What New Testament passages connect with the scapegoat symbolism in Leviticus 16:21? Leviticus 16:21 Recap “Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities of the Israelites and all their transgressions and sins, putting them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of a man appointed for the task.” The Core Picture • Sin transferred by confession • Substitute bears the guilt • Removal—sent far away, outside the camp, never to return New Testament Echoes of the Scapegoat 1. John the Baptist’s Declaration – John 1:29 • “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” • Takes away = carries off, mirroring the goat that removed Israel’s sins. • The wilderness setting of John’s ministry underscores the Day of Atonement backdrop. 2. Christ Bears and Removes Sin – 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 9:26 • “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree.” (1 Peter 2:24) • “He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” (Hebrews 9:26) • Both verses echo the laying of sins upon the goat and their final removal. 3. Substitution and Sin Transfer – 2 Corinthians 5:21 • “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” • Direct link to the goat that literally “became” the sins of the people. 4. Outside the Camp – Hebrews 13:11-12 • “The bodies of the animals ... are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to sanctify the people by His own blood.” • As the scapegoat vanished into the wilderness outside the community, Christ was crucified outside Jerusalem’s walls, carrying sin away from God’s people. 5. Curse Removed – Galatians 3:13 • “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” • Matches the goat’s role of lifting the curse off Israel and taking it elsewhere. 6. Perfected Once for All – Hebrews 10:1-4, 10-14 • Repeats the contrast between yearly goats and Christ’s single, sufficient offering. • Emphasizes finality: “By one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” (10:14) 7. Cleansing and Access – Hebrews 9:11-12 • “He entered the Most Holy Place once for all ... having obtained eternal redemption.” • Aaron once a year; Jesus permanently. The scapegoat’s removal is now eternal redemption. 8. Salvation to the Ends of the Earth – Hebrews 9:28 • “So also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.” • “Bear” = same Greek root (anapherō) used for carrying away, mirroring the scapegoat’s burden. Key Takeaways • The New Testament repeatedly portrays Jesus as both sacrificial offering and scapegoat, uniting the two Levitical goats in one perfect Redeemer. • Every cited passage underscores transfer, substitution, removal, and finality—precisely what Leviticus 16:21 foreshadowed. |
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