How does Leviticus 4:18 connect to Christ's ultimate sacrifice on the cross? The Verse “He shall apply some of the blood to the horns of the altar that is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting, and he shall pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.” (Leviticus 4:18) Key Details in the Ritual • Blood applied to the horns of the inner altar—symbol of intercession and power • Remaining blood poured at the base of the bronze altar—public witness that sin has been judged • Priest acts on behalf of the sinner—substitution at work • Purpose: atonement for unintentional sin (Leviticus 4:20) Patterns That Point Forward • Two-stage application mirrors two arenas of atonement – Holy Place (before the LORD) – Outer court (in sight of the people) • Blood on “horns” (strength) signals that forgiveness rests on God’s power, not human effort • Public pouring declares that atonement is visible, verifiable, and final • Every element required a sinless substitute—anticipating One greater than bulls and goats (Hebrews 10:4) Fulfillment in Christ • Christ carried His own blood “not into a sanctuary made with hands… but into heaven itself” (Hebrews 9:24) • The cross stood outside the city gate—public exposure just like the base of the bronze altar (Hebrews 13:11-12) • Blood shed once for all achieves what repeated animal sacrifices never could (Hebrews 9:12-14) • Horns of power: at the resurrection Christ was “declared with power to be the Son of God” (Romans 1:4), proving His blood fully accepted • Visible witness: water and blood flowed (John 19:34) showing a real, physical atonement, not a symbol only Why This Matters Today • Confidence—our forgiveness rests on a completed, God-accepted sacrifice (1 Peter 1:18-19) • Access—Christ’s blood on the heavenly altar means we may “draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22) • Witness—just as the blood was poured where all could see, believers live openly, testifying that peace with God is now available (Colossians 1:20) |
    |