a little shorter and faster paced and still maintain the same excellent message. I am also a little leery about the priest/bishop/ high church imagery (although that can also be used in a positive way to teach that religion doesn't save, only Christ does). I would strongly recommend this book to anyone with children 4-8 years old.

This is the second children's book written by Dr. Sproul that I've given to my grandson. R.C. Sproul is one of the foremost authorities on reformed theology, and I want my grandson to be indoctrinated into this particular view of the Gospel. My grandson loves his book, "The Donkey Who Carried a King" is another of Dr. Sproul's books that my grandson loves.

My grandchildren love the book

Can't go wrong with RC Sproul teachings!

Great quality, fast shipping, and a AMAZING STORY!!

My Granddaughters love this book and I plan on reading it to other children too. It’s more than I expected!

What a great story for both youth and adults! It creatively explains why only Jesus can give us the forgiveness we so desire.

Wonderful book for children & adults, for explaining the Gospel!

My grandchildren loved this story. The illustrations were outstanding.

This book was a wonderful explaination to my son about how we can't remove our sins but through Christ is the only way. The pictures are fantastic and the story caught his attention. Definately a book I would recommend to explain why we need Jesus.

Very good book for young people to understand the concept of forgiveness and grace.

Great children’s book

This is a great picture of what Jesus accomplished when he died on the cross for our sins and rose again on the third day. This clearly shows Jesus becoming a substitute and taking our sins from us and putting them upon himself. And it is great for children as well.

This is absolutely the best children's book I've ever read on explaining the gospel of Christ to kids. RC Sproul did an amazing job. I have bought 4 copies now, because I keep giving it away as a gift!

Terrific book !!

This book is an excellent help in sharing the things of God with my children. It really has a message for all ages!

Every Christian parent wants to pass on the great truths of the Bible along to their kids and Dr. Sproul is a big help in the process.

I liked that this book was written clearly and made easy for us to understand. The art work is also really beautiful. 5 stars

good purchase

It has a good message

I bought the book for my grandson for Easter & he was able to read it right away. It came in a timely fashion & in excellant condition.

This is a very well thought out presentation of ourselves and our sin in our lives. My 5 year old grand daughter gets it! R.C. Sproul is a wonderful storyteller in this book. The questions at the end of the book will lead the reader and the hearer into a deeper understanding of the Gospel and how as human beings we have no ability to cleanse our dirty hearts of sin. This can only be done by the Lord.

Great book!

Beautiful for kids and adults. I buy one of his books, like this, for my mother-in-law every Christmas. She likes them so much! Some lovely truths and story line to follow for a short read by the Christmas tree. I always sprinkle some fine gold glitter slightly over the cover. These books are a treasure to have because of the way the story is presented. Excellent!

Great book my grandson really understood the love of jesus from this book I recommend this book for parents to read to their children

Superb! R.C. Sprout tells a masterful story! Get all of his children's books! You'll love them and so will your kids!

Superb book for young kids with a potent message about the ONLY way one can be forgiven their sins and accepted by God.

Great buy, fast shipping. Thank you!!!

Great Book My daugther loved it

R.C. Sproul does it again! A wonderful story for young and old to enjoy together while learning or better understanding the biblical truth of imputation and justification. My kids love this story and so do I! This book should be in every Christian home.

Great for my granddaughters!

