Leviticus 16:11-19
As we begin here, it is best to look first at Leviticus 16:30 which contains the purpose of this week’s Scripture: “For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord.”
This verse is clear in telling us that sin makes man filthy in the eyes of the Lord, so He gave Israel a way in which atonement would be made for their sins.
The first thing we need to see is that God provided a way of atonement for their sins, and we know He has provided atonement for our sins through Christ Jesus. Before going any further, we have to remember our heavenly Father is the One who initiates forgiveness of sins.
We do not talk much about sin except in the church because that is where the world wants to keep it, but God made sin a national issue for Israel. God’s Word makes it plain that we have a sin nature. The psalmist wrote, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
Aaron, the high priest who would offer the sacrifice, had to wash himself and then dress in the tabernacle. The Lord said Aaron must then offer a bull as a sin sacrifice for himself and his family.
The high priest then entered the Most Holy Place with the bull’s blood, incense and burning coals from the altar of burnt offering. His next step would have been to sprinkle the bull’s blood seven times on the mercy seat.
Aaron left the Most Holy Place and went into the courtyard where there were two goats. He cast lots, a process that chose one goat for a sin offering for the people and the other goat that would be the scapegoat.
The goat chosen as the sin offering for the people was killed and its blood was brought within the veil where Aaron sprinkled the blood on the mercy seat in the same way he did with the bull’s blood.
The Lord said Aaron should make “an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins.” There had to be no doubt among the people concerning their rebellious nature toward God.
They were disobedient in every way, and their sins reached every area of society. The Lord made them aware of their rebellious ways, so Aaron returned to the altar of burnt offering where he cleansed it with the blood of the bull and the goat.
It might seem strange that the high priest was told to “make an atonement for the holy place,” but that place was in the middle of sinful people and therefore stained by their sins. Because they were sinners, they lost the privilege of God’s presence with them, but through atonement He was present with Israel.
We must first admit we are sinners. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way.” Our sins separate us from fellowship with God because we have chosen ourselves above Him.
Through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, atonement has been made for our sins. In the same verse the prophet wrote, “and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
The Lord Jesus Christ took our sins to the cross where He died for us. Believe on Him and your sins will be forgiven. Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life.”