*Editor’s note: This is part 1 in Dr. Brandon Rhea’s blog series on “The Day of Atonement.”
Read Part 3 here: https://cbtseminary.org/the-day-of-atonement-foreshadowing-jesus-particular-atonement-brandon-rhea/
Read Part 4 here: https://cbtseminary.org/the-day-of-atonement-foreshadowing-believers-baptism-brandon-rhea/
Read Part 5 here: https://cbtseminary.org/the-day-of-atonement-foreshadowing-repentance-and-faith-brandon-rhea/
The Day of Atonement: Foreshadowing Jesus Our High Priest
Leviticus 16:1-14
Brandon Rhea
Intro
In 2022, Queen Elizabeth celebrated seventy years on the throne of Great Britain. During the festivities, an amazing story came out about her. About ten years before, the Queen was picnicking with the head of security in Scotland in the countryside of her Balmoral home. Along came two American tourists who struck up a conversation. They asked the “old lady” not knowing that she was the Queen if she lived nearby. She mentioned that her primary residence is in London, but she has been coming to her summer home in Scotland for seventy years. Then the Americans commented about their proximity to Balmoral. Naturally, they asked them if they had met the Queen. The Queen assured them that she had never met the Queen. The head of security said that he had met her on several occasions. The Americans could not believe it. They were in the presence of a person who had met the Queen. They asked, “What is she like?” He said, “She was a bit gruff, but is surprisingly nice.” The Americans then asked to take pictures with the man who had met the Queen. Next, they took a few pictures with the “old lady,” before leaving. After they left, the Queen turned to her security guard and said, “Imagine what their friends will say when they show them the picture!”[1]
The two Americans did not recognize Her Majesty while in her presence. They awed over the man who had met the Queen and not over the Queen herself. They missed seeing the Queen even though their eyes met face to face. Similarly, the Israelites awed over the shadows of the old covenant and not over the Lord Jesus Christ. They held on to the traditions instead of seeing the Majesty of the incarnate Lord. They gloried in the types and not in the anti-type who saves. Is this you? Are you not beholding the glory of God? Are you missing the majesty of the Lord?
In this post, we will begin a five-part series on the Day of Atonement. As we examine Leviticus 16:1-14, we will answer this question: How does the Day of Atonement foreshadow Jesus’ atonement for His people? How does the yearly sacrifice portend Christ’s redemption for His elect?
Point 1
Our first of two points is this: The Day of Atonement foreshadows Jesus’ atonement because Jesus enters the Holy Place of Heaven as a representative for His people. The yearly sacrifice portends Christ’s redemption because Christ draws near to God as a federal head for His elect.
Leviticus 16 is the high point in the book and in the Pentateuch. Since the fall of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, the narrative has developed to this point. When God removed Adam and Eve from the garden, it symbolized the breaking of fellowship. God, however, through the line of Abraham had a plan to restore and reconcile humanity. In Exodus, God saved the Israelites from the Egyptians and dwelt with them. Moses even went on the mountain and talked to God. Through the tabernacle and priesthood, God displayed His presence with the people. Yet the Israelites still did not have the communion and intimacy with God which Adam and Eve lost in Genesis 3. How can humanity dwell with a holy God? How can sinners be cleansed? To see the shadows which ultimately point to Jesus Christ, we turn to Leviticus 16.
The Lord speaks to Moses again. Moses must warn his brother not to imitate Nadab and Abihu. The Lord gives this message on the same day of the brothers’ deaths. Remember that they tried to enter the holy of holies without God’s invitation. Consequently, God stuck them down with fire. Since Aaron is a sinner, as we saw in the creation of the golden calf in Exodus 32, he should have been killed too. God is holy and cannot dwell with sinners. Psalm 5:4 says, “For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.”
