1 The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the Lord and died,
2 and the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.
3 But in this way Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with a bull from the herd for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.
4 He shall put on the holy linen coat and shall have the linen undergarment on his body, and he shall tie the linen sash around his waist, and wear the linen turban; these are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water and then put them on.
5 And he shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
6 Then Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make atonement for himself and for his house.
7 Then he shall take the two goats and set them before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
8 And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel.
9 And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the Lord and use it as a sin offering, – Leviticus 16:9
10 But the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.
11 And Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house.
12 And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil
13 and put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die.
14 And he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat on the east side, and in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.
15 “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat.”
16 Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses.
17 There shall be no man in the tent of meeting when he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel.
18 Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around.
19 And he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleannesses of the people of Israel.
20 “And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat.”
21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.
22 And the goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.
23 Then Aaron shall come into the tent of meeting and shall take off the linen garments that he put on when he went into the Holy Place and shall leave them there.
24 And he shall bathe his body in water in a holy place and put on his garments and come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people and make atonement for himself and for the people.
25 And the fat of the sin offering he shall burn on the altar.
26 And he who lets the goat go to Azazel shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp.
27 And the bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be carried outside the camp.
28 And he who burns them shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp.
29 “And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you.
30 for on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the Lord from all your sins.
31 It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; it is a statute forever.
32 And the priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father’s place shall make atonement, wearing the holy linen garments.
33 and make atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.
34 And this shall be a statute forever for you, that atonement may be made for the people of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.” And Aaron did as the Lord commanded Moses.
The True Meaning of Leviticus 16
The Book of Leviticus was written by Moses, the great prophet and leader of the Israelites. Leviticus, as the second book in the Pentateuch, or the first five books of the Bible, provides detailed instructions on the laws and rituals that the Israelites were to follow as they journeyed towards the Promised Land. The high priest would make sacrifices to cleanse the people of their sins and restore their relationship with God on the solemn and sacred Day of Atonement, which we will explore in this chapter. This pivotal event would foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who would later take on the sins of the world and offer eternal atonement for all who believe in him. As we delve into this chapter, we will see the importance of holiness, repentance, and the power of God’s forgiveness. The Israelites were called to be a holy people, set apart for the Lord, and this chapter outlines the rituals and practices that would help them maintain that sacred status. We will also witness the consequences of disobedience and the need for a mediator between the people and the Almighty.
Leviticus 16:1-10
The Lord gives Moses specific instructions for Aaron, the high priest, regarding the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16:1-10. This day, known as Yom Kippur, was the most sacred day of the Jewish calendar, where the high priest made atonement for the sins of the people. The passage begins with the mention of Aaron’s two sons who had died when they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord (Leviticus 10:1-2). This serves as a reminder of the seriousness of approaching God in the wrong way.
The Lord instructs Aaron that he should not come into the Holy of Holies whenever he chooses, as God’s presence dwells there above the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant. Only on the Day of Atonement, after undergoing specific purification rituals, could Aaron enter the Most Holy Place to make atonement for himself, his household, and the Israelite community.
The two goats mentioned in verses 8-10 were central to the atonement ritual. One goat was chosen by casting lots; it would be sacrificed as a sin offering for the people. The other goat, the scapegoat, would have the sins of the people confessed over it and then be sent away into the wilderness, symbolically carrying away the sins of the people. This ritual symbolizes the removal of sin and the restoration of a right relationship between the people and God.
The significance of these rituals goes beyond the physical actions; they point to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who became the sacrificial lamb once and for all to atone for the sins of humanity (Hebrews 9:11-14). The concept of atonement runs through the entirety of the Bible, culminating in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, which provides eternal redemption for all who believe in Him. Christ’s role as the ultimate High Priest who enters once into the Most Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood for our eternal redemption is foreshadowed in Leviticus 16. The rituals described in Leviticus point to the need for a perfect sacrifice to cleanse humanity of sin, a need that is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The Day of Atonement serves as a powerful reminder of God’s holiness, the seriousness of sin, and the depth of His love in providing a way for reconciliation.
Leviticus 16:11-19
The high priest performs an elaborate ritual on the Day of Atonement in the tabernacle, as described in Leviticus 16:11-19. This annual event was crucial for the cleansing of the Israelites from their sins and to restore their relationship with God. The high priest played a pivotal role in this ceremony, acting as a mediator between the people and God. The instructions for the high priest to sacrifice a bull for his own sins and the sins of his household are seen in these verses. This act highlights the importance of repentance and personal responsibility for one’s sins. Even the high priest, who held a prominent position in the community, had to acknowledge his own shortcomings and seek forgiveness from God.
The ritual involved the use of two goats. One goat was sacrificed as a sin offering to atone for the sins of the people, while the other, known as the scapegoat, was sent out into the wilderness to symbolically carry away the sins of the people. This ritual of transferring the sins onto the scapegoat emphasized the idea of atonement and the removal of sin from the community.
The imagery of the scapegoat bearing the sins of the people is a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ as the ultimate sacrificial lamb who would take away the sins of the world. This symbolic act in Leviticus points forward to the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross, where He bore the sins of humanity and provided a way for reconciliation with God.
