February 21, 2025 - Escape from Sin Goats

LEVITICUS 14:33-16:34

Chronological Bible Readings

Leviticus 15:31 “‘You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them.’”

The Tabernacle was among them. I don't know why this caught my attention. I thought that maybe all these laws were so strict only until the temple was built. Once the temple became a permanent structure it was not among all the people all the time. Of course, all the laws of cleanliness would have to be followed when coming to the temple for sacrifice, but I wonder if all the cases of skin disease and mold had to be brought to the priest and all the things that made a person unclean still meant they had to leave the community. If God's dwelling place was not in the community any longer, could they just keep themselves away from others until they were clean again?

Leviticus 16:10 But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat.

The first thing I though of when I read this is that the goat was sent away as Cain was. With all the sin of the people being sent away as well. But really it is about Jesus removing our sins and taking them away from us. The Enduring Word commentary says this about the goats.

ii. “The two goats made only one sacrifice, yet only one of them was slain. One animal could not point out both the Divine and human nature of Christ, nor show both his death and resurrection, for the goat that was killed could not be made alive.” (Clarke)

Leviticus 16:21 He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task.

I can see how this teaches the Israelites that our sin can be transferred. Just as our sin was transferred to Jesus. This also from the Enduring Word commentary. There is much more there if you want to dig deeper yourself.

iii. The first goat was a picture of how atonement is granted: sins are forgiven because punishment has been put on an innocent party. The second goat, the scapegoat, was a picture of the effect of atonement: the penalty of our sins is cast far away, never to return.