To understand this passage, we must visualize the tabernacle structure. Outside of the tent was the courtyard. It had a bronze laver filled with water and the burnt offering altar. The courtyard always stood on the east side of the tent. Next, within the tent, stood the first room called the Holy Place. To enter it, the priest opened curtains which had cherubim on them. Inside the room, you would see a table with twelve loaves which represented the tribes of Israel. You also would view a golden lampstand and an incense altar. To enter the second room, the Most Holy Place or Holy of Holies, the priest would walk west. He would open a second curtain which had Cherubim on it too. The Holy of Holies contained the ark of the covenant, a rectangular box overlayed with gold. On top of it were two cherubim who symbolized God’s presence. It also had a mercy seat where God’s cloud appeared. In God’s economy, this spot was the most holy. One would see the glory of God. Finally, the ark contained the two tablets of the Ten Commandments, a jar of manna, and Aaron’s budded rod.
Even though the Lord warns Aaron against coming into the Holy of Holies, He does invite him under the right conditions, according to verses 3-4. Once a year, the High Priest may enter in. No one else, however, possessed this invitation. If anyone else, or if the High Priest at the wrong time, entered the Holy of Holies, he would be killed.
This Day of Atonement draws parallels with the Garden of Eden. Through the High Priest’s actions, he would be going back to the fellowship Adam and Eve had lost. For example, God sent Adam and Eve to the East after they sinned. Now the High Priest goes west to enter the Holy of Holies. Second, the cherubim guarded the entrance to the Garden of Eden to stop Adam and Eve from reentering. Genesis 3:24 says, “He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.” Yet the High Priest goes through the curtain with cherubim embroidered in it to come into God’s presence. Third, sin created disfellowship between humanity and God. In Genesis 3:7, Adam and Eve “hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God.” Now on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest draws near to the Lord. The High Priest, therefore, serves as a new Adam who will represent the people of Israel by performing this duty just as Adam represented humanity in the Garden.[2]
Before entering the Holy of Holies, the Lord gave specific instructions to Aaron. First, he must bring a bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. Without the shedding of blood, there can be no remission of sins. He also must put on holy linen while inside the Holy Place before going into the Holy of Holies. These clothes represent purity. He also must bathe. Finally, he will bring two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He will present these sacrifices for the congregation’s sins.
How does this section foreshadow Jesus Christ? The High Priest’s entrance into the Holy of Holies looks forward to Jesus Christ our Great High Priest. Hebrews 9:8-10 says, “By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.” In Hebrews 9:1-7, the author describes the sacrificial system including the Day of Atonement and gives his Holy Spirit inspired commentary. If the tent or tabernacle remains, sinners are shut out from the presence of God. Only the high priest may enter into the Holy of Holies once a year. No one else in the camp had access. God, however, had the ultimate plan to open access for every believer to the Holy of Holies. Thus, the sacrificial system only dealt with the outward elements of the Old Covenant, but it could not make a sinner clean. The offerings did not remove guilt, reconcile sinners to God, or promise eternal life.
They did, however, point to Jesus Christ who would save us. Hebrews 9:24 says, “For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.” Jesus is the Great High Priest, because He entered into the Holy of Holies in heaven. The tabernacle and temple were replicas and not the real thing. In His ascension, Jesus Christ the God-man entered into heaven and stood in the presence of God. He accomplished what no other priest could do. He entered heaven on His own merit to be His people’s representative. Adam failed in the Garden. The High Priest continued to sin in the Old Testament. Consequently, sinners look to Jesus Christ the holy one who in the presence of God in heaven on our behalf. He stands, advocates, and intercedes for us perfectly.
What is the result for us? Hebrews 10:19-22 says, “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near.” If you are united to Christ by faith in Him, then you too may enter the Holy Places. Christ’s blood shed on the cross by way of His incarnation has opened up a new way to you. The Holy of Holies no longer bars all people except for the High Priest once a year. Rather, Jesus Christ has torn the curtain in two. When He died on the cross, the temple curtain ripped into pieces. Why? It symbolized this new age. Christ had finished the work. All believers, therefore, may draw near to God by faith. We do not have to stand on the outside. Hence, Hebrews 10:22 says, “let us draw near.” God invites us into the Holy of Holies of heaven to commune with Him, because Christ’s death has paved the way.
