1. The Book of Leviticus: Why It Matters to Christians
“Day Of Atonement”
Leviticus 16
References:
Primary
Dr. Constable’s Notes on Leviticus.
Secondary
International Study Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews
Matthew Henry Commentary
JFB Commentary

2. Announcements
Announcements

3. Prayer List
Prayer List

4. Leviticus Week Date Topic 1 08 Sep 10 Leviticus Introduction 2
Sacrifices: Leviticus 1-7 3
22 Sep 10
Priesthood of Aaron: Leviticus 8-10 4
29 Sep 10
Ritual Cleanliness: Leviticus 11-15 5
06 Oct 10
Day of Atonement: Leviticus 16 6
13 Oct 10
Holiness of Conduct: Leviticus 17-20 7
20 Oct 10
Holiness of Priests: Leviticus 21-22 8
27 Oct 10
Sabbath and Feasts: Leviticus 23 9
03 Nov 10
Preparation and Punishments: Leviticus 24 10
10 Nov 10
Sanctification of the Land: Leviticus 25 11
17 Nov 10
Promises and Warnings: Leviticus 26 12
24 Nov 10
Thanksgiving 13
01 Dec 10
Vows and Redemption of Tithes: Leviticus 27

5. Today’s Objectives Review the last week’s lesson from last week
Look at various terms used in today’s lesson
Review the “old way” that sins were atoned through the annual Day of Atonement
Examine the ceremonies that the high priest was to undertake to ensure the sacrifice was worthy
Learn about the duty of the people and the promise of God
Learn about the “new way” in which sins are atoned as outlined in Hebrews 9

6. Last week Reviewed last week’s lesson
Learned how the concept expressed in Leviticus 10:10 translate into laws found Leviticus 11-15
Reviewed possible sources of uncleanness and how God requires purification
Learned about acceptable and unacceptable animals
Learned about uncleanness due to childbirth
Learned about uncleanness due to skin diseases
Learned about uncleanness caused by the body

7. Tabernacle

8. Tabernacle
Ark
Laver
Altar of burn offering

9. Altar

10. 10

12. Early Israelite Timeline
1875 BC Jacob Moves to Egypt
Israelites Enslaved
1845 BC
Mosaic Covenant
1446 BC
Exodus
Conquest of Promised Land
1395 BC
Early Israelite Timeline
Egypt
430 Years in Egypt (Ex 12:40-41; Gal 3:17)
400Years of Bondage
(Gen 15:13, 16; Acts 7:6)
About 450 Years of bondage, wandering, and conquests (Acts 13:19-20)

13. Key To Studying Leviticus
We must examine the messages and determine what the passage represents in order to see the riches God has for us
Does the passage provide a spiritual truth?
Is this passage or verse a picture of New Testament spiritual truth that we obey today?
If it is, is that its only importance?
If this answer is yes, once we have determined the meaning of the picture, our interpretation is finished
If not, then we ask if it is a moral or physical command 13

14. Key To Studying Leviticus
Is it a moral or physical command:
Why did God give this verse/passage to the Israelites?
Is the command reflective of God's moral nature, and therefore one we need to follow, even today?
Did he want them to be different from the people around them?
If so, is the specific command relevant for us today, so that we might be different?
Did God give the command to them for health reasons? If so, is it relevant today? If we conclude that the specific command is not relevant for us, we must ask, What is the principle behind the commands of God? How does the principle apply to us? 14

15. Sacrifices To God God designed these offering to
Enable the Israelites to worship God
Taught the Israelites conditions necessary to restore and maintain the believers’ communion with God in view of their sin and defilement
Each offering involved three objects
The person bringing the offering
The object being offered (animal, for example)
The mediator (priest)
Differences in offerings
Each offering was different from the other offerings
Within each offering there were different options of what the offerer could present and how he could present it 15

16. Overview of Leviticus 16 Sin Offering Sin offering
“...for sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 Jn 3:4
“All unrighteousness is sin.” 1 Jn 5:17
Offering
That which is presented as atonement, e.g. a sacrifice
Sin offering
Sacrifice for unrighteousness
Almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without the shedding of blood is there is no remission (Heb 9:22)
Lets discuss the old way versus the new way 16

17. Overview of Leviticus 16
Sacrifices and offerings that Moses described in the Law up to this point were not sufficient to cleanse all the defilements of the people
Significant sinfulness and uncleanness still needed removing
God appointed a yearly sacrifice that cleansed all the sins and impurities not covered by other means that the Israelites committed ignorantly (Heb. 9:7)
The sacrifice of the Day of Atonement was, in this sense, the most comprehensive of the Mosaic sacrifices 17