The Priest with the Dirty Clothes is written by R.C. Sproul and published by Reformation Trust Publishing, and is one of the most fascinating children’s titles currently offered under this publisher. Dr. Sproul is world renown for works on Reformed Theology and Apologetics aimed at adults yet The Priest with the Dirty Clothes is uniquely aimed at conveying the truths of scripture to young children. The Priest with the Dirty Clothes has two major strengths the story and the illustration. With regard to the story, The Priest with the Dirty Clothes, is fast paced, intelligent, and witty. Furthermore when communicating the truths of God’s Word, Dr. Sproul goes to great lengths to communicate to young children, the Gospel starting with original sin, the need of a savior, and the provision of the savior in Jesus within a unique tale. In this tale which is based off a lesser known narrative in the Old Testament found in Zechariah 3:1-5 in which Joshua the high priest stands before the Angel of the LORD wearing dirty clothes and the Angel of the LORD demands that he must be cleansed from his sin which is symbolic of his dirty clothes. This theme is found throughout scripture such as in Exodus 19. With regard to the illustration The Priest with the Dirty Clothes, has vibrant colors and is skillfully drawn so that it not only captures a child’s attention but their imagination as well. Furthermore the illustrations not only illustrate the allegorical tale but progress the story in a way words cannot do. If you are looking to purchase Priest with the Dirty Clothes, it is a delightfully articulated and beautifully illustrated, the audience is for ages 3 to 7. This book was provided to me free of charge from Reformation Trust Publishing in exchange for an unbiased, honest review. The Priest with the Dirty Clothes © 2011 by R.C. Sproul Publisher: Reformation Trust Page Count: 45 Pages ISBN-13: 978-1567692105

Among the hundreds of books I have reviewed over the years this is the second time that I reviewed a children’s book (the first was God's Servant Job: A Poem with a Promise). I am reviewing this book because I really enjoyed The Priest with Dirty Clothes by Christian theologian R.C. Sproul. My three little girls who are all pre-school age also enjoyed this book very much and the book has led to deeper conversations about spiritual matters. Sproul bases this story loosely on Zechariah 3:1-5 of Joshua the High Priest and his unrighteous soiled garments before God’s presence in which Satan stands accusing Him. In Sproul’s story the priest instead is a man name Jonathan who appears before a great king to preach. Of course the story is an allegory of God (the king), Satan (the character Malus whose name seems to be a play on word on “malice”) and Jesus Christ (the Prince). Instead of taking place in heaven in this story the setting is in a kingdom sometime during the middle ages (or at least it was an age of kings, priests and bishops). The story was beautifully written and also beautifully illustrated. The illustrated Justin Gerard did a good job and I love the paintings, the details and expressions of the characters. They capture so much in such limited space. My daughters would ask me about the expressions of the character and it capture the mood of the characters as told in the story very well. The book is quite beautiful, appearing as a nice hardcover with quality glossy pages. The analogies to the Christian faith is wonderful. I also appreciated how in the end of the book there’s a section for parents in which Sproul provides questions and Biblical passages for deeper discussions with one’s kids to help facilitate a deeper understanding of God’s truth. Its beautiful to see how a work of fiction for young children can be so Christ-centered, edifying and evangelistic! I give this a five out of five which of course means I recommend the book.

I read this to three boys ages 9-13, probably a little older than the target age. They followed it and enacted with it well, though I don't think they were crazy about it. What I most appreciated was that it got them thinking. I told them up front that it was an allegory so they would stop me and tell the meaning behind the story. They seemed pleased that they had figured it out and I was pleased that they were thinking and that they could catch the parallels. However, I was puzzled by a couple of things. I'm not sure why the main character was a priest before he received his new robe. I was also troubled that he is portrayed as getting dirty accidentally and is immediately saddened by his dirtiness. You are made to sympathize with him and to feel like he deserves to have clean clothes because after all it wasn't his fault that he got dirty. I know that no allegory can be perfect in every detail, but this seems like a crucial part of the gospel story that cannot afford to be misrepresented. I still think it is a good book, but I would consider explaining the parts that aren't true to life.