Once I read a biography about King George III, the last king of America.[3] In telling the king’s story, the author describes the etiquette of the royal life. One of the rules then and now for the monarch is this: only a select group of people can call upon the King without an invitation. Certain royals who held titles had the authority to request a meeting, and the King had to grant it. The common citizen had no authority. Even a politician could not meet with the King unless the monarch invited him, because the politician did not descend from royalty.
In the same way, through faith in Jesus Christ, God has made all believers royals. He has granted us access to Him all the time. Brethren, are you drawing near to God? Are you coming to Him in the blood of Christ? Are you afraid to approach Him due to your sin? Do you feel guilt, shame, and regret for past sins? Do you feel unworthy to pray and commune with God? Remember that Christ’s blood has opened the way to you. Your access does not depend on your worthiness; it rests on the worthiness of Christ. Do not trust your feelings but trust the word of God. Do not trust in your knowledge of sin, but trust in Christ’s last words before His death: “It is finished.” He made the way and not you. He went into heaven on your behalf. He has purchased for you access to God.
Are you being negligent to draw near to God because of apathy? Do you find prayer to be boring at times? Are you going through the motions or not even trying to pretend? You do not understand the privilege of drawing near to God. You need to meditate on the glory of the New Covenant. We have forgiveness of sins to fellowship with God. We also are like the martyrs in heaven who cry out to the “Sovereign Lord” in Revelation 6:9-11. They desired to see their persecutors punished. They cried out to the Lord after their death while in heaven. They dwelt with God, and He heard them. In the same way, when we pray, we are transported to the throne of God and commune with Him.
Do you also find corporate prayer to be boring? Remember that you have a greater privilege than the high priest. He could only go into the Holy of Holies once a year. We are invited every day from morning to evening to midnight. Through Christ, you may boldly approach the throne.
Do you find worship to be boring? We are entering into worship with the angels and saints who have died before us. In the blood of Christ, we join the heavenly chorus with our praises on earth. We do not have to stay outside of the tent or in the courtyard of the temple. God has eliminated the degrees of spatial nearness to Him. Instead, He has called us to His bosom.
Do you see that Christ is the only way to draw near to God? He alone by His blood opened up access for us to God. No mere man can bring us to the throne of grace. The pope or a modern priest has no power. Muhammad, Joseph Smith, and Brigham Young cannot stand in God’s presence. Michael the Archangel did not have human flesh and die on the cross for us. Jesus Christ alone made the way.
Point 2
Our second and last point is this: The Day of Atonement foreshadows Jesus’ atonement because Jesus is the Holy High Priest and the sacrifice. The yearly sacrifice portends Christ’s redemption because Christ is the unblemished High Priest and the offering. Let’s read verses 6-14.
First, we will examine the fallen high priest in verses 6 and 11-14. According to verses 6 and 11, Aaron had to provide an offering for his sins and for the sins of his household. They were sinners by having Adam’s sin imputed to them. Moreover, they sinned by choice throughout their lives. Psalm 130:3 says, “If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” The answer is “no one could stand.” Every single person has sinned. No human is good. Psalm 90:8 teaches, “You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.” God sees our sins. We cannot hide them from His presence. God even knows the sins of darkness as much as our sins in daylight.
Due to his sinful condition, Aaron needs atonement through a blood sacrifice to perform his duties as a High Priest. In verse 11, he kills a bull as a substitute sin offering to purify himself. The bull takes Aaron’s place and receives the penalty that Aaron deserves. Yet the bull’s blood only purifies ceremonially and not morally. Aaron has not become holy and pure. Hence, in verses 12-13, he must take a censor with coals and incense into the Holy of Holies. Why? The smoke will cover the mercy seat, so that he does not die. Due to the smoke, Aaron will not see the glory of God unveiled. Thus, the bull’s blood did not make him holy. If it had, he would not need the covering.
Earlier in Exodus 33:18-20, Moses requested to see God’s glory. “Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” God warned Moses of the consequences of seeing His glory. Since Moses was a sinner, he would die. God placated Moses by having His goodness pass before him while Moses hid himself behind a rock. Consequently, at this stage in redemptive history, no one could see God’s glory and live.
