Meaning of Leviticus 16:20

This verse, Leviticus 16:20, marks a crucial step in the ancient Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) ritual, a solemn annual observance designed to cleanse the entire Israelite community and their sanctuary from sin. Following the meticulous purification rites for the Most Holy Place, the Tabernacle (tent of meeting), and the altar, Aaron, the High Priest, is instructed to bring forth the live goat. This goat, distinct from the sin offering for the sanctuary, is designated for a unique purpose: it will bear the sins of the people away from the community, symbolizing their removal and the restoration of their relationship with God. This act is not merely ceremonial but deeply symbolic, pointing to a future, more complete atonement.

Context and Background

Leviticus 16 outlines the elaborate procedures for the Day of Atonement, a day of profound spiritual cleansing and consecration for Israel. The entire chapter is dedicated to the priestly duties of Aaron, emphasizing the holiness of God and the pervasive nature of sin which defiles both the people and the sanctuary. The process involves multiple sacrifices and purifications, highlighting the seriousness with which God regarded sin and the necessary steps for reconciliation. The bringing forward of the live goat occurs after the blood atonement for the Most Holy Place and the altar has been completed, signifying that the primary cleansing of the sanctuary itself has been accomplished.

Key Themes and Messages

The central themes here are atonement, sin removal, and restoration. The act of bringing the live goat forward signifies that the process of dealing with sin is not yet complete. While the blood of the first goat and bull offered as sin sacrifices purifies the sanctuary, the live goat is instrumental in carrying the burden of the people's sins away. This is a powerful visual representation of divine forgiveness and the desire for complete separation from sin. It underscores that atonement involves not just the expiation of guilt but also the actual removal of sin's presence and consequences.

Spiritual Significance and Application

Spiritually, this live goat prefigures the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Just as the goat bore the sins of the people, Jesus, the "Lamb of God," bore the sins of humanity upon himself. The removal of the goat into the wilderness signifies the complete removal of sin from God's presence, a concept mirrored in Christ's sacrifice, which grants believers freedom from the power and penalty of sin. For believers today, this passage calls for a recognition of our own sinfulness, a reliance on God's provision for atonement, and a commitment to living a life free from the dominion of sin, confident in the complete removal of our transgressions through Christ.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This verse is a pivotal link in the unfolding narrative of God's redemptive plan. It demonstrates the inadequacy of the Old Covenant sacrificial system to permanently remove sin, thus paving the way for the New Covenant. The meticulous rituals described in Leviticus serve as a shadow and a type of the perfect sacrifice to come. The Day of Atonement, with its emphasis on cleansing and the removal of sin, finds its fulfillment in Jesus' atoning work on the cross, which provides a once-for-all sacrifice for sins. The concept of carrying away sin is a recurring motif in the Old Testament, but it reaches its apex in the New Testament with Christ's sacrifice.

Analogies

An analogy for this act could be a doctor who, after sterilizing a surgical instrument to remove infection from a patient's body, then uses a specialized tool to physically remove any remaining diseased tissue from the site, ensuring the infection is not just neutralized but eradicated. Another might be a homeowner who, after cleaning and disinfecting a contaminated room, then removes all the contaminated materials from the house entirely, so they can no longer pose a threat. The live goat's role is analogous to the latter – not just purifying the space, but carrying the impurity away.

Relation to Other Verses

This verse directly relates to other key verses concerning atonement and sin. Leviticus 16:21-22 details the symbolic placing of Israel's sins upon the goat and its subsequent sending into the wilderness. Isaiah 53:6 echoes this theme, stating, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." In the New Testament, Hebrews 9:11-14 explicitly connects the Old Covenant sacrifices to Christ's perfect sacrifice, explaining how Christ's blood cleanses our conscience from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God. 1 Peter 2:24 further emphasizes Christ's atoning work, stating, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live to righteousness." Finally, John 1:29 introduces Jesus as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" directly linking him to the sacrificial imagery of the Old Testament, including the goat of atonement.