Leviticus 16:1-34
We just read through the Day of Atonement and everything that happened on that day. There are people out there who attempt to apply things that happened during the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ one to one to the day of atonement.
Or, they like to pick and choose things from the day of atonement and apply them to the atonement Jesus Christ made for us during his death, burial, and resurrection.
Let’s keep in mind that the day of atonement was executed in Leviticus Chapter 16 by Aaron the high priest from the Levites.
Jesus Christ is Not a Priest After the Order of Aaron
And let’s keep in mind that Jesus Christ is not a priest after the order of Aaron. He’s a priest after the order of Melchizedek. Not after the order of Aaron.
Jesus Christ died as the Passover Lamb in the first month. He was beaten, whipped, mocked, scourged, spit on, and a crown of thorns placed on his head. He was bleeding. They put nails through his hands and his feet. He was bleeding. After he died, a soldier pierced his side and blood and water came out. His blood was shed for us. The life is in the blood. He gave his life for us.
Once we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, his blood is applied to our souls washing all of our sin away by his blood, by his sacrifice, by his blood shed, by his death, by his blood, by his life given for us, by his blood. And, just in case I didn’t say that enough, I believe the blood of Jesus Christ saves us from all our sins.
I believe his entire life, his death, burial, and resurrection saves us from our sins. If he wasn’t the perfect man, we couldn’t be saved. If his blood wasn’t shed for us, we couldn’t be saved.
Day of Atonement is in the Seventh Month
The Day of Atonement is in the seventh month as we just read. It’s not in the first month when Jesus died, his blood was shed, he was buried, his soul was not left in hell, and he arose from the dead. First month Jesus is the Passover Lamb. Seventh month is the Day of Atonement.
Is Jesus the atonement for our sins? Yes, of course. But, let’s not try to pick and choose what we want from the Day of Atonement and make up fairy tales like it’s applied one to one to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So, let’s look closely at the Day of Atonement details.
Leviticus 16:1-2
And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died; 2 And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
This is the Lord giving Moses commandments to give to his brother Aaron who is the high priest of the children of Israel. There is a holy place within the vail. Aaron is not to come at all times into the holy place before the mercy seat which is upon the ark. God will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
Once Per Year on the Day of Atonement
Aaron is not to come in there at all times. God is going to command him to come in there one time per year on the Day of Atonement which is in the seventh month on the tenth day of the seventh month. It’s not the Passover. It’s the Day of Atonement.
Leviticus 16:3
Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.
When Aaron comes into the holy place, he will have a young bullock for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. We don’t see just a passover lamb. We already see a young bullock and a ram. One for a sin offering and one for a burnt offering.
Leviticus 16:4
He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.
He is supposed to wear certain clothing: a holy linen coat, linen breeches, linen girdle, and a linen mitre or head covering. Aaron shall wash his flesh in water and then put on the holy garments.
Leviticus 16:5
And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
The Five Different Offerings
Now, the previous bull and ram were for Aaron. Now we see him taking from the congregation of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering.
For Aaron:
- Young bullock for a sin offering
- Ram for a burnt offering
For the children of Israel:
- Kid of the goat for a sin offering
- Kid of the goat for a sin offering
- Ram for a burnt offering
We see five total animals. Jesus Christ is the Passover Lamb when he died on the cross. Here, on the Day of Atonement, we see a young bullock, a ram, a kid of the goats, another kid of the goats, and another ram. Five total.
Leviticus 16:6
And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.
Aaron, as the high priest, who definitely isn’t perfect, who is definitely a sinner, offers the bullock for a sin offering. Why? For himself. “And make an atonement for himself, and for his house.” The high priest of Israel, Aaron, is a sinner. So he must offer a sin offering for himself and for his house.
Jesus Doesn’t Need to Offer for His Sins
Jesus is not a sinner. Jesus is our high priest. He’s a better high priest. He doesn’t have to offer a sin offering for himself and for his house. He’s perfect.
Leviticus 16:7
And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Now we see the two goats for a sin offering for the children of Israel. The bull was a sin offering for Aaron and his house. And now the two goats are a sin offering for the congregation of the children of Israel. They are both sin offerings to the Lord. The Bible already told us that.
Leviticus 16:8-9
And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.
Lots are cast for the goats. One lot will go to the Lord. The other lot for the scapegoat. One goat will be offered for a sin offering.
Leviticus 16:10
But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.
Two Goats Presented: One Dead and One Alive
The dead goat and the live goat will be presented. The live goat will be presented alive before the Lord to make an atonement with him. One dead and one alive. The live goat will be let go as a scapegoat into the wilderness. The definition of scapegoat is person or thing that is made to bear blame for others.
