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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>L E V I T C U S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XVI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have the institution of the annual solemnity of the
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day of atonement, or expiation, which had as much gospel in it as
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perhaps any of the appointments of the ceremonial law, as appears by
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the reference the apostle makes to it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+9:7">Heb. ix. 7</A>,
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&c. We had before divers laws concerning sin-offerings for particular
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persons, and to be offered upon particular occasions; but this is
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concerning the stated sacrifice, in which the whole nation was
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interested. The whole service of the day is committed to the high
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priest.
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I. He must never come into the most holy place but upon this day,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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II. He must come dressed in linen garments,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:4">ver. 4</A>.
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III. He must bring a sin-offering and a burnt-offering for himself
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:3">ver. 3</A>),
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offer his sin-offering
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:6-11">ver. 6-11</A>),
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then go within the veil with some of the blood of his sin-offering,
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burn incense, and sprinkle the blood before the mercy-seat,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:12-14">ver. 12-14</A>.
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IV. Two goats must be provided for the people, lots cast upon them,
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and,
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1. One of them must be a sin-offering for the people
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:5,7-9">ver. 5, 7-9</A>),
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and the blood of it must be sprinkled before the mercy-seat
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:15-17">ver. 15-17</A>),
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and then some of the blood of both the sin-offerings must be sprinkled
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upon the altar,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:18,19">ver. 18, 19</A>.
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2. The other must be a scape-goat
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:10">ver. 10</A>),
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the sins of Israel must be confessed over him, and then he must be sent
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away into the wilderness
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:20-22">ver. 20-22</A>),
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and he that brought him away must be ceremonially unclean,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:26">ver. 26</A>.
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V. The burnt-offerings were then to be offered, the fat of the
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sin-offerings burnt on the altar, and their flesh burnt without the
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camp,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:23-25,27,28">ver. 23-25, 27, 28</A>.
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VI. The people were to observe the day religiously by a holy rest and
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holy mourning for sin; and this was to be a statute for ever,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:29-34">ver. 29</A>,
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&c.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Le16_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le16_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le16_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le16_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Great Day of Atonement.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1490.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons
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of Aaron, when they offered before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and died;
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2 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother,
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that he come not at all times into the holy <I>place</I> within the
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vail before the mercy seat, which <I>is</I> upon the ark; that he die
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not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
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3 Thus shall Aaron come into the holy <I>place</I>: with a young
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bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.
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4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the
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linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen
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girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these <I>are</I>
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holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and
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<I>so</I> put them on.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. The date of this law concerning the day of atonement: it was
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<I>after the death of the two sons of Aaron</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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which we read,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+10:1"><I>ch.</I> x. 1</A>.
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1. Lest Aaron should fear that any remaining guilt of that sin should
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cleave to his family, or (seeing the priests were so apt to offend)
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that some after-sin of his other sons should be the ruin of his family,
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he is directed how to make atonement for his house, that it might keep
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in with God; for the atonement for it would be the establishment of it,
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and preserve the entail of the blessing upon it.
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2. The priests being warned by the death of Nadab and Abihu to approach
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to God with reverence and godly fear (without which they came at their
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peril), directions are here given how the nearest approach might be
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made, not only without peril, but to unspeakable advantage and comfort,
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if the directions were observed. When they were cut off for an undue
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approach, the rest must not say, "Then we will not draw near at all,"
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but, "Then we will do it by rule." They died for their sin, therefore
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God graciously provides for the rest, that they die not. Thus God's
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judgments on some should be instructions to others.</P>
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<P>
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II. The design of this law. One intention of it was to preserve a
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veneration for the most holy place, within the veil, where the
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<I>Shechinah,</I> or divine glory, was pleased to dwell between the
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cherubim: <I>Speak unto Aaron, that he come not at all times into the
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holy place,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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Before the veil some of the priests came every day to burn incense upon
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the golden altar, but within the veil none must ever come but the high
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priest only, and he but on one day in the year, and with great ceremony
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and caution. That place where God manifested his special presence must
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not be made common. If none must come into the presence-chamber of an
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earthly king uncalled, no, not the queen herself, upon pain of death
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+4:11">Esth. iv. 11</A>),
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was it not requisite that the same sacred respect should be paid to the
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Kings of kings? But see what a blessed change is made by the gospel of
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Christ; all good Christians have now <I>boldness to enter into the
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holiest,</I> through the veil, every day
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+10:19,20">Heb. x. 19, 20</A>);
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and we <I>come boldly</I> (not as Aaron must, with fear and trembling)
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to the <I>throne of grace,</I> or mercy-seat,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+4:16">Heb. iv. 16</A>.
