How does Leviticus 16:5 foreshadow Christ's atoning sacrifice for our sins? Setting the Scene in Leviticus 16:5 “ ‘And he shall take from the congregation of the sons of Israel two male goats as a sin offering and one ram as a burnt offering.’ ” The Dual Goats: One Offering, Two Pictures of Christ • Both goats together equal one sin offering (v. 5)—a single atonement viewed from two angles. • Christ fulfills both aspects in one unified work (Hebrews 9:11-14). The Sin-Bearing Goat: Christ’s Substitution • The first goat is killed; its blood is carried behind the veil (Leviticus 16:15). • Blood sprinkled on the mercy seat secures forgiveness for the people (v. 16). • Foreshadowed truth: “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). • Christ offered His own blood in the true heavenly sanctuary (Hebrews 9:24-26). • Prophetic parallel: “The LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). • Result: our sins are paid in full (John 19:30). The Scapegoat: Christ’s Removal of Sin • The second goat lives yet bears the same guilt; Aaron lays hands, confessing sins over it (Leviticus 16:20-22). • Goat is led into the wilderness, “carrying on itself all their iniquities to a solitary place” (v. 22). • Picture of separation: sins sent far away, never to return (Psalm 103:12; Micah 7:19). • Fulfilled when Christ “suffered outside the gate” (Hebrews 13:11-12); He bears sin away from God’s presence (John 1:29). The Ram Burnt Offering: Christ’s Complete Devotion • After atonement, the high priest offers the ram as a burnt offering (Leviticus 16:24). • Burnt offerings symbolize total consecration, ascending wholly to God (Leviticus 1:9). • Christ not only died for sin but presented Himself fully to the Father (Ephesians 5:2). • His resurrection and ascension declare a life utterly devoted and accepted (Romans 6:9-10). Unpacking the Foreshadowing for Today • One sin offering, two goats—one Savior, one cross, two benefits: forgiveness and removal. • The slain goat shows the price; the living goat shows the distance our sins are sent. • The ram reminds us redemption leads to wholehearted worship and surrender (Romans 12:1). Key Takeaways • Leviticus 16:5 is more than ritual; it prophetically sketches the gospel. • Christ’s blood satisfies God’s justice; His bearing away of sin secures our cleansing (1 John 1:7). • Because our sin is both paid for and removed, we may “draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22). |
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