We’ve seen the bull for a sin offering and the two goats for a sin offering. We’re going to see more details about the bull sin offering.
Leviticus 16:11-13
And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself: 12 And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail: 13 And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:
We are back to the first bull which is a sin offering for Aaron and for his house. He kills the bullock of the sin offering. He takes a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar. His hands are full of sweet incense beaten small. He brings it within the vail. He puts incense upon the fire before the Lord and this creates a cloud of incense that covers the mercy seat that is upon the testimony.
The Cloud Will Prevent Aaron from Looking at God
This cloud will prevent Aaron from looking upon God who will appear above the mercy seat. If anyone looked directly at God, they would die. “That the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony that he die not.”
Leviticus 16:14
And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.
Now, this is the important part. Aaron takes of the blood of the bull that was sacrificed for his sin. He sprinkles it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward and before the mercy seat. Aaron sprinkles of the blood with his finger seven times. Now, what was this doing exactly?
Was the sacrifice of the bull a sin offering for Aaron? The blood of the bull was shed. Did Aaron have to bring of the blood and sprinkle it on the mercy seat to forgive his sins or was there something else to this sprinkling of the blood? Let’s keep going.
Leviticus 16:15
Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:
This is a continuation of what is happening. He killed the bull for himself and his house. He took the blood to the mercy seat and before the mercy seat and sprinkled the blood. Now he kills the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and brings his blood within the vail. He does the same thing as he did with the bull.
Sprinkling Blood on the Mercy Seat and Before the Mercy Seat
Aaron sprinkles it upon the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. On it and before it. Not just on the mercy seat. That’s important. On and before the mercy seat. Now, why is he doing this? Why is he sprinkling this blood? There is a colon there at the end of the verse. The Bible, God himself, is going to tell us why he is sprinkling this blood.
Now, why am I going over this? Some people will say that Jesus, after he arose from the dead, three days after his blood was shed at the cross, had to take his physical blood to the physical mercy seat in heaven and sprinkle his physical blood in heaven on the mercy seat. Why? Because Aaron the high priest sprinkled the blood of a bull and of a goat on and before the mercy seat.
They are saying Jesus must follow the exact pattern that Aaron followed here on the Day of Atonement even though Jesus Christ is a better high priest and he isn’t a priest after the order of Aaron. He isn’t from the tribe of Levi. He isn’t a Levite. They believe the book of Hebrews says something that it doesn’t. It says “BY HIS BLOOD” and not “WITH HIS BLOOD.”
But, let’s allow the Bible, the original Day of Atonement, speak for itself. Because the Bible tells us right here why Aaron sprinkled the blood of a bull and the blood of a goat on and before the mercy seat. Why we he sprinkle before the mercy seat? Why wouldn’t he just sprinkle it on the mercy seat to make an atonement for our sins?
Fairy Tales That Don’t Match the Bible
Here’s the answer as clear as day right there in Leviticus Chapter 16. We must stop making up fairy tales because it sounds good. We have to go by the Bible. What people are saying is not written in the Bible.
Leviticus 16:16
And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
What does the Bible clearly say he is making an atonement for? “And he shall make an atonement for the holy place.” The blood sprinkled on and before the mercy seat is to make an atonement for the holy place. Is that not what it says clearly right there?
Now, as we continue, you tell me if there’s a difference between the holy place in heaven and the holy place on earth which is just a figure of the things in heaven. Is there a difference? The Bible tells you there is a difference right there in that Scripture which is perfect.
An Atonement for the Holy Place?
“He shall make an atonement for the holy place BECAUSE of the uncleanness of the children of Israel and BECAUSE of their transgressions in all their sins.” He has to sprinkle the blood to cleanse the holy place on earth. And it’s not just on the mercy seat but it’s before the mercy seat too. To make an atonement for the holy place.
“And so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.” Does heaven need to be cleansed because of uncleanness? The tabernacle on earth did. The high priest who is not God did. They were all unclean. Unclean hands made the tabernacle on earth. The one in heaven wasn’t made with those hands.
And yes, I am subtly referencing the book of Hebrews as I am preaching this. So, for anyone who listening that doesn’t think I know the book of Hebrews, you would be wrong. I read my Bible. I study my Bible. I know what Hebrews says. I know what Leviticus says.
And there it is right there. Don’t try to change it. Don’t try to make up a different reason. If that’s not enough, the Bible repeats this reason multiple times. Let’s keep reading.
He Goeth In To Make An Atonement FOR The Holy Place
Leviticus 16:17
And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.
