Leviticus 16 Commentary

Leviticus 16 Commentary: Day of Atonement

Bathing before putting on sacred garments isn’t difficult to understand. Verse 4. But bathing after taking off the sacred garments is strange. Verse 23 and 24. Why bathe when you are at your spiritual best?

In the first instance, water is a cleaning agent. In the second instance, water is a separator. It separates the holy from the common. At baptism, water separates the new self from the old self. We have seen and shall see water used to represent different spiritual realities.

After the death of Aaron’s two sons, the LORD God forbids Israel from unrestricted access to the Most Holy Place. It’s for their safety! But it complicates man’s access to his Creator.

The LORD God defines one day in a year for Aaron to enter the Most Holy Place. It’s called the Day of Atonement. The High Priest must seek his own forgiveness and that of the entire community through a series of sacrifices. The process is repeated year after year – endlessly.

It’s this routine that Calvary breaks! Hebrews 10 verse 4. Replace the word “breaks” with “fulfills”, as the Day of Atonement is a lasting ordinance!

Nothing has changed. We still need the two sacrifices: the Burnt Offering and the Sin Offering. Our praises and prayers must go up as a pleasing aroma before the LORD. We must seek forgiveness daily. These are lasting ordinances!

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