Bible Commentaries
Leviticus 16

Verse 5

goats

The two goats. The offering of the high priest for himself has no anti-type in Christ Hebrews 7:26; Hebrews 7:27. The typical interest centres upon the two goats and the high priest. Typically

(1) all is done by the high priest Hebrews 1:3 "by Himself"), the people only bring the sacrifice ; Matthew 26:47; Matthew 27:24; Matthew 27:25.

(2) The goat slain (Jehovah's lot) is that aspect of Christ's work which vindicates the holiness and righteousness of God as expressed in the law Romans 3:24-26 and is expiatory.

(3) The living goat typifies that aspect of Christ's work which puts away our sins from before God Hebrews 9:26; Romans 8:33; Romans 8:34.

(4) The high priest entering the holiest, typifies Christ entering "heaven itself" with "His own blood" for us Hebrews 9:11; Hebrews 9:12. His blood makes that to be a "throne of grace," and "mercy seat" which else must have been a throne of judgment.

(5) For us, the priests of the New Covenant, there is what Israel never had, a rent veil Matthew 27:51; Hebrews 10:19; Hebrews 10:20. So that, for worship and blessing, we enter, in virtue of His blood, where He is, into the holiest ; Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 10:19-22. The atonement of Christ, as interpreted by the O.T. sacrificial types, has these necessary elements:

(1) It is substitutionary--the offering takes the offerer's place in death.

(2) The law is not evaded but honored--every sacrificial death was an execution of the sentence of the law.

(3) The sinlessness of Him who bore our sins is expressed in every animal sacrifice--it must be without blemish.

(4) The effect of the atoning work of Christ is typified

(a) in the promises, "it shall be forgiven him"; and (b) in the peace-offering, the expression of fellowship--the highest privilege of the saint. (See Scofield "Hebrews 10:19-58.10.22- :")

Verse 6

Atonement

Atonement. The biblical use and meaning of the word must be sharply distinguished from its use in theology. In theology it is term which covers the whole sacrificial and redemptive work of Christ. In the O.T. atonement is the English word used to translate the Hebrew words which mean "cover," "coverings," or "to cover." Atonement (at-one-ment) is, therefore, not a translation of the hebrew, but a purely theologic concept. The Levitical offerings "covered" the sins of Israel until, and in anticipation of the Cross, but did not "take away" Hebrews 10:4 those sins. These were the "sins done aforetime" ("covered" meantime by the Levitical sacrifices), which God "passed over" Romans 3:25 for which "passing over" God's righteousness was never vindicated until, in the Cross, Jesus Christ was "set forth a propitiation." See "Propitiation," (See Scofield "Romans 3:25- :") . It was the Cross, not the Levitical sacrifices which made "at-one-ment." The O.T. sacrifices enabled God to go on with a guilty people because they typified the Cross. To the offerer they were the confession of his desert of death, and the expression of his faith; to God they were the "shadows" Hebrews 10:1 of which Christ was the reality.

atonement (See Scofield "Hebrews 10:1- :") .

Verse 11

atonement (See Scofield " :-") .

Verse 16

atonement (See Scofield " :-") .

Verse 18

out unto the altar

Dispensationally, for Israel, this is yet future; the High Priest is still in the holiest. When He comes out to His ancient people they will be converted and restored Romans 11:23-27; Zechariah 12:10; Zechariah 12:12; Zechariah 13:1; Revelation 1:7 Meantime, believers of this dispensation as priests 1 Peter 2:9 enter into the holiest where He is. Hebrews 10:19-22.

Verse 20

reconciling Heb. kaphar = covering. See Daniel 9:24. (See Scofield "Daniel 9:24- :") .

Verse 27

atonement (See Scofield " :-") .

Verse 29

seventh month i.e. October.