By Scott Guffin
Associate Professor and Executive Director of Christian Ministry, Samford University
The Picture of Forgiveness
Leviticus 16:6–10, 15–19, 20–22
It is not an unusual thing for people reading through the Bible to become confused by the book of Leviticus and to be tempted to skip right over it. We do so to our disadvantage, however, as we miss the instructions of God regarding the sacrificial system that will serve as the precursor of what is to come. In Leviticus 16, God provides instructions to Aaron (through Moses) regarding one particular day of the year, when a special sacrifice was to be made for the sins of the people of Israel. In Leviticus 23, this day is given the Hebrew name Yom Kippur, which translates to “Day of Atonement” in English.
Living in the light of New Testament revelation, we can see today that in establishing the Day of Atonement, God was pointing forward to a singular day when a far greater sacrifice — a once and for all sacrifice — would be made.
God provides a way for our sins to be forgiven. (6–10)
As God describes in detail the preparation process for carrying out the sacrifices associated with the Day of Atonement, He instructs Aaron as the high priest to choose a bull for a sin offering and then two goats — one of which will also be a sin offering and the other of which will be kept alive. Over the next several verses, God will explain what is to be done with each of these animals, but it is clear that all three will in some way be utilized for the purpose of forgiving the sins of the people. This desire to forgive and cleanse people from their sins is at the heart of the character of God, who does not want “any to perish but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
God requires a sacrifice for our sins to be forgiven. (15–19)
Consistent with His character, God provides a way for His people to be absolved of their sins through the annual sacrifice of animals according to these specific rituals that would continue until the coming of a far superior sacrifice in the person of Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews notes in Hebrews 8:13 that Jesus rendered the “first” covenant obsolete through His sacrifice on the cross for several reasons: Jesus offered up His own blood rather than the blood of animals as a perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 9:12). Jesus did not enter a manmade tent but rather heaven itself, appearing in the presence of God on our behalf (Hebrews 9:24). Jesus’ sacrifice did not need to be repeated year after year, but rather was a once-and-for-all sacrifice that need never be repeated, because it is effective for all time (Hebrews 9:25–26). While the blood of animals can never fully take away sins (hence the need for an annual sacrifice), the sacrifice of Jesus Christ offers a path for the sinner to be purified fully (Hebrews 10:1, 11–14).
When God forgives our sins, He takes them away. (20–22)
The nature of God’s forgiveness of the sin of His people is pictured in verses 20–22 through the practice regarding the “scapegoat.” Of the two goats initially chosen for the Day of Atonement rituals, one was to be kept alive. God directs Aaron to lay hands on this goat and confess over it the sins of the people. Then, the goat is to be led off into the wilderness, never to return. The symbolism here relates to how God deals with the sins of those who confess them, separating us from our sin “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). It is worth noting here that absolution for sin follows the confession of sin.
The annual practice of the Day of Atonement served as a beautiful reminder of God’s forgiveness to the people of ancient Israel. Our English word “atonement,” coined as far back as the 1300s, literally comes from the verbal mashup of “at-one-ment,” which refers to the act of being relationally reconciled to another person. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5 that this idea is at the very heart of God’s activity in the world.
EDITOR’S NOTE — The Sunday School lesson outlines are provided by Lifeway.
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