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While the manifestations of God's presence and grace were sensible, it
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was requisite that they should thus be confined and upon reserve,
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because the objects of sense the more familiar they are made the less
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awful or delightful they become; but now that they are purely spiritual
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it is otherwise, for the objects of faith the more they are conversed
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with the more do they manifest of their greatness and goodness: now
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therefore we are welcome to come at all times into the <I>holy place
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not made with hands,</I> for we are made to <I>sit together with Christ
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in heavenly places</I> by faith,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+2:6">Eph. ii. 6</A>.
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Then Aaron must not come near at all times, <I>lest he die;</I> we now
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must come near at all times that we may live: it is distance only that
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is our death. Then God appeared in the cloud upon the mercy-seat, but
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now with open face we behold, not in a dark cloud, but in a clear
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glass, the glory of the Lord,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+3:18">2 Cor. iii. 18</A>.</P>
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<P>
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III. The person to whom the work of this day was committed, and that
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was the high priest only: <I>Thus shall Aaron come into the holy
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place,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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He was to do all himself upon the day of atonement: only there was a
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second provided to be his substitute or supporter, in case any thing
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should befal him, either of sickness or ceremonial uncleanness, that he
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could not perform the service of the day. All Christians are spiritual
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priests, but Christ only is the high priest, and he alone it is that
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makes atonement, nor needed he either assistant or substitute.</P>
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<P>
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IV. The attire of the high priest in this service. He was not to be
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dressed up in his rich garments that were peculiar to himself: he was
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not to put on the ephod, with the precious stones in it, but only the
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linen clothes which he wore in common with the inferior priests,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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That meaner dress did best become him on this day of humiliation; and,
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being thinner and lighter, he would in it be more expedite for the work
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or service of the day, which was all to go through his hands. Christ,
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our high priest, made atonement for sin in our nature; not in the robes
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of his own peculiar glory, but the linen garments of our mortality,
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clean indeed, but mean.</P>
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<A NAME="Le16_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le16_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le16_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le16_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le16_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le16_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le16_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le16_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le16_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le16_14"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>5 And he shall take of the congregation of the children of
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Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for
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a burnt offering.
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6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which
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<I>is</I> for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his
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house.
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7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> <I>at</I> the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
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8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
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9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'s lot
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fell, and offer him <I>for</I> a sin offering.
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10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat,
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shall be presented alive before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, to make an atonement
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with him, <I>and</I> to let him go for a scapegoat into the
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wilderness.
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11 And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which
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<I>is</I> for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and
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for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering
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which <I>is</I> for himself:
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12 And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire
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from off the altar before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and his hands full of sweet
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incense beaten small, and bring <I>it</I> within the vail:
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13 And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>,
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that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that <I>is</I>
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upon the testimony, that he die not:
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14 And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle
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<I>it</I> with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the
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mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven
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times.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The Jewish writers say that for seven days before the day of expiation
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the high priest was to retire from his own house, and to dwell in a
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chamber of the temple, that he might prepare himself for the service of
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this great day. During those seven days he himself did the work of the
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inferior priests about the sacrifices, incense, &c., that he might have
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his hand in for this day: he must have the institution read to him
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again and again, that he might be fully apprised of the whole method.
