Scapegoat was taken out of the camp. The people knew it would be released into the wild. There goes my sins. Cast away. The Day of Atonement.
Would leave a lasting impression on the people. Not everybody could see this taking place, there was no stadium. You have a level camp. with all the tribes of Israel. There's no way you're gonna see over the shoulders or over the tents.
but should know what's going on. This is Cross-Reference Radio with our pastor and teacher, Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Leviticus. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross-reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching.
But for now, let's join Pastor Rick in the book of Leviticus chapter 16 with today's edition of Cross-Reference Radio. Atonement Day, Leviticus chapter 16. The great idea in all these offerings was that the life of the victim. was accepted on behalf of the one offering the victim. The one who offered is the guilty one.
That's the idea behind these substitutionary sacrifices, which we're going to. Look into how many people That you know Don't know this. How many people out there? Do not understand. Substitutionary sacrifice that Christ made for us.
That's his death on the cross, it's substitution. Dying in our place. For the Jews, they still celebrate Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. just not in compliance to their own Scripture. And Leviticus twenty three and in this chapter we're told the tenth day And the seventh month shall be the day of atonement.
And it's a big deal. It's. Finalizing Christ on the cross It was a big deal to the Jews and should be a big deal to the Christians, of course, as far as Calvary goes.
So we look at verse one.
Now, Yahweh spoke to Moses after the death. Of the two sons of Aaron, And they offered profane fire before the LORD, and died. To put this reminder at the beginning is sort of warning the high priest that On this day of atonement, be careful. You've been warned. God is not going to look the other way if you get this.
all wrong. It's a big holiday. I and there are rules, there are standards. And a lot of churches, I think, resist The standards of God. When Paul wrote to Timothy, he said, Let these also first be tested, and let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.
Well, you tell a lot of people before we put you on the schedule, why don't we Both try to make sure you're comfortable here before you just jump right in.
Some folks don't want to do that. Neither Aaron nor his sons were above the law of God, nor is any one else. James says, My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. On this day, the high priest is going to have to stay focussed. Because as people go, he is the center of attention, because he is a walking prophecy.
He is representing the coming Messiah And we'll hopefully point to many of these. Verse 2. Yahweh said to Moses, Tell Aaron, your brother, not to come. at just any time into the holy place inside the vale. before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die.
I will appear. In the cloud, Above the mercy seat.
So there's the link between remembered Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's sons being struck. We're offering up strange fire.
Well, Aaron, it can happen to you. Hello. of Moses telling Aaron like it is and Aaron saying, I got it. For the high priests it was a hard day of work. He will be the lead on all the sacrifices.
Of course, he's going to have to have some help skinning the bull and the other animals, but. He's going to be the primary. It's a day of humility for him. The symbolism is outstanding. It is the one time a year when the high priest was permitted to go behind the veil in the holy place.
The tabernacle had the holy place where you come in. There'd be the showbread and the table and utensils to your right as you walked in, and then to the left was the lampstand. And then the golden altar where the incense was offered. And then there was the veil. And behind the veil was the Ark of the Covenant.
On top of the Ark of the Covenant, the lid. was the atonement seat, the mercy seat. He could not just go into that chamber at any time. No one could.
Now the priest could go and God ordered the Horrible tabernacle in the wilderness when the people were going to move, change locations in the wilderness. Then they would go in and the priests would wrap everything up. It was not a penalty for them to go behind the veil. But Unless that was the case, they would not Dare. Do this.
So he says, I will appear in a cloud above the mercy seat. This cloud will likely be caused. by the smoke Coming out of the incense censer that the high priest will bring in there. The high priest goes behind the veil. into the most holy place The mercy seat In Hebrew is the atonement place.
There's no Atonement without mercy God does not owe us anything but judgment because He offers mercy. or atonement, a way to Resolve the broken relationship because of sin, that's mercy. And the only time the mercy seat appears in Leviticus is in regard to this Day of Atonement. And there were seven big festival days or holidays for the Jews. They were called feast, they did not always involve a great meal.
