How does Leviticus 9:7 emphasize the importance of atonement for leaders and people? “Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘Approach the altar and present your sin offering and your burnt offering to make atonement for yourself and the people; present the offering of the people to make atonement for them, as the LORD has commanded.’” Two Truths in One Command • One altar, two offerings—one for the priest, one for the congregation • Both leader and people stand guilty before a holy God • Atonement is the shared, non-negotiable need of every soul present Why the Priest Goes First • Cleansed leadership: Aaron cannot mediate for others until his own sin is covered (Hebrews 5:1-3) • Visible humility: the people watch their spiritual head admit his need • Foreshadowing: points to Christ, the sinless High Priest who still “made Himself an offering for sin” (Isaiah 53:10; Hebrews 7:26-27) Why the People Follow • No one is exempt; collective guilt demands collective covering (2 Chronicles 29:21) • Unity in worship: atonement brings the entire nation into fellowship with God • Obedience to the pattern: “as the LORD has commanded” ties every sacrifice to God’s revealed will Divine Initiative, Not Human Invention • God prescribed the ritual; humans simply obey • The altar, the animals, and the order all underline that forgiveness is granted on God’s terms (Leviticus 17:11) • Atonement is thus certain, because the promise rests on God’s authority, not human effort Gospel Foreshadowing • Yearly blood points ahead to the once-for-all blood of Christ (Hebrews 9:7, 12) • Aaron’s need contrasts with Jesus’ sinlessness, magnifying the sufficiency of the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21) • Leader and people alike now find atonement in the same place—at Calvary (1 John 2:2) Takeaways for Today • Spiritual leaders still need the cleansing they proclaim • Congregations follow best when leaders model repentance first • God’s provision for sin has always been singular, specific, and sufficient—trust it, don’t tweak it |
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