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Romans 3:25 The Day of Atonement

Leviticus 16
Last week, we spent some time in the Tabernacle, looking at the pattern for its construction, as it was given
to Moses by the LORD. The pattern of the Tabernacle is a type of Christ in His first coming to the earth.
Each article in the Tabernacle, in terms of its precise design and position, speaks of an aspect of the person
and work of the Coming Christ as the Savior of the world.
There were essentially three spaces within the Tabernacle. The outermost court was where all the people
came, through the gate, bringing their offerings to the LORD. The outer court contained the altar of burnt
offering, where the sacrifices were offered to the LORD by the priests, and the bronze laver, where the priests
washed before entering the actual tent, or sanctuary.
That sanctuary had two spaces in it; the Holy Place, where the priests entered from the outer court through
the door, and ministered before the LORD on behalf of the people; and further, beyond the veil, the Most
Holy Place also called the Holy of Holies which is where the Presence of the LORD dwelt, represented
by the shekinah.
The Holy Place contained the golden lampstand, which enlightened this space; the table of showbread,
upon which was the Bread of the Presence food for the priests; and the altar of incense, also called the
golden altar, where the High Priest burned incense before the LORD.
As we learned, the Holy of Holies contained only one furnishing: the ark, with its mercy seat. We
specifically looked at the mercy seat last week, since Paul uses that word, in the Greek, in our passage in
Romans, translated propitiation: the place where Gods justice is satisfied concerning sin.
In the design of the mercy seat, we have seen deeper into the significance of that. The mercy seat was the
lid, or cover, of the ark of the Testimony a figure of the throne of God; the seat of His rule. The Holy of
Holies, then, was the throne room a figure of heaven itself.
But the ark was laid to rest upon the bare ground. Here we see Christ, the seat of Gods rule on the earth:
the Lord from heaven, in His earthly sojourn. The ark was composed of acacia wood overlaid with pure
gold; the humanity of Christ, always and everywhere overlaid by His deity; fully God and fully man.
The ark was called the ark of the Testimony because it contained objects that were to serve as a testimony to
Israel: the tablets of Testimony, also called the Ten Commandments; the golden pot of manna; and Aarons
rod that budded. The testimony that these spoke to Israel is that God is absolutely holy, holy, holy; and that
the penalty for sin with holy God is death. So the ark, Gods throne, was a seat of judgment; it spoke a
testimony of death against rebels.
But the ark was overlaid by the mercy seat. This lid and its ornamentation was hammered out of a single
piece of pure gold. On it were two golden cherubim, at either end, continually gazing down upon the
mercy seat; a picture of the LORD, through His ministers, carefully guarding over what was pictured by the
mercy seat, until such time as its prophetic picture was fulfilled.
The mercy seat represented Christ as our propitiation; where Gods justice is satisfied, and the sinner can be
forgiven; reconciled with God.

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We learned that the mercy seat exactly fitted the ark, reflecting the thought that Gods judgment is
completely covered by the mercy He extends, in Christ. And the golden crown, securing the mercy seat,
showed that His mercy endures forever; that mercy is forever secured by the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus.
But that redemption would come at a great price; Christs precious blood. It is the blood of Christ that we
will be looking at today. The mercy seat, the person of Christ, is the place where God can extend mercy to
sinners; and the blood, the work of Christ, is the way that God does so.
We can best see this by looking at an elaborate ceremonial service that was detailed to Moses as a means by
which the nation of Israel, collectively, was to have their sins covered, known as the Day of Atonement.
We find the LORDs instructions to Moses concerning this Day in Leviticus chapter 16.
The Day of Atonement was one of the seven key feasts given to the nation of Israel, for which every male
Jew was to go up to Jerusalem. It was unique in that it was not a feast of jubilation, but a solemn feast. It
was a Sabbath of solemn rest, in which the people were to afflict their souls (Lev 16:29, 31). The time
prior to the central ceremony of this day was to be a time of individual reflection and acknowledgment of
sin, intended to lead to repentance.
