What does "the priest will make atonement" teach about intercession and forgiveness? Setting the Phrase in Context • Leviticus 4:20: “He is to do the same with this bull as he did with the sin offering for the people; he shall do the same with it, so the priest will make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven.” • The language appears repeatedly in Leviticus 4–6, Numbers 15, and elsewhere, anchoring Israel’s worship around sacrifice and priestly mediation. Why a Priest Was Needed • Sin created a real breach between God and His people (Genesis 3:23). • God, in holiness, required that breach be dealt with through blood (Leviticus 17:11). • A divinely appointed priest stood in the gap, handling the sacrifice exactly as God prescribed. What “the Priest Will Make Atonement” Teaches about Intercession • Representation: The priest represented the sinner before God, standing in the sinner’s place. • Identification: Laying hands on the animal (Leviticus 4:4) transferred guilt symbolically; the priest acted on behalf of the guilty. • Mediation: Only the priest could enter the sanctuary with the blood, foreshadowing a Mediator who alone gains access to God (Hebrews 9:7). • Continual service: Sacrifices were daily (Numbers 28:3); intercession had to be ongoing because sin was ongoing. What It Teaches about Forgiveness • Objectivity: Forgiveness was not a feeling but a declared fact—“they will be forgiven.” • Costliness: Innocent blood was poured out (Leviticus 4:7), underscoring that forgiveness is never cheap. • Completeness: The atonement covered even unintentional sins (Leviticus 4:2), showing God’s provision reaches every failure. • Assurance: God Himself set the terms; when they were met, forgiveness was guaranteed (Psalm 32:1–2). Fulfillment in the Greater Priest • Jesus is “a high priest forever” (Hebrews 7:24). • His sacrifice was “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10), ending the need for repetitive offerings. • He “always lives to intercede” (Hebrews 7:25), perfectly embodying the ongoing intercession pictured in Leviticus. • Through Him we have “boldness and access with confidence” (Ephesians 3:12). Living Out the Truth Today • Approach God confidently, knowing a perfect Priest has already made atonement. • Rest in full forgiveness, rejecting guilt He has removed (Psalm 103:12). • Intercede for others, reflecting the priestly heart of Christ (1 Timothy 2:1). • Proclaim the good news: forgiveness is available through the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus (Acts 13:38). |
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