Text: Leviticus 23:26-32
& Hebrews 9:1-14
(It is suggested that chapter 16 of Leviticus be read)
Introduction:
In the 7th Month
(our Oct.) on the 10th Day – the highest of all days was observed.
This was the Day of Atonement. This was the day of reconciliation – when sins
were reconciled – when accountability for sin was reconciled.
Recount Ceremony
Someone
would say, “Another sacrifice -- don’t
they every run out of bullocks, goats or lambs. The problem wasn’t running out
of sacrificial animals (I can see the animal rights people picketing the temple
now) – no the problem was not running out of animals the problem was they never
ran out of sin or of sinning.
Nothing
points to the problem of sin like the sacrifices of the Old Testament. The Day
of Atonement showed once again that no matter how strict or how sincere the
person was, there was still a problem with sin!
Ecclesiastes 7:20
20 For there is not
a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Meeting
God was no casual event. No one knew this more than the High Priest that would
a least enter the Holy of Holies three times and more likely according to Jews
tradition four times. Each time He entered it was soul shaking.
Especially
the first time:
Note:
1.
He
would Cleanse
2.
He
would make a Sacrifice for Himself – He would enter with the Blood.
Hebrews 9:7
7 But into the second went
the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he
offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
3.
He
brought coals of fire from the Alter and Incense to fill the Holy of Holies
with Prayer
4.
The
Blood would be Applied
At
the very best the sacrifices were only a temporary appeasement. They were only
a shadow of what was really needed.
Hebrews 10:1
For the law having a
shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can
never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make
the comers thereunto perfect.
Leviticus 16:8-10
8
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. 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.
What
could be more innocent than a young goat – yet sins were placed upon scapegoat
and he was removed from the presences of the Lord.
Compare
that with our Lord Jesus.
The
Bible says, Who [Jesus] did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:[1]
(1 Peter 2:21)
One
commentator said this, “In the case of
our Lord’s suffering, it was the just that suffered for the unjust; he
substituted himself in our room and stead, and bore our iniquities. He that
knew no sin suffered instead of those that knew no righteousness.”[2]
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift
of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
How often we hear that verse – how little we pay much
attention to it.
Hebrews 9:11-12
11
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and
more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this
building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood
he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for
us.
Romans 3:25
[Jesus]
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his
blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are
past, through the forbearance of God;
No
man could stand before God – Only Jesus had that right.
Hebrews 9:15
And
for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death,
for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first
testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal
inheritance.
The
Holy of Holies was closed to man but because of Jesus men may now approach the
Holy God because they are clothed with the righteousness of Jesus.
Hebrews 4:16
16 Let us therefore come
boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to
help in time of need.