Many people will say that Mary Magdalene couldn’t touch Jesus after he arose from the dead because he hadn’t yet sprinkled the blood on the mercy seat. They will say that if Mary Magdalene touched Jesus that she would corrupt the sacrifice that Jesus made. Jesus had already died, his blood was already shed, his soul already went to hell for three days and three nights, and he arose from the dead in an incorruptible body.
That verse right there doesn’t say anything about another man touching Aaron and corrupting the sacrifice of the bull and of the goat. Where do they get that? Hey, it’s not in the Bible. It just sounds good.
There shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in and until he come out. Says nothing about a man touching him and being corrupted. He’s the high priest and he goes in alone. Mary Magdalene didn’t try to latch on to Jesus to secretly ascend with him while he sprinkled blood on the mercy seat in heaven. She wasn’t trying to go in there with him.
That’s what this verse says. It doesn’t say anything about a man touching Aaron and making him unclean. Jesus can’t be corrupted. Mary Magdalane couldn’t have corrupted Jesus. That’s just silly. It’s actually one of the silliest things I’ve ever heard. Lepers touched Jesus before he died and was in an incorruptible body. Satan tried to corrupt Jesus in this same flesh. Couldn’t do it.
Make an Atonement for the Altar
Now watch this next part in the Holy Scriptures of God.
Leviticus 16:18-19
And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about. 19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
What is Aaron making an atonement for and why? Let’s read it slowly together since the long time experts have trouble doing that. “And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the Lord, and make an atonement for it.” He’s making an atonement for the altar. He takes the blood of the bullock and the blood of the goat and puts it upon the horns of the altar round about.
Verse 19, again, says: “And cleanse it. And hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.” Why? Because this was all made on earth with their hands and was on earth where all the sinners are located. Cleanse the altar itself and hallow the altar itself from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
Now, did I add anything to the word of God? Did I change anything about what God said? I didn’t. It’s all written right there. If that’s not enough, let’s see the next verse.
Reconciling the Holy Place
Leviticus 16:20
And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:
Now, the sprinkling of the blood is over. The blood was taken and sprinkled on and before the mercy seat, the tabernacle, and the altar. “And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar.” That’s why the blood was sprinkled. It was to cleanse the things on earth because of the uncleanness on earth.
Sin doesn’t exist in heaven. Physical blood doesn’t go into heaven. Flesh and blood doesn’t go into heaven. “Flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus never went into heaven in his physical flesh and blood. He stayed on earth for approximately 33 years, died on the cross, his body was buried, his soul was not left in hell, he arose from the dead in the same but glorified and incorruptible body.
Jesus Was Born on This Earth and Died Here
He was born here and he died here. He ascended into heaven 40 days after he arose from the dead in his new glorified body. That’s what the Bible teaches. Don’t add to the words.
Proverbs 30:6
Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Don’t add stories that aren’t there. We have to stop taking things that we’ve heard in commentaries or words by man and elevating those words. We need to put those in the dirt and exalt the word of God.
So we see Aaron reconcile the holy place, and the tabernacle, and the altar by sprinkling blood. The Bible clearly and specifically says this.
Leviticus 16:20-21
And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat: 21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
Aaron then takes the live goat, he lays both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confesses over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat. He puts all their sins on the head of the goat.
There’s Another Man Besides Aaron the High Priest
He then sends him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness.
Leviticus 16:22
And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.
So far we’ve seen a bull for Aaron and his house. A goat for the children of Israel. Those two made reconciliation of the holy place by the sprinkling of blood. Now we see the other goat. And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities.
That’s what the Bible says. Does it not? I haven’t changed the words. I’m going straight by what this chapter says. I’m not changing it. Remember, we had five total animals. Let me put this here again:
For Aaron and his house:
- Young bullock for a sin offering (Completed)
- Ram for a burnt offering
For the children of Israel:
- Kid of the goat for a sin offering (Completed)
- Kid of the goat for a sin offering (Completed)
- Ram for a burnt offering
Two Rams for Burnt Offerings
So, we have a ram for a burnt offering for Aaron and his house left and another ram for a burnt offering for the children of Israel.
Leviticus 16:23-25
And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there: 24 And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people. 25 And the fat of the sin offering shall he burn upon the altar.
Aaron comes into the tabernacle, takes off his linen garments, and leaves them there. He washes his flesh with water in the holy place. He puts on his garments, comes forth, and offers his burnt offering which is that first ram, and he offers the other ram for the people. “And make an atonement for himself, and for the people.”
The two rams are burnt offerings or atonements for Aaron, his house, and the people.
Leviticus 16:26
And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp.
So, there is another man involved on this Day of Atonement. The man who takes the scapegoat out into the wilderness with the sins of all the people is to wash his clothes and bathe his flesh in water. Then he can come back into the camp.