The priest with Dirty Clothes was written by R. C. Sproul and illustrated by Justin Gerard. The two combine their talents very well in this book- I was very glad to receive a copy of this book free from Ligonier. When little Darby and Campbell play in the mud and get themselves covered, Grandpa has a story to tell them. There once was a young priest who was on his way to preach his first sermon before the King. This young priest is wearing his new, clean clothes, and the roads are very muddy, and the rain is pouring down. Along the way, Jonathan falls off his horse and into the mud. Jonathan's clothes are ruined- and yet he must appear before the King. Jonathan's King is a wise and kindly King, and he would love to have Jonathan preach, but Jonathan cannot appear before the King in dirty clothes, as the wicked magician "Malus"=evil, reminds him, accusing Jonathan before all the court and the King. Jonathan leaves the castle, determined to find a way to clean his clothes. He washes them, but no soap can clean them. He brings them to a launderer, but no human launderer can cleanse them. The stains are too deep! Jonathan goes to the Bishop, and begs for another suit of clothes- but only one robe is given for each priest! "I cannot help you." Where shall I go for help? wonders Jonathan. To the Great Prince, is the answer. The Great Prince knows that Jonathan's heart is dirty with sin and his clothes are dirty with stains. Jonathan cannot clean either his own heart or his clothes. The Great Prince commands Jonathan to go before the King again, in his dirty clothes. I will take care of you, promises the Prince. "I always keep my promises." Jonathan goes before the King, in his dirty clothes, trembling before the accusations of evil Malus- who delights in keeping Jonathan far away from the loving King. all of the sudden- the Great Prince enters the Throne Room, dressed in a rough brown peasants robe. He is carrying his beautiful, clean clothes, for Jonathan to put on, and Great Prince puts on Jonathan's soiled robes. "Father," says the Great prince, "May Jonathan stand before you now?" Yes says the King, as long as he wears Your clothes, my Son, Jonathan may stand before me. We must ask now- can we be clean? No, not by oursleves. Can we be given the Prince's clothes? "Yes," Grandpa answered. "He gives clean clothes to everyone who believes in Him. But they are not clothes like the ones you ruined today. The Great Prince gives new clothes for our hearts. "The dirt that we get on our clothes can sometimes be washed away. But we have a bigger problem. When we sin and do wrong, our hearts become so dirty that we cannot stand in front of God. For us to be able to be friends with God, we need to have the dirt on our hearts cleaned away. This is what Jesus does for us. He forgives us by taking the dirt from our hearts and putting it on Himself, just like the great prince took Jonathan's dirty clothes and wore them. So when God looks at us, He doesn't see the dirt on our hearts. Instead, He sees a heart covered by His Son's clean clothes. If you trust in Jesus and believe His Word, your heart will be clean. Jesus will forgive you when you sin. But you have to ask Him to forgive you. Then He cleans your heart, and you can stand in front of God forever." And as the wind flaps the clothes dry on the line, and gives them a breezy perfume, our hearts sing with the knowledge that we have clean clothes too. Jesus' clothes.

It is always a joy to come across a book that helps to explain the gospel in a way that children can grasp. This is especially nice when the telling of the story brings to light important and often-neglected aspects of the good news. The Prince with Dirty Clothes is one such book. This little book by R.C. Sproul presents the picture of Christ's imputed righteousness for the believer. Paralleling the scene in Zechariah 3, Sproul tells the story of a priest whose clothes were too filthy for him to stand in the presence of the king. The prince, the son of the king, gives the priest his perfect clothes in exchange for the priest's ruined ones. In this picture, children and grown-ups are reminded of how Jesus not only took the punishment for the sin of Gods' children, but how he also granted to believers his perfect righteousness by his grace through faith alone. My family enjoyed the book. The story is short and sweet, which allowed my seven-year-old to be able to read the book herself. She grasped the concept very well, and we had a helpful discussion about the story. Also, while I am not one to have an opinion about art, my wife tells me that she is fond of the illustrations in this work. At the end of the book, Sproul includes a set of helpful questions for discussion. Parents and teachers will be able to not only read this story to their little ones, but also use the story as a helpful teaching tool. So, with the approval of my wife and my daughter, I am happy to recommend The Priest with Dirty Clothes to parents, Sunday School teachers, Children's Church workers, and any who want to share the gospel with young ones. I Would recommend that this story be told alongside The Prince's Poison Cup in order to give a more full-orbed presentation of the gospel. Putting these two books together will help to display the imputation of Christ's perfect righteousness (The Priest with Dirty Clothes as well as his penal substitutionary atonement The Prince's Poison cup).