This one is the only one. that was one of affliction of soul. And involved fasting. It was not a day. of food as we would Think of a festival.
But the coming Holidays behind this one were very much the Feast of Tabernacles was a big feast. This is a big deal, and you noticed God when He Set out these seven holidays. Only one in seven was one of affliction of soul. It's sort of God saying, I don't want you walking around with gloom all the time, and there are things to rejoice about in your service with me, but there's also a time. For reflection, serious introspection Verse 3, Thus Aaron shall come.
into the holy place with the blood of a young bull As a sin offering and of a ram as a burnt offering.
Now of course the rams, the bulls, the goats. These things, Moses is going to repeat himself. We want this laid out, we want him to say.
Okay, here's what Aaron needs to bring for himself: a bull and a ram. And then we want him to offer the bull as his sin offering and for his family. Then later he can bring the ram, and that will be his burnt offering for dedication. After that, Aaron, you will for the people offer up one kid goat, but you're going to select two kid goats. One will be a blood sacrifice, the other will be a sacrifice to the wilderness.
That's how we want it said. But it ain't gonna be set that way. And it's Because of that, you have to You hope that the Bible teacher, in this case me, can not confuse you. With all these things. And so the atonement for the high priestess first.
He's the one that has to offer a bull. In fact, the tabernacle itself is going to require. Atonement. It was about the conscience. of telling man You're not right with God.
No matter how impressed your parents may be with you. God may not be impressed with you. He certainly is impressed with your sinful side.
So, the conscience of man is not enough. It has to be instructed. A bad man. or a man not right with God. can be bothered by something in his conscience and still get it wrong.
And the scriptures are to instruct us. On what is right and wrong, a sense of conscience, a sense of what is shameful and what is not, which is missing in many g areas, crime-ridden areas. They're disappointed they may get caught. But there's no shame. Part of the law is to instill a sense of right and wrong and shame when you've done wrong.
The ritual purification says to man, all of these Sacrifices and rituals involved Is God saying to man, pay attention to yourself when you step into my presence? And that's going to require that you pay attention to yourself before you arrive. We don't have to go to the temple now to have a stronger sense of God's Presents he's with us all the time.
So in that sense the New Testament has ramped it up. In verse 4, he shall put the holy linen tunic and the linen trousers on his body. He shall be girded with a linen sash. And with the linen turban, these are the holy garments. Therefore, he shall wash his body in water and put them on.
Okay, so now it's starting. In addition to having to offer the bull. For himself and his family. and then everybody else's sins, he's got to change his clothes. He has to divest himself of his magnificent garb.
Up to this point, he is the best-dressed man in Israel. He's going to enter the Veil this time. Not as God's exalted high priest, But as a common priest, John chapter thirteen, verse four Jesus rose from the supper and laid aside his garments and took a towel and girded himself a servant Isaiah Speaking of the Messiah Christ, behold my servant whom I uphold, my elect one.
So we're seeing the Gospels and the New Testament. Way back in the Old Testament, in the early stages of God setting up his nation. What he wanted it to be We see the high priest is already becoming A walking prophecy The Messiah will be On the same level in appearance, now that he has taken off his High priestly garments. He now is on the same level in appearance As those he represented. He's dressing like everybody else almost.
Linen. A fabric made from flax or hemp, It took some skill to do it and was not cheap. But he's dressed like the other priests for sure, and wear a royal priesthood.
So he is dressed now as a servant priest, Philippians chapter 2, speaking of Christ who made himself of no reputation, taking The form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men.
Well, remember now. Aaron is the high priest. And he is allowed by God to Dress up. With his The hat with the holiness to the Lord and the gold plate on it, and the jewelry that belonged to the Ibod, the blue vest, and all the bells and the pomegranates on his robe. And that has to all come off now.
And being found in the appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. And so the likeness Of the priest identifying with the people. Incidentally, when we come back with Christ, we'll be clothed in linen. there was now nothing on him to draw attention to himself. Nothing now about the High Priest.
Was any different? It just was c common now. as Christ. Accept his obedience. that was not common.