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1. He was to begin the service of the day very early with the usual
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morning sacrifice, after he had first washed his whole body before he
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dressed himself, and his hands and feet again afterwards. He then
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burned the daily incense, dressed the lamps, and offered the
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extraordinary sacrifice appointed for this day (not here, but
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+29:8">Num. xxix. 8</A>),
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a bullock, a ram, and seven lambs, all for burnt-offerings. This he is
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supposed to have done in his high priest's garments.
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2. He must now put off his rich robes, bathe himself, put on the linen
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garments, and present unto the Lord his own bullock, which was to be a
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sin-offering for himself and his own house,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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The bullock was set between the temple and the altar, and the offering
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of him mentioned in this verse was the making of a solemn confession of
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his sins and the sins of his house, earnestly praying for the
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forgiveness of them, and this with his hands on the head of the
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bullock.
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3. He must then cast lots upon the two goats, which were to make (both
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together) one sin-offering for the congregation. One of these goats
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must be slain, in token of a satisfaction to be made to God's justice
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for sin, the other must be sent away, in token of the remission or
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dismission of sin by the mercy of God. Both must be presented together
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to God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>)
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before the lot was cast upon them, and afterwards the scape-goat by
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itself,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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Some think that goats were chosen for the sin-offering because, by the
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disagreeableness of their smell, the offensiveness of sin is
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represented: others think, because it was said that the demons which
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the heathens then worshipped often appeared to their worshippers in the
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form of goats, God therefore obliged his people to sacrifice goats,
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that they might never be tempted to sacrifice to goats.
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4. The next thing to be done was to kill the bullock for the
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sin-offering for himself and his house,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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"Now," say the Jews, "he must again put his hands on the head of the
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bullock, and repeat the confession and supplication he had before made,
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and kill the bullock with his own hands, to make atonement for himself
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first (for how could he make reconciliation for the sins of the people
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till he was himself first reconciled?) and for his house, not only his
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own family, but all the priests, who are called the <I>house of
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Aaron,</I>"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+135:19">Ps. cxxxv. 19</A>.
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This charity must begin at home, though it must not end there. The
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bullock being killed, he left one of the priests to stir the blood,
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that it might not thicken, and then,
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5. He took a censer of burning coals (that would not smoke) in one
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hand, and a dish full of the sweet incense in the other, and then went
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into the holy of holies through the veil, and went up towards the ark,
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set the coals down upon the floor, and scattered the incense upon them,
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so that the room was immediately filled with smoke. The Jews say that
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he was to go in <I>side-ways,</I> that he might not look directly upon
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the ark where the divine glory was, till it was covered with smoke;
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then he must come out <I>backwards,</I> out of reverence to the divine
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majesty; and, after a short prayer, he was to hasten out of the
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sanctuary, to show himself to the people, that they might not suspect
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that he had misbehaved himself and died before the Lord.
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6. He then fetched the blood of the bullock from the priest whom he had
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left stirring it, and took that in with him the second time into the
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holy of holies, which was now filled with the smoke of the incense, and
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sprinkled with his finger of that blood upon, or rather towards, the
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mercy-seat, once over against the top of it and then seven times
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towards the lower part of it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
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But the drops of blood (as the Jews expound it) all fell upon the
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ground, and none touched the mercy-seat. Having done this, he came out
|
|
of the most holy place, set the basin of blood down in the sanctuary,
|
|
and went out.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Le16_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Le16_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Le16_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Le16_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Le16_19"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that <I>is</I>
|
|
for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with
|
|
that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle
|
|
it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:
|
|
16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy <I>place,</I> because
|
|
of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of
|
|
their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for
|
|
the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in
|
|
the midst of their uncleanness.
|
|
17 And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the
|
|
congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy
|
|
<I>place,</I> until he come out, and have made an atonement for
|
|
himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of
|
|
Israel.
|
|
18 And he shall go out unto the altar that <I>is</I> before the
|
|
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood
|
|
of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put <I>it</I> upon
|
|
the horns of the altar round about.