18. Chapter 16 Overview
Final chapter of the first part of Leviticus that deals with the public worship of the Israelites
The second major part of Leviticus begins at the end of this chapter and reveals the private worship of the Israelites
Legislation that God prescribed shortly after and in view of the apostasy of Nadab and Abihu
Information about how the high priest must behave to preserve himself from a similar fate
Day of Atonement, or Great Day of Forgiveness, took place six months after the Passover 18

19. Introduction (16:1-10)
Introduction to the Day of Atonement legislation (16:1-2)
Moses received instructions regarding the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur immediately after the judgment of Nadab and Abihu
As usual, God revealed these laws to Moses, not directly to the priests or even the high priest, Aaron
Even the high priest was not to enter the presence of God in the holy of holies
Instruction about when and how Moses could enter and approach God
Now He dwells within each Christian (John 14:17; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:13) 19

20. Requirements for Ceremonies (16:3-5)
High priest had to make elaborate preparations for entering the holy of holies
Cleansing himself spiritually and physically
Offerings made were a bull as a sin offering and a ram as a burnt offering, both to cover own sins (Heb. 5:3)
Also had to wear a special uniform, not the ornate garments that he usually wore to carry out his regular duties
Bathe himself
The high priest entered the holy of holies only once each year on the Day of Atonement to make these special sacrifices (Heb. 9:7) 20

21. Outline of Ceremonies (16:6-10)
Aaron first offered the bull as a sin (purification) offering to cover his sins and the sins of the other priests (v. 6)
He cast lots to decide which of the two goats would die as a sin offering for the people and which one would be sent into the wilderness (vv. 7-8)
Then he sacrificed the goat that was to die (v. 9)
The “scapegoat”
Finally he brought the other goat before the Lord and then dispatched it into the wilderness (v. 10) 21

22. Instructions for the Ritual (16:11-28)
Blood-sprinkling ceremony (16:11-19)
Purification offering that Aaron was to offer for himself and the other priests
Incense smoke used to mask his view of God’s presence
Casting of lots over the goats
Sacrificing one of the goats (vs )
As a sin offering for the people
Cleansed sanctuary of defilement caused by sins of the people
Making it possible for God to continue to dwell there
Sprinkling of blood on the mercy seat removed the sins of the people (seven times) 22

24. Scapegoat (16:20-22)
Second goat symbolically bears the sins of the people
Taking the sins to an unclean place, far from God
Hebrew word used to describe the goat was “Azazel”
Goat of removal
Some believe it described a desolate physical location where the goat would perish, taking the sins with it
Others believed it referred to a demon to whom the Israelites sins were returned so it would not accuse them
Goats represented two aspects of atonement
Goat slain represented judgment
Goat released represented removal of own guilt 24

25. Cleansing of Participants (16:23-28)
Describes rituals for cleansing those who came in contact with the sacrifices
Contrasts the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man
All elements of the ceremony were to be followed closely 25

26. Duty of the People (16:29-34)
Instructions for the yearly celebration of the Day of Atonement
Read Heb 9:7-12
Israelites were to humble their souls and refrain from work in preparation for this event
Included fasting (read Isa 58:3 to see what happens in the future) and no work
Promise of God
Atonement will be made for your, to cleanse you (v. 30)
Could enjoy the assurance of fellowship with God
God promised forgiveness and cleansing to all who trusted in the value of the sacrifices He provides 26

27. Hebrew 9 Earthly Tabernacle as a comparison (vs. 1-10)
Describes the ceremonies in the Tabernacle as external regulations applying until the time of the “new order”
Blood of Christ (vs )
Christ as the High Priest
Went through a greater and more perfect tabernacle, one not made by man (vs. 11)
He entered the Most Holy Place not by the blood of goats or calves, but by his own blood (vs. 12)
The blood of Christ provided the inward cleansing, or the cleansing of our souls, from acts that lead to death
Therefore, Christ is the appointed, once and for all, to do away with sin by His own sacrifice (vs 26) 27

28. Day of Atonement in Israel
Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
Rabbis looked for ways to preserve the rituals from the Day of Atonement for future generations
Could not continue the Day of Atonement without the temple
So, they substituted prayer, repentance, and giving to charity for sacrifices and rituals that could no longer be practiced
Descriptions of the former rituals of Yom Kippur (now called Avodah) can be found in a special prayer book used for Yom Kippur (found in the mahtzor) 28

29. Review Reviewed last week’s lesson
Learned relevant terms used in Leviticus 16 and in Hebrew 9
Learned about the ceremonies that the high priest conducted in order to take part in the day of atonement
Learned about the duty of the people
Learned about the promise God made to the people
Reviewed Hebrews 9 and learned about Christ’s atonement for our sins
Next week Leviticus 17-20