Our passage ends in verse 14 with the application of the blood. The High Priest puts the bull’s blood on the mercy seat seven times. This action points to the satisfaction of God’s wrath which will one day come through Jesus Christ. The number seven stands for perfection. A perfect atonement is needed for humanity.
In addition to the bull offering for Aaron and his household, God commanded him to take two goats in verses 7-10. Then he will cast lots over them—one of the goats will live and the other will die. The goat that lives is called the scapegoat in the NASB, NIV, and KJV. In the ESV and HCSB, it is translated as Azazel. Interpreters have not agreed on how to translate the Hebrew word. Yet commentators agree on the significance of the scapegoat. This goat will bear the guilt of the people’s sin and carry it away from the camp. The Israelites, therefore, will no longer bear the guilt of their sins. Imagine a stinky diaper in the house that pollutes the smell. Someone must carry it outside and put it in the garbage to remove the stench. In the same, our sins stink in the sight of God. We need someone to carry the guilt away, so that we may be clean.
How does this passage point to Jesus Christ? He is the Holy High Priest. Jesus is “without sin” according to Hebrews 4:15. Romans 8:34 also teaches, “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” Christ did not need incense when He went into the heavenly tabernacle. Paul does not mention this detail in Romans or anywhere else. Why? The God-man sits in the presence of God based upon His holiness. He does not have to fear death. His holiness, therefore, makes him our Great High priest who prays for us in contrast to Aaron who was a sinner.
Besides being the Holy High Priest, Jesus is the Holy Sacrifice. Hebrews 10:1-4 instructs, “For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” The Day of Atonement foreshadowed the majesty of Jesus Christ, but it could not clean the soul. Rather it reminded the Israelites of their elusive need for atonement. The blood of bulls and goats could not purify their consciences, make them holy, and reconcile them to God. Instead, the sacrifices foreshadowed Jesus’ crucifixion which fulfilled the Day of Atonement. Through His sacrifice on the tree, He redeemed His people perfectly.
Charles Spurgeon commented on this passage. “What a mercy it is for you and me that the spot where we meet with God is a place where the blood of the great sacrifice has been sprinkled, ay, and that the ground of our meeting with God, the place on which the mercy seat rests, has also the blood mark upon it!”[4]
Brethren, in Jesus Christ, we can now pray like Moses, “Show me your glory.” We do not have to fear being killed by God. Since Christ has shed His blood for us, we have been cleansed. We are holy. Through our union with Christ, we have unfettered access to God. We have privileges that Moses and Aaron could not fathom, and Adam and Eve lost. We can see God’s glory and live.
How do we see God’s glory? First, we see it in the Scriptures. By reading about the work of Christ and what it means, we behold the glory of the Lamb. Second, we will see it with our eyes when we go to be with the Lord. Jesus promised in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” How do we get a pure heart? Through faith in Jesus Christ and the imputation of His righteousness. We shall see God, but there will not be a cloud of smoke. Due to our holiness in Christ, we will not have a veil of cloud to protect us like the High Priest. Rather, we will behold the glory of God. We will see Him face to face. We will enjoy the glory of God in perfect peace.
Considering these truths, let us accept God’s invitation. He has called us into the Holy of Holies of heaven because of our Great High Priest Jesus Christ. By the help of the Spirit, in the name of Jesus, let us go to the throne of God.
[1] See, Don’t Miss Out On Majesty – Stephen McAlpine.
[2] See L. Michael Morales, Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord? (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2015).
[3] Andrew Roberts, The Last King of America: The Misunderstood Reign of George III (London: Viking, 2021).
[4] Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, vol. 40 (Pasadena, TX: Pilgrim Publications, 1984), 334.
Brandon Rhea (Ph.D. Historical Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is a pastor and an ACBC certified Biblical counselor. He met his wife, Karise, while doing pulpit supply in 2013-14. In April 2016, he accepted the call to pastor at Faith Baptist Church in Kirksville, Missouri. He loves history and has a heart for street preaching and evangelism. He is the author of “Spurgeon’s Forgotten Sabbatarianism” and teaches “Spurgeon on the Law & Sabbath” for Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary.