|
|
19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger
|
|
seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness
|
|
of the children of Israel.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
When the priest had come out from the sprinkling the blood of the
|
|
bullock before the mercy-seat,
|
|
|
|
1. He must next kill the goat which was the sin-offering for the people
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>)
|
|
|
|
and go the third time into the holy of holies, to sprinkle the blood of
|
|
the goat, as he had done that of the bullock; and thus he was to
|
|
<I>make atonement for the holy place</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>);
|
|
|
|
that is, whereas the people by their sins had provoked God to take away
|
|
those tokens of his favourable presence with them, and rendered even
|
|
that holy place unfit to be the habitation of the holy God, atonement
|
|
was hereby made for sin, that God, being reconciled to them, might
|
|
continue with them.
|
|
|
|
2. He must then do the same for the outward part of the tabernacle that
|
|
he had done for the inner room, by sprinkling the blood of the bullock
|
|
first, and then that of the goat, without the veil, where the table and
|
|
incense-altar stood, eight times each as before. The reason intimated
|
|
is <I>because the tabernacle remained among them in the midst of their
|
|
uncleanness,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
God would hereby show them how much their hearts needed to be purified,
|
|
when even the tabernacle, only by standing in the midst of such an
|
|
impure and sinful people, needed this expiation; and also that even
|
|
their devotions and religious performances had much amiss in them, for
|
|
which it was necessary that atonement should be made. During this
|
|
solemnity, none of the inferior priests must come into the tabernacle
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
but, by standing without, must own themselves unworthy and unfit to
|
|
minister there, because their follies, and defects, and manifold
|
|
impurities in their ministry, had made this expiation of the tabernacle
|
|
necessary.
|
|
|
|
3. He must then put some of the blood, both of the bullock and of the
|
|
goat mixed together, upon the horns of the altar that is before the
|
|
Lord,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:18,19"><I>v.</I> 18, 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is certain that the altar of incense had this blood put upon it, for
|
|
so it is expressly ordered
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+30:10">Exod. xxx. 10</A>);
|
|
|
|
but some think that this directs the high priest to the altar of
|
|
burnt-offerings, for that also is here called the <I>altar before the
|
|
Lord</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
because he is said to <I>go out</I> to it, and because it may be
|
|
presumed that that also had need of an expiation; for to that the gifts
|
|
and offerings of the children of Israel were all brought, from whose
|
|
uncleanness the altar is here said to be hallowed.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Le16_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Le16_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Le16_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Le16_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Le16_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Le16_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Le16_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Le16_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Le16_28"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>20 And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy
|
|
<I>place,</I> and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar,
|
|
he shall bring the live goat:
|
|
21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live
|
|
goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of
|
|
Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting
|
|
them upon the head of the goat, and shall send <I>him</I> away by the
|
|
hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
|
|
22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a
|
|
land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the
|
|
wilderness.
|
|
23 And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the
|
|
congregation, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put
|
|
on when he went into the holy <I>place,</I> and shall leave them
|
|
there:
|
|
24 And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place,
|
|
and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt
|
|
offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an
|
|
atonement for himself, and for the people.
|
|
25 And the fat of the sin offering shall he burn upon the
|
|
altar.
|
|
26 And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his
|
|
clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into
|
|
the camp.
|
|
27 And the bullock <I>for</I> the sin offering, and the goat <I>for</I>
|
|
the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in
|
|
the holy <I>place,</I> shall <I>one</I> carry forth without the camp; and
|
|
they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and
|
|
their dung.