How do we explain sin to children? How do we help them understand that the problem of sin has nothing to do with behavior - that we can't earn our own sanctification by behaving well more times than we behave badly? In The Priest with the Dirty Clothes (published by Reformation Trust Publishing), Theologian Dr. R.C. Sproul does a fantastic job of helping children understand the problem of sin - both the consequence (not being able to stand before a holy God with a dirty heart) and the stain immoveable stain sin creates across our heart. Through story, Dr. Sproul explains to children that they cannot remove sin's stain on their own. Instead, they must rely on the grace, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. The Priest with the Dirty Clothes is based on the story of Zechariah 3:1-5, in which the high priest Joshua stands between the angel of the Lord, with Satan accusing him. Joshua's clothes are dirty, but the angel of the Lord rebukes Satan and replaces Joshua's clothing with clean garments. The book opens with the story from Zechariah, then moves into the narrative. Two siblings ruin their clothes making mudpies. Their distressed mother laments the state of their clothes to their visiting grandfather, who launches into a tale. Grandfather tells the children the story of the priest with the dirty clothes - an allegory of Zechariah 3:1-5. Grandfather then explains to the children that Jesus gives us new clothes for our heart (or, rather, a new heart altogether). The book ends with 5 pages of discussion questions and answers (with Scripture references) for parents. The Priest with the Dirty Clothes is a fantastic addition to any family library. In addition to the important message, the book itself is beautiful. Illustrated by Justin Gerard, it is certain to be a book you and your children value for both its content and its asthetics. Dr. Sproul does a wonderful job of helping children understand important and difficult concepts. In return for my honest review, I received a copy of The Priest with Dirty Clothes from Reformation Trust Publishing.

When I finished reading The Priest with Dirty Clothes, my seven-year-old daughter asked if I have other books like that. I think that is a clear indicator that she was a fan of this book. My daughter Rose who is in the fourth grade said this was a good book and that she enjoyed the whole storyline. After going over the 12-question study guide at the end of the book, we decided to check out other picture books at the Ligonier Ministries site written by Dr. Sproul. We definitely plan to read more of his books in the near future. Dr. Sproul dedicates The Priest with Dirty Clothes to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Before he begins the story, there is a letter to the parents explaining the purpose of the book. The Priest with Dirty Clothes is based on one of Dr. Sproul's favorite passages from the Bible, Zechariah 3:1-5, and it is recommended that the passage is read with children prior to reading the story. The story starts off with a brother and sister coming home extremely muddy, and a grandfather telling them a story after they get cleaned up. The grandfather tells his grandchildren of a priest who got his special clothes muddy. Because of this, the priest was not permitted to preach before the king and was told to preach the next week with clean clothes. Unfortunately, the priest's clothes were permanently stained so he went to the prince to get help. The prince told the priest to go to the king with his dirty clothes and to trust that the prince would take care of everything. The priest was confused as to how his clothes would get cleaned, but he did as the prince instructed. When the priest came before the king with muddy clothes, an evil magician and others shouted at the priest. At this time the prince walked into the room and presented the priest with the prince's beautiful clothes. The priest put on the new clothes, and the prince put on the priest's dirty clothes. The priest was now allowed to stand before the king. He would go on to deliver his best sermon and would continue preaching about the prince and wearing the prince's clothes. The story concludes with the grandfather explaining how Christ washes our dirty hearts and creates clean ones - how Christ took our sin and gave us His righteousness. It has been a blessing to have read a couple of Dr. Sproul's modern classics, Chosen by God and The Holiness of God. These books helped me to better understand predestination and God's holy nature significantly. In The Priest with Dirty Clothes, Dr. Sproul helps children (and adults) better understand another all-important topic, the imputation of Christ's righteousness. Although imputation is a weighty topic, The Priest with Dirty Clothes is not told in a manner that is above the heads of lower or upper elementary students. The plot is easy to follow, the words are age-appropriate, and the pictures are colorful and fun. The book has all of the elements needed to keep the attention of today's millennials. I have read a number of books to my girls over the years, and you are not going to find too many children's books that are as captivating while explaining themes of such crucial importance. My daughters and I heartily give Dr. Sproul's book, The Priest with Dirty Clothes, our Wickersham stamp of approval. Although I will receive a free copy of this Reformation Trust publishing title as compensation for this review, a positive book review is not required.