[Leviticus 16:1-34]
v. 1-2 The sin of the two eldest sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, provides the backdrop for the LORDs
instructions for the Day of Atonement. Turn back to Leviticus chapter 10 for a moment. This occurred just
after the priests Aaron and his sons had been anointed for their ministry.
[Leviticus 10:1-3] Although we are not given to know the precise transgression of Nadab and Abihu, the
idea of profane (strange, KJV) fire clearly points to an offering to the LORD which was made in a manner
other than that in which the LORD had instructed Moses.
Nadab and Abihu had just been consecrated as priests; set apart to the LORD as His holy ministers. And
what they ministered to the LORD was an unholy offering. They offered Him unholy fire; so in just
retribution, they were consumed by the fire of Gods holiness.
The message was that God is holy, and nothing unholy can come into His presence. Worship of the LORD
must be in precise accordance with the pattern that the LORD had given which pictured His Christ. This is
how the LORD would be glorified before all the people His glory seen in the One whom He would send.
[Return to Leviticus 16]
A short while after the deaths of Nadab and Abihu, the LORD gave Moses instructions for the Day of
Atonement and for Aaron, who, as High Priest, would be the key figure of that day. The LORD had
manifested His holiness through His judgment of the two sons of Aaron; now the LORD warns Aaron to
carefully heed His words, lest he die also.
The LORD began with an admonition not to come into the Holy of Holies here called simply the Holy,
inside the veil at just any time. In fact, Aaron and Aaron alone, as the High Priest was to come in
only once a year, on the Day of Atonement and in a very particular manner, as we shall see.

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Why was there such a restriction placed on entering the Holy of Holies? Because the LORDs Presence
dwelt there in the cloud of glory, the shekinah, above the mercy seat on the ark. There are two ideas here.
Nothing must defile the holiness of the LORD, and of His dwelling place. And coming into the presence of
the LORD must be in strict accordance to His instructions to Moses; that is, it must be the LORDs way.
Just as the Tabernacle, and every aspect of it, pictures the person and the work of Jesus Christ, so does the
service of worship that took place in it the offerings and sacrifices, the priesthood, and most especially,
the High Priest. And the ultimate service of worship that the High Priest performed the ultimate service
of worship for Israel was on the Day of Atonement.
The reason for this is clearly seen in what was symbolized in the High Priest on the Day of Atonement; for
it was an illustrious picture of the work of Jesus on the cross; when God, in Christ, reconciled the world to
Himself (2 Cor 5:19).
In this picture, the High Priest, Aaron, represents Christ as the Mediator he represents the people to God,
and God to the people. For Aaron with Israel, the work accomplished is atonement: the covering over of
the sins of the people. But for Jesus, the work accomplished will be redemption: the complete freeing of
people from their sins.
Lets see how this is pictured, in the instructions for this day.
v. 3 The word Place is in italics, and has been added by the translators throughout this entire passage, but
I think it brings confusion, for it sounds like the first space of the sanctuary, where the regular priests
ministered. But we have seen in verse two that the Holy is that which is inside the veil, meaning the
Holy of Holies; and so it is, throughout this chapter.
So continuing the thought from verse 2, Aaron was not to come into the Holy of Holies just any time, and
in just any way; he was to come in just one day; and he was to come in with offerings, as the LORD
prescribes here. The words the blood of and the word of have been added, also, with the attempt to
clarify what is meant; but they are not necessary.
The LORD was simply showing what was needed in order for Aaron to enter into the Holy of Holies, not
specifying that Aaron was to bring these things in. No part of the burnt offering is brought into the Holy of
Holies. The idea is that Aaron must offer a young bull as a sin offering, and a ram as a burnt offering, in
order to enter in.
According to the ceremonial Law, in any offering made to the LORD, there are always three things spoken
of: the offerer, the person who is bringing the offering to the LORD; the actual offering or sacrifice that he
brings; and the priest, who receives the offering on behalf of the LORD, and offers it to the LORD on behalf
of the person.
Now, in our passage here, who is the priest? That would be Aaron, the High Priest, picturing Christ as the
Mediator. Who is the offerer? Thats Aaron again; the offering is specifically for him, that he may enter the
Holy of Holies. Because Aaron pictures Christ, we see that Christ would then also be the offerer, here.
