INTRO: In Leviticus chapter 16 we see what is known as the Day of Atonement. This chapter outlines how the people of Israel were to be cleansed of their sins. We see some key guidelines that were to be followed in order to cleanse the sins of the people, and that it was only the High Priest that was to perform these duties. This ritual was to be done with the proper respect toward God, and the High priest was to do this alone. In the New Testament we learn that Christ is our High Priest, and when he made atonement for our sins, He went alone.
- AARON’S APPOINTED TIME
1.Leviticus 16:1-2 Aaron was appointed the time in which he could worship correctly to God to make atonement for sins.
- This had to be the right day and the right time.
- Jesus came at the time in which He was appointed (Galatians 4:4).
- AARON MUST BE FOUND HOLY
- Leviticus 16:3-4 Aaron was to wear the right attire and cleanse himself to be found holy before the Lord.
- Aaron had to go through many rituals to cleanse himself because he was a man and he had sin.
- Jesus was the pure Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world (John 1:29).
III. AARON MUST GO IN ALONE
- Aaron was to go into the most holy place alone to offer for the sins of the people (Leviticus 16:17).
- Jesus went alone to the cross to offer up Himself for the sins of mankind (John 19:30).
- Jesus is the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek therefore He was authorized to offer for atonement (Hebrews 5:9-10).
- WORSHIP IS SERIOUS / CHRIST IS TYPE
- Chapter 16 of Leviticus warns us of death for vain worship (Leviticus 16:1-2).
- Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-3)
- Christ is shown here in type
- He went alone (John 19:30)
- He was the High Priest (Hebrews 5:9-10)
- He went in once for all (Hebrews 9:28)
CONCLUSION: The book of Leviticus, the atonement chapter, gives us a guideline on worship and the offering for sins. In the first section of chapter sixteen we see the importance of worship. It displays to us the life and death seriousness of the matter. This seriousness echoes true today. We must worship in spirit and in truth. We see that when we worship, we should come prepared and give God the glory and honor. Finally, the most important thing we see in chapter sixteen of Leviticus is the types of Christ. We see that He is the High Priest. We see that as an offering He was a male without blemish. We see that He was to go in the most holy place alone. With all these things in place and many more that aren’t mentioned here, Jesus Christ was clearly the perfect offering for our sins once and for all (Hebrews 9:28)