What subject would think to show up in the court of a king in filth? That is just the mistake that a newly ordained priest named Jonathan has no choice, but to make. You see, as he travels to preach a sermon in the castle he falls from his horse and right into the mud. Poor Jonathan tries to get new clothes and to have his cleaned, but alas it is no use. He must face the king and hope that he will be shown mercy, knowing that his very life is at stake. Based on the vision of the High Priest in Zechariah 3:1-5, RC Sproul tells this engaging story to illustrate how not only did Christ give himself to pay for our sins, but that because of his death and resurrection we also inherit his righteousness as our own. Clothed in his robes, our heavenly Father accepts us as his own children, counting no sin against us and recording Christ's good work as our own. With soft and colorful illustrations by Justin Gerard, The Priest with Dirty Clothes teaches children and adults alike the beauty of Christ's work and the assurance that we can stand before the throne of God with no fear. At one point in the story Jonathan is urged to ask the bishop for another set of clothes because his cannot be washed. In such simple terms, Sproul teaches that the gospel of Jesus Christ is not a message of second chances, in fact we are given none. God is just in his condemnation of all sin and sinners alike. Yet the gracious mercy of our Lord Jesus means that we have freely been given not a new start, but a new life that has already been lived by Christ himself. As with Sproul's other children's books, this one is sure to be a treasure to you and to your child as you continue to grow in the knowledge of our Savior. [A copy of this book was provided by the publisher as compensation for this review. However, reviews are not required to be positive; my opinions are fully expressed in my reviews.]

R.C. Sproul is an author whose simple children's stories embody profound truths from God's Word. The Priest with Dirty Clothes is a beautiful illustration of God's willingness to stand up for those who are in desperate need of His help. Two children live near a muddy lake. One day, against their mother's orders, they indulge in the fun yet messy task of making mud pies. Of course, there is nothing wrong with playing in the mud, but who wants to be muddy forever. The children's father tells them a story about Jonathan, a priest appointed by a benevolent yet powerful king to present a sermon to the entire court. Jonathan is delighted to serve his king and chooses to wear a beautiful garment for the prestigious occasion. However, an unfortunate accident occurs while Jonathan is journeying to the palace. Upon his arrival, he is less than presentable. The scheming of the court Magician, Lord Malice, adds to Jonathan's sorrowful predicament. Will all be lost? Only the intervention of a very special person will make a difference. Sproul's story is inspired by the poignant verses in Zechariah 3:1:7. The story beautifully illustrates our unworthiness and God's patience. Only through Him can we be suitably clothed. This seemingly simple book embodies the beautiful theme of the Gospel in a compelling manner. Please give this book a chance. God bless you all.