And what is the offering? A young bull as a sin offering, and a ram as a burnt offering. These are in strict
accordance with the Law of the offerings, the ceremonial Law, given by the LORD to Moses. And who do
all of those offerings picture? Christ.

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So what we see is that there is only one who is worthy to enter into the Holy of Holies, into the presence of
God: the Mediator, Christ. And the way that He entered in was through Him offering Himself. Well see
this beautifully portrayed by the author to the Hebrews, when we explore that, next week.
Now, in what way did these offerings picture Christ? The bull was the highest level of the sin offering, and
it was specifically to be offered for the sin of an anointed priest (Lev 4:3-12). The strong bull, faithful and
enduring in his service, pictures Christ as the Servant of Jehovah, laboring through the birth pangs of death
(Acts 2:24) the travail of His soul (Is 53:11) on the cross in order that sin might be put away, and Life
brought forth to bring many sons unto glory (Heb 2:10).
The ram could be offered by any man as his burnt offering, but it had to be offered of the mans own free
will (Lev 1:3-13); and it was an offering for acceptance of the man by the LORD. The burnt offering of a
ram speaks of Christ as mans substitute (Gen 22:13), well-pleasing to the LORD in His perfect life of
obedience. Christ Himself offered Himself of His own free will, in the stead of sinful men; a sacrifice that
was perfectly acceptable to the LORD.
There are far more details concerning these and other offerings for those who wish to explore them, as
found in the first five chapters of Leviticus. But for our study of the Day of Atonement, we see that the
human High Priest, Aaron, needed these sacrifices to cover him, in order to enter the Holy of Holies.
As a human, Aaron needed the Perfect Man as His substitute, His blood covering Aarons sin. Later, we
will see that the bull, Aarons sin offering, is not for himself only, but also for his house; that is, for all the
priests.
After speaking of the offerings that Aaron must make for himself, the LORD began to instruct as to what
Aaron was to do on the Day of Atonement.
v. 4 So the High Priest was to wash his body in water a ceremonial purification and then put on his
garments for the Day of Atonement. Were these the normal garments of the High Priest? No.
The High Priest routinely wore a skillfully woven tunic, turban and sash, an embroidered ephod (like a
vest), and a breastplate covered with precious stones. These were called garments of glory and beauty (Ex
28:2-39); the holy garments of the High Priest. But on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest laid aside his
glorious garments, and wore simple linen; pure white. Nonetheless, these were also holy garments.
This is a picture of God the Son, who laid aside the glory that He had with the Father in heaven (Jn 17:5),
in order to come to earth, taking on a body that God had prepared for Him, to accomplish the work of
redemption.
Jesus made Himself of no reputation His glory left behind, in heaven the garments of glory and beauty
and He took the form of a bondservant, coming in the likeness of men the garments of linen. But the
linen was pure white, which in Scripture pictures righteousness. The work of Christ was accomplished
through His perfect righteousness; He was obedient unto death (Phil 2:7-8).
The beginning of the ministry of Jesus was marked by a kind of washing: His baptism by John (Mt 3:1317). In His baptism, we see Jesus identifying Himself with men, to be their representative before God.
Having taken on the form of a bondservant, He then took on the role of a bondservant the Servant of
Jehovah.

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So the High Priest laid aside His garments of glory, washed, and put on his linen garments before beginning
his work of atonement.
Now the High Priest took the offering for the people.
v. 5 So we see that this offering for the people was to be taken from the people; they supplied the animals.
Like the High Priest and his household, the children of Israel had to have a sin offering and a burnt
offering.
The burnt offering is the same; a ram. But the sin offering is different; it is not one, but two goats. Why
two goats? Because it takes two goats, to show the whole picture, in the sin offering for the people.
The Hebrew shows that these are male goats; thats the word translated kids. And interestingly, the word
translated goats means female goats. These are young male goats, offspring of female goats.
