By Douglas K. Wilson, Ph. D.
Professor of Biblical Studies, University of Mobile
ATONEMENT
Leviticus 16:1–10, 29–30
Holiness is the theme of Leviticus. So far, we have briefly surveyed the first two sections: holy offerings in chapters 1–7 and holy priests in chapters 8–10. Chapters 11–15 contain instructions regarding a holy camp in which the priests oversee health and inspect hygiene issues among the Israelites. Individuals whose health problems were not healed were required to remain outside the camp as unclean.
Leviticus 16 introduces Israel to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This was the one day each year when the Most Holy Place was accessible, but only to the high priest and only after atonement had been made for his sins.
It was an annual reminder of individual and national sins and that every person needed God’s forgiveness. This once-a-year ritual anticipated the once-for-all atonement to be made by Jesus (Heb. 10:1–25).
Consequences (1–2)
This chapter begins with a reminder that disobedience to priestly responsibilities carries deadly consequences.
Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s sons, had previously died for ignoring God’s directions. As God spoke to Moses, He warned him that Aaron did not have free reign within the Tent of Meeting.
Specifically, Aaron had limited access to the Most Holy Place where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. If Aaron entered there without permission, he would die in the presence of God.
As Christians, we must beware of giving counsel that it is “better to ask forgiveness than permission.” Such counsel can be deadly.
Personal Responsibility (3–6)
The only way by which Aaron was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place was by consecrating himself first with a young bull for his sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.
He was also to wear the priestly linen attire — tunic, pants, belt and turban. Elsewhere in the Torah, Moses recorded that the high priest’s turban had an inscription attached to it that read, “Holy to the Lord” (Ex. 28:36; 39:27–30).
The high priest was to bathe himself prior to offering the sacrifices and after following the rituals. Perhaps these instructions are the foundation for the adage, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
Atonement (7–10)
Aaron was responsible for offering sacrifices for himself and his family. Once those offerings were completed, he was then instructed to offer animals as atonement for the sins of the nation.
He would offer a male goat for their sin offering and a ram for their burnt offering. A second, sin-bearing goat was released into the wilderness.
Why two goats? Scholars debate the meaning and purpose of the scapegoat. The focus here is atonement. The bloodshed represented substitutionary atonement. This points us to Jesus (Heb. 9:11–14).
Cleansed (29–30)
Moses instructed Aaron to participate only in the prescribed responsibilities. No one was to perform regular labor on Yom Kippur.
The blood of the sacrifices served as a covering for sin. Both the priest and the people would sin again.
Atonement would be required for their disobedience to God. They would be cleansed positionally before God because of His acceptance of their sacrifice.
Hebrews informs believers that Jesus is a better sacrifice, the once-for-all means of atonement. John reminds us that the blood of Jesus cleanses all confessed sin from those who walk in the light (1 John 1:7, 9).
Our Day of Atonement was crucifixion day: “He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).
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