And that's true, of course, of Christ. His normal clothing The high priestly robes will be readorned later in another step in this day of atonement. And there are several steps, so much so that even the commentators can't get the sequence right.
Some information is just simply left out. Moses didn't have to put it down. He knew what was going on, but he's put a lot here. Verse 5. And he shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel, Two kids of the goats.
as a sin offering and one ram as a burnt offering.
Well, again, The bull For the priest and for his sin. A ram for his burnt offering, his dedication offering, But For the people. It will be the two goats. and a ram. that they also will have offered on their behalf as a burnt offering.
This is all in preparation. and at the same time The The Day of Atonement. He has to address his own sin first. When the blind lead the blind, they both fall into the ditch. That has to be corrected even in type.
So the sin in his own house. was not Overlooked. God was saying, He's my high priest. but his family is still sinners. Another high priest will come from that family, and they're going to be sinners, and they're going to have to be atoned.
for their sin. Also. In this day of atonement the high priest enters the holy place no less than two times, probably more.
Some commentators will say twice, some will say three. But as we go through this, we're going to say: wait a minute, we got to do more. 'Cause he's got to go in. Let me give you a summary. Of this High priests Yom Kippur activity.
And then we'll get the details. The high priests washed at the lava in the courtyard. and dressed inside the temple taking off his high priestly robes, putting on The common priestly robe, linen. And we'll talk about the significance of the linen in the New Testament later. He offered a bull as a sin offering for himself and his family.
The high priest entered the Holy of Holies with the blood of the bull, And Incense. On the burning coals. that he got from the brass, the brazen altar, out in the courtyard. He is told to take two handfuls of incense. And enter into the holy place.
There, before the Ark of the Covenant, he is to put the incense. on the coals that are in the sensor. How's he going to do that? He's got two hands. How's he gonna go in with the blood on one moment and sprinkle it seven times?
And then go in with the incense and the two handfuls of Crushed incense in his hands and put them in the coals. And there's no light inside there in the Holy of Holies. Where's the light coming from? That's in the Holy section.
So he likely has to leave the Vale. Open.
So the light can get in.
So you can see where to put the incense and and sprinkle the blood. These little details are left out. But you can't just ignore them. There may have been a clasp on the veil for him to do just this, to kinda open it up and hook it.
So he could go back and forth with the blood and the incense? And see what he was doing.
So he sprinkled the bull's blood seven times on the mercy seat. A single source of light. The seven-stemmed lampstand only in the holy place, but would be shining into the holiest of holies. If he left it open, there was no way sunlight was going to penetrate all those layers of covering. that served as the roof to this tabernacle, this tent in the wilderness.
he went back to the courtyard and cast lots to decide which of the two goats for the sin offering of the people would be slain and which one would be released into the wilderness. He returned to the brazen altar, that's where the Blood sacrifices were Burned? And he cleansed it. with the blood from the bull And for the people, the scapegoat was released into the wilderness while the other goat was slain and offered as a sin. offering.
The high priest then removed the his special day holy linen garb, re washed at the laver, and readorn his high priest's vestments. Then the high priest offered two rams as burnt offerings, one for himself and one for the people. When we say offered these rams, it's not just okay, here you go, Lord. They have to cut the throat, skin the animal, cut the fatty lobe off, and arrange it just right, and take this part out. And his sons would be helping him, and the Levites would be there.
Preparation for this was days in advance to make sure that the blades were sharp enough to do the cutting. that there would be ample water, that there would be at least poles to carry away the Carcass of skins of the animals. The firewood had to be enough. The fires had to get hot enough to do what they were supposed to do, so the flames had to be stoked. Then the fat of the sin offering was burned.
Afterward The goat keeper the suitable man. that was chosen to bring the scapegoat in. and then take him out to the wilderness to let him go. He had to be cleansed. Aaron and the nation's sins' offerings were carried outside the camp, and then the one who burned the sin offerings, likely a priest, then had himself to be cleansed.