In the ceremonial Law, the male goat was specifically the offering for a ruler that had sinned. It was a sin
offering that was lower in level to the bull for the anointed priest, but higher than that for the common
person the individual which was a female goat. The idea is that the greater the responsibility of the
individual in a society, the more his sin affects others and so the more valuable his offering had to be.
Christ is seen again in the role of the High Priest, accepting the offerings from the people. The burnt
offering is the same the ram because all people have an equal need for Christ as their substitute, His
perfect Life offered in their stead.
The character of the goat shows us its significance, as a picture of Christ. Male goats, in particular, are
known for their strong will. But what we see of that in Christ is not willfulness, but willingness; the
strength of His will, to limit Himself to a body; His determination, to bear the sin of the world and to die.
Turn to Isaiah chapter 50. This is a passage which speaks of the Coming Christ as the Servant of Jehovah
(v. 10).
[Isaiah 50:4-7]
v. 4-5 In taking on a body of flesh, Jesus had to grow up and learn like every other man. And He was
always obedient to the truth.
From the early days of the Christ, the prophet now jumps to the end of His ministry.
v. 6-7 Clearly we see the prophecies concerning the scourging and abuse of Jesus, before His crucifixion.
But in the midst of all this abuse, He set His face like a flint immovable stone. There is the strong will of
Jesus, as the sin-bearer.
[Return to Leviticus 16]
Notice also that the male goats were of the female goats, and taken from the congregation. Jesus, as the
sin-offering, was born of a woman, born under the Law the nation Israel, as seen in the female goats.
And even though the offerings were taken from the congregation, it is still Christ who offers Himself for
His nation He is still the offerer.

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But why would the sin offering for the children of Israel have been that for a ruler? Because the LORD has
appointed Israel as the head nation over all the nations; they were responsible for holding out the Light of
truth to the other nations. And in the end, they will fulfill the LORDs purpose for them.
Next we see that Aaron presents the offerings.
v. 6 So first Aaron presents before the LORD the sin offering for Himself and his house; the bull. Now in
the picture, what would the house of Aaron represent? What is the house, or household, of Christ? The
church (Heb 3:6).
The priesthood is Aarons house. Christ has made us a kingdom of priests to His God and Father (Rev 1:6).
So we see that this particular offering on the Day of Atonement pictures Christ as the propitiation for our
sins (1 Jn 2:2); the sins of the church.
This is the first use of the word atonement in this passage; it will be used over and over. The verb form
of this word means, to cover. When an atonement is made for something or someone, the idea is that it is
covered. What is it covered with? Blood; the blood of sacrifice.
In offering sacrifices as the LORD instructs, sin is covered over, enabling the LORD to pass over
transgressions, and suspend the death penalty incurred by them. This is what we have learned in Romans,
where Paul indicated that God in His forbearance had passed over sins that were previously committed;
until Christ came and took away sin (Rm 3:25-26). Atonement was only a temporary measure; thats why
it had to be done again and again.
v. 7 After the first sin offering had been presented, Aaron presented before the LORD the second sin offering
and who was this for? The children of Israel. Notice the order here; first the church, and then Israel.
v. 8-10 The lot was a method not unlike dice by which the will of the LORD was determined for Israel.
Proverbs 16:33 says, The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. Aaron cast lots
to determine which of the goats was for the LORD meaning, for the sin offering to Him and which was
to be the scapegoat.
The word translated scapegoat is used four times in this passage, and in no other place in the OT. It is
thought to be derived from an Arabic root meaning to remove or to separate. We will see both concepts
removal and separation in what is done with the scapegoat.
Here it becomes clear why two goats are needed for the one sin offering on the Day of Atonement. Where
the one goat is sacrificed for sin, another goat must remain alive in order to fulfill the picture, which we
will look at shortly, as the scapegoat is sent away into the wilderness.
The fact that the lot is used to determine which goat is sacrificed, and which is sent away, is significant. It
shows us Gods sovereignty in the crucifixion of Jesus. Peter said of Jesus that He was delivered by the
determined purpose and foreknowledge of God (Acts 2:23).
After the sin offerings were presented, they were then sacrificed. First Aaron made the atonement for
himself and his house.

