The Day of Atonement

1. The Stink

Leviticus 16:1 KJV 1900

1 And the Lord spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the Lord, and died;

It has been a little while since we have been together in the book of Leviticus. So let’s get caught back up.

Leviticus picks up where Exodus leaves off.

God meets with His people at the foot of Mt. Sinai and enters a covenant with them.

He instructs them to build a sacred tent, the tabernacle. It had two rooms called the holy place and the holy of holies, and it was surrounded by a courtyard.

Israel constructed the tabernacle but no-one, not even Moses was able to enter.

God gives sacrifices as the means by which Israel could come near God into the tabernacle.

God gives the priests to offer up these sacrifices. Aaron and his sons were anointed as the first priests.

On their first day on the job, two of Aaron’s son hijack the worship and do what is right in their own eyes.

God give instructions to distinguish between holy and common, clean and unclean.

When Nadab and Abihu entered the holy place, they profaned it (treated as common). This was a big problem. The tabernacle was holy, because it was the place of God’s presence. The priest needed to understand this and respect it.

Leviticus 16:2 KJV 1900

2 And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.

To disrespect the holy place especially the most holy would have grave consequences, and they already had the deaths of two priests to deal with. The holy place had been ostensibly made unholy.

2. The Solution

The priests would be permitted into the most holy place for one of two reasons.

Reason #1: To take down and move the tabernacle.

Reason #2: Once a year to make atonement for the sins of the people

This event is what Leviticus 16 lays out for us. We call it the day of Atonement.

Now before we examine what would take place that day we need to define atonement.

Atonement: Atonement is one of the few theological terms with roots in the English language. It is the process by which two (typically estranged) parties are made “at-one” with each other.

The Hebrew Word is kpr, which means to cover over. It’s actually the same Hebrew word that is used to describe Noah covering the Ark with pitch. More broadly the word is translated as atone. When an offering was given to atone for sin, the blood of that offering covered over the sin of the transgressor.

In essence The animal representative gives its life as a sinless substitute to cover the evil that I have committed against God.

This is what the Day of Atonement (or Yom Kippur) is all about. It was single time in the year where the priest would offer an offering to cover the sins of the entire nation. So what would that look like?

3. The Sacrifices

A. The Priest would present a sin offering for himself

This is important to note. The Old Testament’s high priests were crippled, in a sense, by their own impurity. Though they were set apart as holy, they still had to present and offering.

Hebrews 7:28 (KJV 1900)

28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity...

Hebrews 9:6–7 KJV 1900

6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. 7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

What was in that second part of the tabernacle? The Ark of the Covenant. And upon the Ark stood the mercy seat, where God’s said his presence would dwell. Yet not even the priest could enter because of sin.

Leviticus 16:2 KJV 1900

2 And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.

All of Isreal had been separated from God’s presence, which was just on the other side of the curtain. So a sacrifice had to made. The priest would offer his Hatt’at, his sin offering. This along with a burn offering would Atone for his sins, and having his sins covered he could then atone for the people.

B. The Priest would present an offering for the people

After the high priest had offered a sin offering for himself, he took an offering from the people. This offering is unique to this one event each year.

Leviticus 16:5 KJV 1900

5 And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

Leviticus 16:7–10 KJV 1900

7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. 10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

So we have two goats presented before Israel at the door to the tabernacle. Aaron would then cast lots (think of them like spiritual dice) over these two goats. These lots determined their fates. One goat would become a sin offering to atone for the sins for the people.

Leviticus 16:15–16 KJV 1900

15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: 16 And he shall 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: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.

The other goat would become something entirely different. It would not be offered. Instead it would become a scapegoat. It would be allowed to live for the time being, and it would carry an important task on it’s shoulders.

Leviticus 16:20–22 KJV 1900

20 And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat: 21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: 22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

The service that this goat supplied was deeply symbolic. As the first goat gave it’s innocent life so that Israel could live, this second goat bears the weight of the sins of all on its shoulders. It becomes a cursed thing. It is made unclean by our sins and it is carried of into the wilderness never to be heard from again.

C. The Whole Nation Changed How they Lived

The whole nation gathers for this event. It is a holiday, a feast day. Yet this one is not marked by frivolity. It is solemn, pensive. It is a day of great humility.

Leviticus 16:29–30 KJV 1900

29 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: 30 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 was a day of confession. The intent was for the nation to get very raw and honest before God and each other. It was not to be a ritual of duty, with little thought. It was meant to feel weighty. They were caused to understand their guilt and the great costs that it had.

This is the reason for the repetition of words that describe the priests confession on their behalf, “all their iniquities,” “all their trespasses,” “all their sins.”

By meditating on these things, the people changed how they lived, for a time. They fasted together. They afflicted their own souls.

And here now we come the gospel in the passage

4. The Savior

Hebrews 9:1 KJV 1900

1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

Hebrews 9:6–10 KJV 1900

6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. 7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

These old things served their purpose temporarily as symbols for something/Someone who was to come.

A. Jesus became a more excellent High Priest

Hebrews 9:11–12 KJV 1900

11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Hebrews 8:1–3 KJV 1900

1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. 3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.

Hebrews 7:25–28 KJV 1900

25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

B. Jesus became a more excellent sacrifice

Hebrews 10:1–4 KJV 1900

1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Hebrews 10:11–17 KJV 1900

11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

The old sacrifices involved so much: a bull and a ram and two goats (one to atone and one to bear the shame). But Christ accomplished all in one shot. He needed not sacrifice to enter the holy place, He was the sacrifice. And he accomplished both atonement and bearing the shame by his death on the cross.

The sacrament we take on the first Sunday of the month reminds us of Christ’s sufferings and atonement for us.

C. The Gospel Changes the Way We Live

Hebrews 9:13–14 KJV 1900

13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Let that sink in....

Hebrews 10:19–25 KJV 1900

19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

The old assembly was one of sorrow and shame. The new one is one of faith and camaraderie. We ought to provoke each other to good works. We ought to hold fast the profession of our faith. Why because of the gospel. Jesus paid it all so all to Him I owe; sin had left a crimson stain, but He washed it white as snow.