This is all in one day. The humility involved in taking off of his garments and being reminded that he's just like everybody else, but he has his duty to do nonetheless, and he has to do it right. Or he could be struck dead, He had to stay focused, couldn't get anything wrong. Verse 7. He shall take two goats and represent them before Yahweh at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats. One lot for the Lord. and the other lot for the scapegoat. Propitiation for the people. We don't use those words a l every day.
propitiation, atonement. It has to do with Getting the heart right before God on God's terms. Not our own. One of the purposes of God saying there are unclean animals and there are clean animals. There are animals you can bring to the temple, there are animals you cannot.
and you better get your head in the game, or else there's going to be trouble. As mentioned, the mention of Nadab and Abiha, the two sons of Aaron that were slain. We're not being focused. One animal would be slain to picture the substitutionary death of Christ. The other sent to the wilderness to represent the removal of sin.
What's the purpose of having a blood sacrifice if my sin is still there on me?
So it's sort of an object lesson. When that Scapegoat was taken out of the camp. The people knew it would be released into the wild. There goes my sins. Cast away The Day of Atonement Would leave a lasting impression on the people.
Not everybody could see this taking place, there was no stadium. You have a a level camp. With all the tribes of Israel. There's no way you can see over the shoulders or over the tents. But you'd know what's going on.
and is published Circulated throughout the camp. At the end of it all, the tribal leaders and the VIPs would come back home and they would discuss this. with their families. It would be part of the conversation for a few days. Verse nine And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord's lot fell, and offer it a sin offering.
likely using the Urim and Thurm of the High Priest. to discover this that was kept in his breastplate. At this point he has returned to the men. Adorned? his vestments for the offering of the people.
the casting of lots did not serve the church well? and it ended with the giving of the Holy Spirit. We don't roll the dice to find out God's will. We ask God and wait for the leading. That is the ideal.
Very hard to do sometimes when you really want something.
Okay, Lord, just give me a sign. Ooh, look at that A cardinal landed on my roof. Verse 10 But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord, before Yahweh. To make atonement upon it and to let it go as a scapegoat into the wilderness. In verse 11, And Aaron shall Bring the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and his house, and kill.
The bull as the sin offering. which is for himself.
So the way it reads is like it's all out of sequence. Again, they knew what the order was. Aaron had to first be purified before he got to the people. But Moses he comes back and he repeats things. Isn't it hard to have a conversation with somebody who just constantly repeats the same thing?
Sha Tama, don't say that again. That's it's given to us somewhat like that. And you gotta be that's a fact, it's not a criticism. Though maybe a sneaky one. The two goats are again representing the double effect Of Christ's work.
The sacrificial part where he is slain for sinners That that's the substitutional sacrifice, the doctrine of substitution, is simply Christ died for sinners. It first shows up in Genesis 3, verse 21. when God had to give Adam and Eve? animal skins to cover their nudity. It doesn't have to say They had to kill the animals.
They certainly didn't skin em and leave em walking around. But that was a sacrifice. It shows up again. in Genesis twenty two verse seven where Isaac is being offered a burnt offering, And as Abraham is about to bring down the knife. God says, Do thy son no harm.
He stops him. And there was the ram caught in the thicket, and that was the substitution for Isaac, and these are all pointing to the coming Macro Messiah.
So the scapegoat He symbolized the transference of guilt.
So it's God kinda saying to humanity, There's gotta be blood. Because of sin now and disobedience, things had to die to deal with man's disobedience. The outcome. is the removal of sin. And that is, of course, the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses us from all sin.
Sin separates, and this animal will be separated. Bye, okay. Thanks for tuning in to today's edition of Cross Reference Radio. Pastor Rick Gaston is currently going through the book of Leviticus. We're glad you joined us.
We trust that you're gaining some valuable insights into God's Word as we go through this Old Testament book. Cross-Reference Radio comes to you from Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville, in Virginia. If you'd like to subscribe to our podcast, you can do so by going to your favorite app store and downloading from there. For any additional information about this ministry, we invite you to visit our website, crossreference radio.com. Make sure to come back again for the upcoming edition in the book of Leviticus, as Pastor Rick has much more to share.
We thank you for being with us right here on Cross Reference Radio. Yeah.