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v. 11-14 The bull was brought by Aaron to the door of the sanctuary. Aaron laid his hand upon its head,
showing the bull to be his substitute his sin was now symbolically on the bull. Then he killed the bull and
collected some of its blood into a vessel (Lev 4:4-7).
Then Aaron went into the sanctuary, took coals from the altar of incense there and put them in a censer, put
incense upon the coals, and with the blood and the incense, proceeded to walk inside the veil, into the Holy
of Holies.
You can imagine how attentive Aaron was to every detail; how the priests and the people watched every
move that he made, until he disappeared into the sanctuary; and the tension and expectation among the
people, on this most solemn day. Again we see the admonition in verse 13, lest he die. All must be done
exactly as the LORD instructed, for all was a picture of His Christ, the only way in to the presence of God.
When the incense was laid upon the burning coals, it vaporized into a cloud of sweet fragrance. That cloud
acted as a covering for the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony lest Aaron die.
Remember that the Presence of the LORD dwelt above the mercy seat, in the cloud of glory the shekinah.
The cloud of incense covered the mercy seat so that the LORD, in His holiness, could forbear of His
judgment. When the omniscient LORD gazed upon Aaron, He saw, not Aaron, but that cloud of incense.
The incense was also a picture of Christ, in His pure holiness. That incense was beaten fine. Jesus learned
obedience by the things that He suffered (Heb 5:8).
Throughout the fiery trials of His life, Jesus was tested and found to be pure; always obedient to the will of
His Father, always pleasing to Him, like the sweet savor of the incense, released by the fire, rising up
before the face of God. The incense acted as Aarons protection; but our great High Priest is also the
incense itself; the Son, who has been perfected forever (Heb 7:28).
The High Priest sprinkled some of the blood of the bull on the east side of the mercy seat; thats the side
facing him, toward the veil. He was also to sprinkle the blood before the mercy seat. This highlighted the
way to the mercy seat. The way into the presence of God is through the blood of Christ.
How many times was Aaron to sprinkle the blood? Seven times. And what is seven, in Scripture? The
number of completion, or perfection. Here was the perfect sin offering for Aaron and his house; an offering
that completely atoned for their sins. But it wasnt the ritual itself that actually removed sin. In the ritual,
sin was just covered over. It was in what the ritual pictured, that sin could be truly removed: in the labor
of Christ on the cross.
The sprinkling of the blood on the mercy seat by the High Priest is a reflection of Jesus as our Advocate
before the Father; He pleads our case before the Father on the basis of His blood.
Aaron then came out of the Holy of Holies, and next made the atonement for the children of Israel.
v. 15-16 Aaron then brought the goat upon which the LORDs lot fell to the door of the sanctuary. He laid
his hands upon its head, showing that it was symbolically bearing the sins of the children of Israel. Then
Aaron killed the goat, collected its blood into a vessel, went back into the sanctuary, repeating what he had
done the first time, now sprinkling the goats blood on the mercy seat.

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As mentioned previously, the goat pictures the determination of Jesus, to carry out the will of God. He
Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world (1 Jn 2:2). Here
we see Him as the propitiation for the sins of His nation, Israel; for their uncleanness, their defilement with
sin.
Remember that on the mercy seat, at either end, are the two golden cherubim, facing each other, looking
downwards. What are they looking at, now? The blood. Here is the symbolic representation of what Jesus
will accomplish on the cross, carefully guarded over by those ministers of God. Peter spoke of the
prophesied sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow as things which angels desire to look into
(1 Pet 1:11-12).
Notice in verse 16 that the atonement is made for the Holy meaning the Holy of Holies. Not only must
the sin of the people be covered; the holiness of God must also be covered. They are covered by the same
thing; the blood of the sacrifices. The sacrifice of Christ allowed God to retain His holiness while at the
same time extending mercy toward men.
v. 17 The Day of Atonement highlights the work of the High Priest on behalf of the people; and that it is
his work, alone. Paul wrote, There is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ
Jesus (1 Tim 2:5).
v. 18-19 The altar which is mentioned here is the altar of incense; the golden altar. This is where the High
Priest would regularly offer incense to the LORD. Just as with the censer, the action of the incense on the hot
coals on the altar creates a cloud of sweet smoke that ascends heavenward. This is a picture of the prayers
of the High Priest being offered up to the LORD; His work of intercession, on behalf of the people.