The definition of "impute:" 1) to attribute bad action to somebody, 2) to attribute bad quality to somebody, 3) in law, to charge somebody responsible for another's crime, 4) extend quality to somebody else (to regard a quality such as righteousness that applies to somebody as also applying to another person associated with him or her) Before I read "The Priest with Dirty Clothes" by R.C. Sproul, I wasn't sure of the meaning of "impute." Yes, I knew the concept of imputation, but it was a word I heard only recently even though I've been in church almost all my life. The above definition of "impute" from the Encarta World English Dictionary describes exactly what Christ does when He saves a sinner. The theological concept of imputation is clearly, simply, yet eloquently illustrated in the allegory of "The Priest with Dirty Clothes." Through this story, Dr. Sproul makes it easy for young children to understand and remember this important concept. This book contains beautifully rendered artwork by Justin Gerard, scripture, and questions that parents can ask their children regarding the biblical truths portrayed in the story. "The Priest with Dirty Clothes" may be advanced for younger children (I have a 2 year old who couldn't sit still long enough to reach the end), but my 4 year old enjoyed listening to the story and looking at the pictures. This book was meant to illustrate the concept of "imputation" to children, but it's also a great way for adults to learn and remember! I will be receiving this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Priest with Dirty Clothes R. C. Sproul Published by Reformation Trust Source: pdf review copy This children's picture book is based on Zechariah 3:1-5 where the priest Joshua comes before the Lord in dirty clothes. The Angel of the Lord removes the dirty garments as he removes Joshua's sins, and replaces them with pure, clean clothing, symbolic of our righteousness that comes through God. Darby and Campbell McFarland come home from playing in the muddy banks of their Scotland home, caked in mud. Mother is not pleased at all, Grandpa is reminded of a story that he begins to share with the children. Jonathan was just ordained as a priest and given the special robe and finery that went with his new position. Jonathan was to preach his first sermon to the King the following day. Jonathan studies and prepared as he wanted his sermon to be the best. That day when he left for the King, it was pouring down rain relentlessly. Jonathan got soaked and muddy, wanting to turn back from continuing on his journey. Jonathan thought the King would be forgiving so he continued on. When he got to the castle the people were aghast at the priest with the dirty clothes. They whispered and spoke poorly of him behind his back. The king would not allow Jonathan to preach in such dirty clothes and asked him to come back, but no matter what they tried they could not get his clothes clean again. He went to the Prince to see about new clothes. The King represented God in the story, the Prince was Jesus and an evil magician was the Devil. Fantastic theme of being cleansed by righteousness and being made new in God. The drawings were fantastic and very detailed. Very entertaining to the children and a great starting point to study God's word. The questions at the end of the story for parents were great starters to get the kids talking more about sin and our need for Jesus. I received a copy of this book from Reformation Trust in exchange for an honest review.

I'm never surprised when I read a children's book published by Reformation Trust. I know I can count on reading a biblically-based story that will help explain deep theological truths in simple, easy-to-understand ways. The Priest with Dirty Clothes was no exception. Dr. Sproul uses a simple story about a young priest who needs clean clothes in order to complete his task of preaching before the king to teach children about how Jesus makes our hearts clean before God. The story is based on a passage in Zechariah 3, and I appreciated how the author included that information in a letter to parents at the beginning of the book and then the Scripture on the first page of the story. It was the perfect way to begin. There are several pages of questions and Bible verses at the end of the story for adults to use in order to help children understand the deep truths explained in the story. The pictures are wonderfully illustrated as well, adding to the beauty of the story. I highly recommend! [5 stars] I received a free copy of this book from Reformation Trust in exchange for my fair and honest review.

"The Priest with Dirty Clothes" by R. C. Sproul is a fantastic book for children. I read it to my daughter the other night for the first time and was she instantly drawn into the story. I continue to be a fan of R. C. Sproul's short allegories. The story of the priest with dirty clothes is based on Joshua the High Priest as referenced in Zechariah 3:1-5. A priest appears before the king, but his clothes are dirty so he is told to come back later with clean clothes. The priest searches high and low for someone to help him clean the stains out of his clothes. Soon he realizes that his only hope is to go to the Prince for clean clothes. The Prince claims to have a great solution, but the priest has to trust the Prince. The Priest with Dirty Clothes is an enjoyable allegory about our sin and Christ's righteousness. The discussion guide in the back of the book is a great way to make sure your kids have understood the story and it's larger spiritual implications. Overall I really enjoyed the Priest with the Dirty Clothes and highly recommend the book. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Reformation Trust Publishing through their Blog for a Free Book Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