|
|
28 And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe
|
|
his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The high priest having presented unto the Lord the expiatory
|
|
sacrifices, by the sprinkling of their blood, the remainder of which,
|
|
it is probable, he poured out at the foot of the brazen altar,
|
|
|
|
1. He is next to confess the sins of Israel, with both his hands upon
|
|
the head of the scape-goat
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:20,21"><I>v.</I> 20, 21</A>);
|
|
|
|
and whenever hands were imposed upon the head of any sacrifice it was
|
|
always done with confession, according as the nature of the sacrifice
|
|
was; and, this being a sin-offering, it must be a confession of sin. In
|
|
the latter and more degenerate ages of the Jewish church they had a set
|
|
form of confession prepared for the high priest, but God here
|
|
prescribed none; for it might be supposed that the high priest was so
|
|
well acquainted with the state of the people, and had such a tender
|
|
concern for them, that he needed not any form. The confession must be
|
|
as particular as he could make it, not only of <I>all the iniquities of
|
|
the children of Israel,</I> but <I>all their transgressions in all
|
|
their sins.</I> In one sin there may be many transgressions, from the
|
|
several aggravating circumstances of it; and in our confessions we
|
|
should take notice of them, and not only say, <I>I have sinned,</I>
|
|
but, with Achan, "Thus and thus have I done." By this confession he
|
|
must <I>put the sins of Israel upon the head of the goat;</I> that is,
|
|
exercising faith upon the divine appointment which constituted such a
|
|
translation, he must transfer the punishment incurred from the sinners
|
|
to the sacrifice, which would have been but a jest, nay, an affront to
|
|
God, if he himself had not ordained it.
|
|
|
|
2. The goat was then to be sent away immediately by the hand of a fit
|
|
person pitched upon for the purpose, into a wilderness, a land not
|
|
inhabited; and God allowed them to make this construction of it, that
|
|
the sending away of the goat was the sending away of their sins, by a
|
|
free and full remission: <I>He shall bear upon him all their
|
|
iniquities,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
The losing of the goat was a sign to them that <I>the sins of Israel
|
|
should be sought for, and not found,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+50:20">Jer. l. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
The later Jews had a custom to tie one shred of scarlet cloth to the
|
|
horns of the goat and another to the gate of the temple, or to the top
|
|
of the rock where the goat was lost, and they concluded that if it
|
|
turned white, as they say it usually did, the sins of Israel were
|
|
forgiven, as it is written, <I>Though your sins have been as scarlet,
|
|
they shall be as wool:</I> and they add that for forty years before the
|
|
destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans the scarlet cloth never changed
|
|
colour at all, which is a fair confession that, having rejected the
|
|
substance, the shadow stood them in no stead.
|
|
|
|
3. The high priest must then put off his linen garments in the
|
|
tabernacle, and leave them there, the Jews say never to be worn again
|
|
by himself or any other, for they made new ones every year; and he must
|
|
bathe himself in water, put on his rich clothes, and then offer both
|
|
his own and the people's burnt-offerings,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:23,24"><I>v.</I> 23, 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
When we have the comfort of our pardon God must have the glory of it.
|
|
If we have the benefit of the sacrifice of atonement, we must not
|
|
grudge the sacrifices of acknowledgment. And, it should seem, the
|
|
burning of the fat of the sin-offering was deferred till now
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>),
|
|
|
|
that it might be consumed with the burnt-offerings.
|
|
|
|
4. The flesh of both those sin-offerings whose blood was taken within
|
|
the veil was to be all burnt, not upon the altar, but at a distance
|
|
without the camp, to signify both our putting away sin by true
|
|
repentance, and the spirit of burning, and God's putting it away by a
|
|
full remission, so that it shall never rise up in judgment against us.
|
|
|
|
5. He that took the scape-goat into the wilderness, and those that
|
|
burned the sin-offering, were to be looked upon as ceremonially
|
|
unclean, and must not come into the camp till they had washed their
|
|
clothes and bathed their flesh in water, which signified the defiling
|
|
nature of sin; even the sacrifice which was but made sin was defiling:
|
|
also the imperfection of the legal sacrifices; they were so far from
|
|
taking away sin that even <I>they</I> left some stain upon those that
|
|
touched them.
|
|
|
|
6. When all this was done, the high priest went again into the most
|
|
holy place to fetch his censer, and so returned to his own house with
|
|
joy, because he had done his duty, and died not.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Le16_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Le16_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Le16_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Le16_32"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Le16_33"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Le16_34"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>29 And <I>this</I> shall be a statute for ever unto you: <I>that</I> in
|
|
the seventh month, on the tenth <I>day</I> of the month, ye shall
|
|
afflict your souls, and do no work at all, <I>whether it be</I> one of
|
|
your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:
|
|
30 For on that day shall <I>the priest</I> make an atonement for
|
|
you, to cleanse you, <I>that</I> ye may be clean from all your sins
|
|
before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
|
31 It <I>shall be</I> a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall
|
|
afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.
