Topical Bible: Holy of Holies: The High Priest: Made Atonement For

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Holy of Holies, also known as the Most Holy Place, is the innermost and most sacred area of the ancient Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem. It was here that the presence of God was believed to dwell, and it was separated from the rest of the sanctuary by a veil. The Holy of Holies housed the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod, and a pot of manna (Hebrews 9:4).

The Role of the High Priest

The High Priest held the unique and solemn responsibility of entering the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). This was the only time anyone was permitted to enter this sacred space, and it was done to make atonement for the sins of the people of Israel. The High Priest acted as a mediator between God and the Israelites, performing rituals that symbolized the purification and reconciliation of the people with God.

The Day of Atonement Rituals

On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would first bathe and dress in special linen garments, distinct from his usual ornate attire (Leviticus 16:4). He would then offer a bull as a sin offering for himself and his household, ensuring his own purification before interceding for the people (Leviticus 16:6, 11). The blood of the bull was sprinkled on the mercy seat and before the Ark of the Covenant within the Holy of Holies (Leviticus 16:14).

Following this, the High Priest would take two goats for the congregation. One goat was chosen by lot to be sacrificed as a sin offering for the people, and its blood was also brought into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled on the mercy seat (Leviticus 16:15). The other goat, known as the scapegoat, was presented alive before the Lord. The High Priest would lay his hands on its head, confessing over it all the iniquities of the Israelites, symbolically transferring their sins onto the goat. This scapegoat was then sent away into the wilderness, signifying the removal of the people's sins (Leviticus 16:21-22).

Significance of Atonement

The rituals performed by the High Priest in the Holy of Holies were central to the spiritual life of Israel, emphasizing the holiness of God and the seriousness of sin. The shedding of blood and the use of the scapegoat illustrated the need for both propitiation and expiation—appeasing God's wrath and removing sin from the community.

The New Testament book of Hebrews reflects on the significance of these rituals, presenting Jesus Christ as the ultimate High Priest who entered the heavenly Holy of Holies once for all by His own blood, securing eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:11-12). This act fulfilled and transcended the Old Testament sacrificial system, offering believers direct access to God through Christ's atoning work.

Biblical References

· Leviticus 16:2-34: Detailed instructions for the Day of Atonement and the role of the High Priest.
· Hebrews 9:1-14: Explanation of the earthly sanctuary and Christ's superior priesthood and sacrifice.

The Holy of Holies and the High Priest's role in making atonement underscore the profound themes of holiness, sacrifice, and reconciliation that are central to the biblical narrative.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 16:15,16,20,33
Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Fact of the Redeemer's Return was Foreshadowed in the Ritual ...
... The Anti type, our great High Priest, has already made atonement and has passed
through the veil into the Holy of Holies on high "now to appear in the presence ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/5 the fact of the.htm

In the Holy of Holies.
... place, until he come out."(712) So when Christ entered the holy of holies to perform ...
When in the typical service the high priest left the holy on the day of ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /24 in the holy of.htm

In the Holy of Holies
... So when Christ entered the holy of holies to perform ... When in the typical service
the high priest left the holy on the Day of Atonement, he went in before ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 24 in the holy.htm

The Only Atoning Priest
... Jesus sits in the holy of holies, and herein we ... meant those who are made perfectly
holy in character ... self-evident truth; but the great high priest perfected for ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/the only atoning priest.htm

Christ's Priestly Office
... Christ our high priest exactly answered to this type. ... and he is gone up into heaven,
which answers to the priest's going into the holy of holies; and he ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/4 christs priestly office.htm

Peace
... he entered into the holy of holies, with blood, was a type of Christ our high priest,
who by his sacrifice pacified his angry Father, and made atonement for us ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/7 peace.htm

What is the Sanctuary?
... within the inner veil, upon the holy of holies. ... us entered, even Jesus, made an high
priest forever." "Neither ... He entered in once into the holy place, having ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /23 what is the sanctuary.htm

The Copies of Things in the Heavens
... The 'holy of holies' was a ... There, in the thick darkness, unseen by mortals except
for the one approach of the high- priest on the day of atonement, dwelt ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the copies of things in.htm

What is the Sanctuary?
... within the inner veil, upon the holy of holies. ... us entered, even Jesus, made an high
priest forever." "Neither ... He entered in once into the holy place, having ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 23 what is the.htm

The Investigative Judgment.
... High Priest enters the holy of holies, and there ... remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be
called holy, even every ... In the typical service the high priest, having made ...
/.../28 the investigative judgment.htm