R.C. Sproul's book The Priest with Dirty Clothes takes theological truths such as God's holiness and justification and makes them understandable to children. Two Irish children begin the book as they listen to their grandfather tell the story. The children make it more personal and help readers bridge the application to their lives. Based on the biblical story of Joshua the priest, it allegorically explains how Christ makes us clean and justified before God. I especially like how Sproul carefully portrays God as kind and loving yet just and holy. In the back of the book, a helpful guide for parents offers questions and Bible verses related to the story. I appreciate how it leads parents into deeper discussion of salvation. Beautiful medieval illustrations add a rich context to the book and more feeling to the characters. Although the illustrations look realistic, the people's faces and postures look cartoonish enough to make you react to them. You want to dislike the pointy, shriveled magician who represents the devil just from looking at him. Children ages 6 and older will thoroughly enjoy this book, and younger children may enjoy it with help from parents. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Reformation Trust Publishers as part of their book review program.

Similar to Sproul’s The Prince’s Poison Cup (which I also reviewed), The Priest with Dirty Clothes teaches a core aspect of biblical truth through a simple story with beautiful illustrations. In this case, it is the truth of Jesus’ exchanging our sins for his righteousness when we come to Jesus in faith. Sproul himself describes the book as a retelling of the great high priest Joshua’s experience in Zechariah 3:1-5. In Sproul’s story, a new priest goes on a journey to preach his first sermon to a good king, but the priest’s horse stumbles on the way and the priest’s robes are dirtied beyond repair. Upon the priest’s arrival, a wicked magician mocks the priest, but the king is kind. Even though the king is kind, he still insists that priest be properly attired for the next royal appearance. The rest of the book, then, follows the priest as tries in vain to clean his clothes until he meets the king’s son, the prince. The prince explains that the priest has an even deeper problem (a dirty heart) and simply asks the priest to go to the king again, trusting that the prince will help him. Everybody is shocked when the priest does exactly that, still clad in his soiled clothes. That shock pales, though, in light of what they experience when the prince himself appears and puts on the priest’s dirty clothes and gives the priest his royal robes. The king then warmly welcomes the priest, and the prince explains to the grateful priest that the way to express thanks would be through obedience. The priest goes on to spend the rest of his life telling others about the prince and what the prince did for him. I really enjoyed this book’s straightforward simplicity and soft, yet vibrant, illustrations. Both the plot and pictures are critical elements in drawing young children into a book, and The Priest with Dirty Clothes is a favorite for these reasons. Helpfully, Sproul closes his book with questions to engage children in the deeper meaning of the text. As they stand, the questions are very good and always include Scripture references, yet there are still a couple I’d add in discussing with my children. First, I’d ask “How did Jonathan’s clothes get dirty? How is that the same or different from how our hearts get dirty?” This would highlight our active role in our sin. Second, I’d ask “If the prince loved Jonathan enough to take his dirty clothes and give Jonathan the prince’s royal robes, what kind of commands do you think he’ll ask Jonathan to follow? Will they be commands that are bad for Jonathan? Will they be commands that are the absolute best for Jonathan? Why?” This would highlight that even God’s commands are not separate from his love for us. (For both sets of questions, though, I still need to look up the verses in Scripture that best support and answer them.) (Thanks to Reformation Trust for providing me a free copy of the book in exchange for this review. I stand by what I have written, as I’m sure is already clear from my obvious desire to get a copy of this book!)