These verses in Leviticus 16 emphasize the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement. They highlight the concept of substitutionary atonement, where an innocent life is sacrificed to pay for the sins of others. This concept is further developed in the New Testament, where Jesus is presented as the perfect sacrifice who atones for the sins of all who believe in Him. Leviticus 16:11-19 serves as a reminder of the importance of acknowledging sin, seeking forgiveness, and the need for atonement. It points to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the redemption He offers to all who put their faith in Him. Through understanding the rituals and symbolism of the Day of Atonement, we can deepen our appreciation for the grace and mercy of God in providing a way for sin to be dealt with and for humanity to be reconciled to Him.
Leviticus 16:20-28
Leviticus 16:20-28 focuses on the important rituals that were to be performed by the high priest on the Day of Atonement. This was a significant annual event in the Israelite calendar, where the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle to make atonement for the sins of the people. The high priest is instructed to lay both his hands on the head of a live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites in verses 20-22. This act symbolically transferred the sins of the people onto the goat, known as the scapegoat. This ritual was crucial in conveying the idea of atonement and the removal of sins from the community. The people cleansed themselves of their transgressions and were able to start afresh by placing the sins onto the scapegoat.
This ritual had profound significance in the Bible as it foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jesus, in the New Testament, is often referred to as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Jesus offered himself as the ultimate sacrifice to reconcile humanity with God by carrying the sins of humanity. This parallel between the scapegoat in Leviticus and Jesus Christ highlights the consistent theme of redemption and forgiveness throughout the Bible.
Moving on to verses 23-28, after the high priest completed the ritual with the scapegoat, he then had to change out of his linen garments and bathe before coming back to the camp. The garments used in the tabernacle were considered holy and had to be treated with the utmost respect. This act of changing clothes and washing symbolized purification and the need for the high priest to be cleansed before re-entering the community.
This emphasis on cleanliness and purification echoes throughout the Bible, symbolizing the importance of being spiritually clean before coming before God. 1 John 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”” Just as the high priest had to cleanse himself before entering the community, believers are called to repent and seek forgiveness to purify their hearts before God. Leviticus 16:20-28 not only describes the detailed rituals of the Day of Atonement but also conveys timeless messages of atonement, forgiveness, and purification that resonate throughout the Bible. These rituals served as precursors to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, highlighting the consistent theme of redemption and reconciliation between God and humanity. The imagery of the scapegoat carrying away the sins of the people and the high priest cleansing himself underscore the importance of repentance and forgiveness in the journey of faith.
Leviticus 16:29-34
The Israelites observe a significant event within their religious practices, namely the observance of the Day of Atonement, in Leviticus 16:29-34. This was a pivotal day in the Hebrew calendar where the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle to make atonement for the sins of the people. The passage begins by emphasizing that this day was to be a lasting ordinance for the Israelites, a command from God that was to be followed diligently each year. The importance of this day cannot be understated, as it served as a way for the Israelites to seek forgiveness for their sins and to be cleansed of their impurities.
The process of the Day of Atonement involved various rituals and offerings, all of which symbolized the need for repentance and reconciliation with God. One of the key elements was the casting of lots for the two goats – one to be sacrificed as a sin offering and the other to be the scapegoat, symbolically carrying away the sins of the people into the wilderness. This ritual of the scapegoat is a powerful representation of the concept of forgiveness and redemption, as the sins of the people were symbolically removed, never to be remembered against them.
The high priest played a crucial role on this day, as he was the intermediary between the people and God. He had to undergo purification himself before he could perform the rituals for the people. This highlights the importance of a mediator in the relationship between humanity and the divine, a theme that resonates throughout the Bible, culminating in the ultimate mediator, Jesus Christ, who offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world.
The emphasis on repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation in the Day of Atonement serves as a timeless message that transcends the specific rituals of ancient Israel. It points towards the need for humanity to acknowledge their sins, seek forgiveness, and strive to be reconciled with God. This theme is echoed throughout the Bible, from the sacrificial system of the Old Testament to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross in the New Testament, where He became the perfect atonement for the sins of all humanity (Hebrews 9:11-14). The Day of Atonement serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of seeking forgiveness and reconciliation with God, a message that continues to be relevant and transformative for believers today.
After Leviticus 16
The high priest had completed the sacred rituals of the Day of Atonement. He had made amends for the sins of the people, cleansing the sanctuary and the altar. The people had been forgiven and reconciled to God.
Yet, the work was not done. The Lord had more instructions for the people. He would reveal the way they were to live, the laws they must follow, to remain in right relationship with their Creator. The people must listen closely, for the Lord’s commands would guide them to holiness.
Reverend Ogunlade is a seasoned Church Minister with over three decades of experience in guiding and nurturing congregations. With profound wisdom and a serene approach, Reverend Ogunlade has carried out various pastoral duties, including delivering uplifting sermons, conducting religious ceremonies, and offering sage counsel to individuals seeking spiritual guidance. Their commitment to fostering harmony and righteousness within their community is exemplified through their compassionate nature, making them a beloved and trusted figure among the congregation.