|
|
32 And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall
|
|
consecrate to minister in the priest's office in his father's
|
|
stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen
|
|
clothes, <I>even</I> the holy garments:
|
|
33 And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and
|
|
he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the
|
|
congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement
|
|
for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.
|
|
34 And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make
|
|
an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a
|
|
year. And he did as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> commanded Moses.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. We have here some additional directions in reference to this great
|
|
solemnity, particularly,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The day appointed for this solemnity. It must be observed yearly on
|
|
<I>the tenth day of the seventh month,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>.
|
|
|
|
The seventh had been reckoned the first month, till God appointed that
|
|
the month in which the children of Israel came out of Egypt should
|
|
thenceforward be accounted and called the first month. Some have
|
|
fancied that this tenth day of the seventh month was the day of the
|
|
year on which our first parents fell, and that it was kept as a fast in
|
|
remembrance of their fall. Dr. Lightfoot computes that this was the day
|
|
on which Moses came the last time down from the mount, when he brought
|
|
with him the renewed tables, and the assurances of God's being
|
|
reconciled to Israel, and his face shone: that day must be a day of
|
|
atonement throughout their generations; for the remembrance of God's
|
|
forgiving them their sin about the golden calf might encourage them to
|
|
hope that, upon their repentance, he would forgive them all
|
|
trespasses.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The duty of the people on this day.
|
|
|
|
(1.) They must rest from all their labours: <I>It shall be a sabbath of
|
|
rest,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
The work of the day was itself enough, and a good day's work if it was
|
|
done well; therefore they must do no other work at all. The work of
|
|
humiliation for sin requires such a close application of mind, and such
|
|
a fixed engagement of the whole man, as will not allow us to turn aside
|
|
to any other work. The day of atonement seems to be that sabbath spoken
|
|
of by the prophet
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+58:13">Isa. lviii. 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
for it is the same with the fast spoken of in the verses before.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They must afflict their souls. They must refrain from all bodily
|
|
refreshments and delights, in token of inward humiliation and
|
|
contrition of soul for their sins. They all fasted on this day from
|
|
food (except the sick and children), and laid aside their ornaments,
|
|
and did not anoint themselves, as Daniel,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+10:3,12"><I>ch.</I> x. 3, 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>David chastened his soul with fasting,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+35:13">Ps. xxxv. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
And it signified the mortifying of sin and turning from it, <I>loosing
|
|
the bands of wickedness,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+58:6,7">Isa. lviii. 6, 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
The Jewish doctors advised that they should not on that day read those
|
|
portions of scripture which were proper to affect them with delight and
|
|
joy, because it was a day to afflict their souls.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. The perpetuity of this institution: <I>It shall be a statute for
|
|
ever,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:29,34"><I>v.</I> 29, 34</A>.
|
|
|
|
It must not be intermitted any year, nor ever let fall till that
|
|
constitution should be dissolved, and the type should be superseded by
|
|
the antitype. As long as we are continually sinning, we must be
|
|
continually repenting, and receiving the atonement. The law of
|
|
afflicting our souls for sin is a statute for ever, which will continue
|
|
in force till we arrive where all tears, even those of repentance, will
|
|
be wiped from our eyes. The apostle observes it as an evidence of the
|
|
insufficiency of the legal sacrifices to take away sin, and purge the
|
|
conscience from it, that in them there was a <I>remembrance made of sin
|
|
every year,</I> upon the day of atonement,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+10:1-3">Heb. x. 1-3</A>.