Blood Was Sprinkled to Make an Atonement in the Holy Place
Leviticus 16:27-28
And the bullock for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall one carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung. 28 And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.
Now we’re back to the bullock and the goat whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place. One shall carry forth outside of the camp. So this is a third man that was needed. The skins, flesh, and dung of that bullock and goat is to be burned with fire. The man that takes them outside the camp to burn them will then wash his clothes, bathe his flesh in water, and then come back into the camp.
Now, the rest of the verses in this chapter are going to summarize the Day of Atonement for us.
Leviticus 16:29-30
And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: 30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.
Seventh month on the tenth day of the month. Not the first month. Not the fourteenth day of the first month. This isn’t the Passover. On the tenth day of the seventh month is the day of atonement. “For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord.”
Afflict Your Souls on the Day of Atonement
Leviticus 16:31-32
It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever. 32 And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest’s office in his father’s stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments:
The Day of Atonement is a Sabbath Day. When Jesus arose from the dead, it wasn’t a Sabbath Day. This atonement is to continue by anointing high priest after high priest. That high priest shall make an atonement with the linen clothes on even the holy garments. Now, again, notice the colon at the end of this verse. The Bible is going to tell us what atonements are made.
Leviticus 16:33
And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.
What atonements are listed there? Number 1. The Holy Sanctuary. Number 2. The Tabernacle of the Congregation. Number 3. The Altar. Number 4. The Priests. Number 5. All the People of the Congregation.
A Table of the Five Atonements on Atonement Day
Here’s a table showing the 5 different atonements made on atonement day:
| # | Who | What | Why | How | Atonement |
| 1 | Aaron & Priests | Bullock | Sin Offering | Blood sprinkled before and on mercy seat | 1. Holy Sanctuary 2. Tabernacle of Congregation 3. Altar |
| 2 | People of Israel | Goat | Sin Offering | Blood sprinkled before and on mercy seat | 1. Holy Sanctuary 2. Tabernacle of Congregation 3. Altar |
| 3 | People of Israel | Scapegoat | Sin Offering | Sins placed upon head of the goat and sent into wilderness | Sins of the children of Israel |
| 4 | Aaron & Priests | Ram | Burnt Offering | Upon altar | For himself & priests |
| 5 | People of Israel | Ram | Burnt Offering | Upon altar | For the people |
The blood being sprinkled before the mercy seat and on the mercy seat is to atone for the holy sanctuary, the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar. The scapegoat atones for the sins of the children of Israel. The burnt offerings are atonements for Aaron, the priests, and the people.
With that said, people out there should be very careful using the word of God. Heaven doesn’t need to be cleansed with physical blood. It’s already holy in heaven. The atonement for the holy sanctuary, the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar don’t need to be made in heaven because heaven doesn’t need to be cleansed with physical blood.
The Altar is on the Earth and the Mercy Seat is in Heaven?
Where’s the altar when Jesus Christ died? They would say it’s the cross. That’s where he was sacrificed. Where’s the mercy seat? These people who teach Jesus had to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat are placing the altar on the earth and the mercy seat in heaven. Why not the altar in heaven? You’re mixing things up between heaven and earth and between physical and spiritual.
The blood of Jesus was shed right there in the altar of earth at the cross on this earth but then he takes the physical blood to the mercy seat in heaven? Why is one on the earth and one in heaven? What they attempt to teach doesn’t make any sense at all.
Jesus is the atonement for our sins. His blood was shed for us. He died for us. Is Jesus the bullock, the goat, the scapegoat, the ram, and the other ram on the day of atonement? Jesus is the Passover Lamb. His death, burial, and resurrection occurred during the Passover week. Jesus is not a priest after the order of Aaron.
Jesus Doesn’t Need a Sin Offering or Burnt Offering and Heaven Doesn’t Either
Now, you can take that table right there and attempt to apply it with Jesus being the high priest. Jesus doesn’t need a sin offering or burnt offering. You can get rid of #1 and #4 in the table. If the sanctuary, tabernacle, and altar are in heaven, you don’t need #1 and #2. That leaves #3 and #5.
That means #1 and #2 with the sprinkling of blood are no longer there and no longer required because Jesus is our high priest and the holy place is in heaven which needs no cleansing.
If you’re going to attempt to use the Day of Atonement to say that Jesus ascended into heaven and sprinkled his physical blood on the mercy seat from three days earlier, this simply means you aren’t understanding what happened in Leviticus Chapter 16 and why it happened.
Fables and fairy tales made up by men and carried on by men. We’ll stick to the exact word of God here, and we won’t add to the Scriptures.
Let’s pray.
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