Our family recently read the children's book The Priest with Dirty Clothes, published by Reformation Trust. We already have in our library two other of Dr. Sprouls' children's books (The Prince's Poison Cup and The Lightlings) so I was fully expecting a delightful read for my family - This book certainly did not disappoint. The Priest with Dirty Clothes was written to help children understand how someone whose soul though dirty may be made clean. Quite frankly this book provides an excellent resource for parents to discuss some fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith such as: the Imputation of the Rightousness of Jesus Christ; His Substitutionary Atonement; and the Doctrine of Man. The basis for this book is the passage of Zechariah 3: 1-5. Another passage(s) that families could discuss after reading this book would be the parable Jesus told of the wedding feast (Matt 22:2-14; Lk 14:16-24). I was glad to see that on this book Sproul teamed up once again with illustrator Justin Gerard. The colorful and variety of illustrations helped keep all of the children's attention regardless of their age interested. I so appreciate the questions in the back directed to aid parents in explaining the scripture truths behind the book. There are varying levels of depth to work with both smaller and older children. These questions and bible verses would even work well as family devotions and scripture memory. I received a review copy of this book from Reformation Trust.

The Priest with Dirty Clothes: A children’s book authored by Dr. R.C. Sproul of Sanford, Florida and illustrated by Justin Gerarthe-priest-with-dirty-clothes-200x247d of Greenville, South Carolina. Dr. Sproul tells his audience up front that this book is his “attempt to help children understand one of the most difficult concepts of Christianity–how we are made acceptable to God through Jesus Christ’s Righteousness.” The Priest with Dirty Clothes is based from Zechariah 3:1-5. Darby and Campbell MacFarland lived in Scotland and made mud pies; getting themselves filthy. Mother was not too pleased considering the clothes were stained for good. Grandpa comes by the house and tells a story about a priest named Jonathan who also had stained clothes. The priest could not stand before the King with these clothes; Malus, the accuser, made sure of that. The priest went to the Prince to ask for help. The Prince explained that the priest’s heart was as stained as his clothes. The priest was to trust in the Prince and to appear before the King with the same dirty clothes. Before the King, the Prince traded His kingly robes and placed the priest’s dirty stained clothes on Himself. A topic R.C. Sproul discusses through allegory is the doctrine of imputation (Christ’s righteousness being attributed or reckoned to the elect: Romans 4-5) It is one of utmost importance to the Christian’s faith. We are so separated from the Father and need the righteousness of a sinless, perfect Savior. Christ has paid the ultimate, satisfying price of our sin and the Father only accepted His sacrifice. Sproul does a good job of explaining this in a simple enough way to where children can understand. Sproul even points out that there is nothing the priest can do to obtain this righteousness (clean clothes). It is freely given from the Prince. Sproul does not mention specifically the “doctrine of imputation” but the concept is sprinkled throughout the book. Gerard’s artwork is not the best I have seen, but I would still choose his work over the average kids book now a days. There are questions in back for parents in “guiding your child into a deeper understanding of the scriptural truths behind the book.” This is a fantastic way to get everyone involved in the learning process. Read this book if your children have not yet learned about Christ’s righteousness or could use a reminder of what Christ has done for His people. **Reviewer will receive a copy of the book due to writing a review**

Just finished reading this one with my children. I found it absolutely fantastic! It is a great explanation of the transaction that takes place at salvation where we receive Christ's imputed righteousness and He takes our sin. It puts it in terms that children can understand. At the end of the book it has several study questions for parents to discuss the book with the kids to help them see the truths of the Gospel and what Christ has done for us. I read it to my 5 & 4 year old. It was just a little too long to maintain my four year old's attention the entire time but he enjoyed it nonetheless. Read as always with your Bible open. In fact, the great thing about this book. In the study section it outlines how to transition from talking to your children about the story to moving on the more important facts of the Gospel so that you raise your children in the truths of the Lord. ** Please note that I received a review copy of this book from Reformation Trust Publishing but was in no way obligated to give a favorable review, just a fair one.