|
|
|
|
The annual repetition of the sacrifices showed that there was in them
|
|
only a faint and feeble effort towards making atonement; it could be
|
|
done effectually only by the <I>offering up of the body of Christ once
|
|
for all,</I> and that once was sufficient; that sacrifice needed not to
|
|
be repeated.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Let us see what there was of gospel in all this.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Here are typified the two great gospel privileges of the remission
|
|
of sin and access to God, both which we owe to the mediation of our
|
|
Lord Jesus. Here then let us see,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) The expiation of guilt which Christ made for us. He is himself
|
|
both the maker and the matter of the atonement; for he is,
|
|
|
|
[1.] The priest, the high priest, that <I>makes reconciliation for the
|
|
sins of the people,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:17">Heb. ii. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
He, and he only, is <I>par negotio--fit for the work</I> and worthy of
|
|
the honour: he is appointed by the Father to do it, who sanctified him,
|
|
and sent him into the world for this purpose, that <I>God might in him
|
|
reconcile the world to himself.</I> He undertook it, and for our sakes
|
|
sanctified himself, and set himself apart for it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+17:19">John xvii. 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
The high priest's frequently bathing himself on this day, and
|
|
performing the service of it in fine linen clean and white, signified
|
|
the holiness of the Lord Jesus, his perfect freedom from all sin, and
|
|
his being beautified and adorned with all grace. No man was to be with
|
|
the high priest when he made atonement
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>);
|
|
|
|
for our Lord Jesus was to <I>tread the wine-press alone,</I> and of the
|
|
people there must be <I>none with him</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+63:3">Isa. lxiii. 3</A>);
|
|
|
|
therefore, when he entered upon his sufferings, <I>all his disciples
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forsook him and fled,</I> for it any of them had been taken and put to
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death with him it would have looked as if they had assisted in making
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the atonement; none but thieves, concerning whom there could be no such
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suspicion, must suffer with him. And observe what the extent of the
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atonement was which the high priest made: it was <I>for the holy
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sanctuary, for the tabernacle, for the altar, for the priests,</I> and
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<I>for all the people,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>.
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Christ's satisfaction is that which atones for the sins both of
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ministers and people, the <I>iniquities of our holy</I> (and our
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unholy) <I>things;</I> the title we have to the privileges of
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|
ordinances, our comfort in them, and benefit by them, are all owing to
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|
the atonement Christ made. But, whereas the atonement which the high
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|
priest made pertained only to the congregation of Israel, Christ is the
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|
propitiation, not for their sins only, that are Jews, but for the sins
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|
of the whole Gentile world. And in this also Christ infinitely excelled
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|
Aaron, that Aaron needed to offer sacrifice for his own sin first, of
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|
which he was to make confession upon the head of his sin-offering; but
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our Lord Jesus had no sin of his own to answer for. <I>Such a high
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|
priest became us,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+7:26">Heb. vii. 26</A>.
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And therefore, when he was baptized in Jordan, whereas others stood in
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the water <I>confessing their sins</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+3:6">Matt. iii. 6</A>),
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|
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he <I>went up straightway out of the water</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>),
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having no sins to confess.
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[2.] As he is the high priest, so he is the sacrifice with which
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atonement is made; for he is all in all in our reconciliation to God.
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|
Thus he was prefigured by the two goats, which both made one offering:
|
|
the slain goat was a type of Christ dying for our sins, the scape-goat
|
|
a type of Christ rising again for our justification. It was directed by
|
|
lot, the disposal whereof was of the Lord, which goat should be slain;
|
|
for Christ was delivered <I>by the determinate counsel and
|
|
foreknowledge of God. First,</I> The atonement is said to be completed
|
|
by putting the sins of Israel upon the head of the goat. They deserved
|
|
to have been abandoned and sent into a land of forgetfulness, but that
|
|
punishment was here transferred to the goat that bore their sins, with
|
|
reference to which God is said to have laid upon our Lord Jesus (the
|
|
substance of all these shadows) <I>the iniquity of us all</I>
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|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+53:6">Isa. liii. 6</A>),
|
|
|
|
and he is said to have <I>borne our sins,</I> even the punishment of
|
|
them, <I>in his own body upon the tree,</I>
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|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+2:24">1 Pet. ii. 24</A>.