But instead of putting incense on the altar, Aaron put blood on it; the blood of both the bull and the goat
the sin offerings first on the four horns, then sprinkling the altar with the blood seven times. The place of
intercession has been completely cleansed, set apart from sin by the sin offering.
The prophet Isaiah said of the Servant of Jehovah, the Christ, that He bore the sin of many, and made
intercession for the transgressors (Is 53:12). This is what we see at the golden altar of incense, with the
blood; Christ, as our intercessor.
This is how Aaron made atonement for the entire Tabernacle of meeting; for the Holy Place, and the Holy
of Holies. In this way, the Tabernacle of meeting, in its holiness, could remain in the midst of the
uncleanness of the children of Israel, in its defilement; on the basis of the blood of the sacrifices. The
covenant relationship between the LORD and Israel was covered by the blood for one more year.
But there was another part to the sin offering, which Aaron performed next.
v. 20-22 The priesthood has been atoned for (v. 6, 11), and the holy dwelling of God has been atoned for,
through the shed blood of the sin offerings. What remains to be done? To finish the atonement for the
people. Certainly, the goat offered in sacrifice to the LORD was part of the sin offering for the people; yet,
curiously, it is never mentioned that the people have been atoned for, until later. We will see that this is
significant, shortly.
Meanwhile, Moses received the instructions for the remaining live goat; the scapegoat. Aaron was first to
present the goat alive before the LORD (v. 10); then he was to lay both of his hands on the head of this goat,
and made a general confession of the iniquities, the transgressions, and the sins of the children of Israel,
symbolically transferring the sin to the goat.

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Finally, the goat was sent away into the wilderness. Did Aaron send it away? No, this was one thing on the
Day of Atonement that was done by someone else. How was it done? By the hand of a suitable man; it
means a fit man, a timely man, one ready to stand, prepared and waiting to perform the task.
The live goat, symbolically bearing the sins of Israel, was released into the wilderness. This is mentioned
three times (v. 10, 21, 22). The repetition means that it is a highly significant point. This wilderness is
further qualified as an uninhabited land. What is an uninhabited land? A land in which no one lives.
You can imagine the scene. This certain fit man, prepared and waiting, takes the scapegoat from Aaron and
leads it away. The people undoubtedly watched the goat, as it got further, and further, and further away
until it was no longer in sight. Here we see the ideas in the word scapegoat of separation; removal.
But who is this man? We dont know; the account is deliberately vague. But what we can know is that this
fit man, prepared and waiting, represents Christ. And taken together with the scapegoat, we can then
discern the meaning.
The root of the word for uninhabited means to sever. This is a land of separation, cut off from
habitation.
In the grave, Jesus was cut off from life. Isaiah said, For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the
transgressions of My people He was stricken (Is 53:8). As the sacrificed goat, we see Christ bearing sin
on the cross; paying the price for sin that sin might be forgiven.
As the scapegoat, we see Christ taking sin away into the grave. This is the putting away of sin that sin
might be forgotten. The LORD said through the prophet Jeremiah, For I will forgive their iniquity, and their
sin I will remember no more (Jer 31:34). And one day, Israel will say, As far as the east is from the west,
so far has He removed our transgressions from us (Ps 103:12). Sin forgiven, in the sacrificed goat; sin
forgotten, in the scapegoat.
But Jesus is not only the scapegoat He is also the fit man. He became sin for us, but He Himself is also the
one who put away sin; He put away sin, by the sacrifice of Himself (Heb 9:26). Jesus is the good shepherd,
who gives His life for the sheep His people, the nation Israel. He lays down His life, that He may take it
up again (Jn 10:11, 17).
After giving over the scapegoat, Aaron had a final set of tasks to perform.
v. 23-25 Aaron had last been at the door of the Tabernacle of meeting, confessing the sins of the nation,
and putting them on the head of the scapegoat. He was then to go back into the Tabernacle, into the Holy
Place, remove his white linen garments, wash his body, and put on his High Priestly garments the
garments of glory and beauty.
Then Aaron was to come back out of the sanctuary and offer the rams his burnt offering and that of the
people to the LORD. This completes the atonement for himself and the people. The fat of the sin offerings
was always placed on the burnt offering on the altar (Lev 4:10, 26).
The picture is of our High Priest, Jesus, who, after putting sin away through His death, rose from the grave
changing His garment, so to speak His earthly body changed into a glorified body like Aarons
garments of glory and beauty. This was a fulfillment of His high priestly prayer: And now, O Father,
glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was (Jn 17:5).

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10

And that is where Jesus is today in the position of glory and honor, at the right hand of the Father, in
heaven. But one day soon, He will come out of His heavenly tabernacle as Aaron came out of the
sanctuary and Jesus will return to the earth His Second Coming.
In that day, His people shall be willing in the day of His power (Ps 110:3). Israel will finally be willing to
receive Jesus as their Messiah; as their Savior. Then Israel will offer to God the acceptable sacrifice Jesus
(Ps 118:27).
That is what we see in the burnt offering, which was always a free will offering; the willingness of Israel to
come to Jesus by faith, on the basis of His obedience, His efforts on their behalf, to be their substitute that
they might be made the righteousness of God, in Him (2 Cor 5:21); that they might be accepted by God;
accepted, in the Beloved (Eph 1:6).
Aarons part on the Day of Atonement was finished. But for others, there was defilement which still had to
be dealt with.
v. 26 The fit man, who had released the scapegoat into the wilderness, was ceremonially defiled, since sin
had been symbolically transferred to that goat, and the man had contact with the goat.
How could he get rid of this defilement? Through cleansing. Therefore, this man needed to be
ceremonially cleansed, in order to come back into the camp, and for that, he washed his clothes and his
body. Well discuss the meaning in a moment.
v. 27-28 This is what the ceremonial Law indicates for sin offerings: that the carcasses be carried outside
the camp, and burned (Lev 4:12). The idea is that in being the sin offering, the animals body is defiled,
and cannot be offered to the LORD on His altar, which is holy; only the blood, representing the death, and
the fat, representing the energy of the work; the willingness to be the sin offering, was put on the altar.
In being defiled, the body must be separated from that which is holy; and therefore, it is burned outside the
camp. Another unidentified man does the burning, and in so doing, he is defiled by the dead bodies. How
can he get rid of this defilement? Through cleansing. So this man also washed his clothes and his body, in
order to be able to come back into the camp.
We know that the first man represented Christ; and the second man does, as well. Jesus was crucified
outside the camp; Calvary was outside of Jerusalem, the city the LORD chose as His dwelling place (Ps
132:13-14).
The man Jesus took the defilement of sin upon His body on the cross; and the defilement of death upon His
body, in the grave. The author to the Hebrews wrote, For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is
brought into the sanctuary by the High Priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also,
that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate (Heb 13:11-12).
But when Jesus rose from the grave in a glorified body, all of that defilement was left behind. In His
righteousness with clean hands, and a pure heart Jesus will go back into the camp the holy city,
Jerusalem at His return, as the King of glory (Ps 24:3-6).
v. 29-31 The fulfillment of the Day of Atonement, which is yet future for Israel, will extend to the
stranger who dwells among you the Gentile nations. Those who truly repent will be washed from their
sins in the blood of Jesus Christ (Rev 1:5).

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v. 32-34 So the atonement extended down throughout history, the sins of the people covered over once a
year, reminding them that the covenant of the LORD with Israel was still in effect.
And when Israel looks upon the One whom they have pierced, and mourn (Zech 12:10), that covenant will
be fulfilled with them; the eternal covenant, that the LORD made with their fathers with Abraham, and
Isaac, and Jacob based on the blood of His Christ.
Next week: Hebrews 9. Finish Romans 3.