|
|
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|
Thus was he made sin for us, that is, a sacrifice for sin,
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+5:21">2 Cor. v. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
He suffered and died, not only for our good, but in our stead, and was
|
|
forsaken, and seemed to be forgotten for a time, that we might not be
|
|
forsaken and forgotten for ever. Some learned men have computed that
|
|
our Lord Jesus was baptized of John in Jordan upon the tenth day of the
|
|
seventh month, which was the very day of atonement. Then he entered
|
|
upon his office as Mediator, and was immediately <I>driven of the
|
|
Spirit into the wilderness,</I> a land not inhabited. <I>Secondly,</I>
|
|
The consequence of this was that all the iniquities of Israel were
|
|
<I>carried into a land of forgetfulness.</I> Thus Christ, the Lamb of
|
|
God, <I>takes away the sin the of world,</I> by taking it upon himself,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:29">John i. 29</A>.
|
|
|
|
And, when God forgives sin, he is said to remember it no more
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:12">Heb. viii. 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>to cast it behind his back</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+38:17">Isa. xxxviii. 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>into the depths of the sea</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+7:19">Mic. vii. 19</A>),
|
|
|
|
and to separate it <I>as far as the east is from the west,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+103:12">Ps. ciii. 12</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) The entrance into heaven which Christ made for us is here typified
|
|
by the high priest's entrance into the most holy place. This the
|
|
apostle has expounded
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+9:7">Heb. ix. 7</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c.), and he shows,
|
|
|
|
[1.] That heaven is the holiest of all, but not of that building, and
|
|
that the way into it by faith, hope, and prayer, through a Mediator,
|
|
was not then so clearly manifested as it is to us now by the gospel.
|
|
|
|
[2.] That Christ our high priest entered into heaven at his ascension
|
|
once for all, and as a public person, in the name of all his spiritual
|
|
Israel, and through the veil of his flesh, which was rent for that
|
|
purpose,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+10:20">Heb. x. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
[3.] That he entered <I>by his own blood</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+9:12">Heb. ix. 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
taking with him to heaven the virtues of the sacrifice he offered on
|
|
earth, and so sprinkling his blood, as it were, before the mercy-seat,
|
|
where it speaks better things than the blood of bulls and goats could
|
|
do. Hence he is said to appear in the midst of the throne as <I>a lamb
|
|
that had been slain,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+5:6">Rev. v. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
And, though he had no sin of his own to expiate, yet it was by his own
|
|
merit that he obtained for himself a restoration to his own ancient
|
|
glory
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+17:4,5">John xvii. 4, 5</A>),
|
|
|
|
as well as an eternal redemption for us,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+9:12">Heb. ix. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
[4.] The high priest in the holy place burned incense, which typified
|
|
the intercession that Christ ever lives to make for us within the veil,
|
|
in virtue of his satisfaction. And we could not expect to live, no,
|
|
not before the mercy-seat, if it were not covered with the cloud of
|
|
this incense. Mere mercy itself will not save us, without the
|
|
interposition of a Mediator. The intercession of Christ is there set
|
|
forth before God as incense, as <I>this incense.</I> And as the high
|
|
priest interceded for himself first, then for his household, and then
|
|
for all Israel, so our Lord Jesus, in the
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+17:1-26">17th of St. John</A>
|
|
|
|
(which was a specimen of the intercession he makes in heaven),
|
|
recommended himself first to his Father, then his disciples who were
|
|
his household, and then all that should believe on him through their
|
|
word, as all Israel; and, having thus adverted to the uses and
|
|
intentions of his offering, he was immediately seized and crucified,
|
|
pursuant to these intentions.
|
|
|
|
[5.] Herein the entry Christ made far exceeded Aaron's, that Aaron
|
|
could not gain admission, no, not for his own sons, into the most holy
|
|
place; but our Lord Jesus has consecrated for us also a <I>new and
|
|
living way into the holiest,</I> so that we also have <I>boldness to
|
|
enter,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+10:19,20">Heb. x. 19, 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
[6.] The high priest was to come out again, but our Lord Jesus ever
|
|
lives, making intercession, and always appears in the presence of God
|
|
for us, whither as the forerunner he has for us entered, and where as
|
|
agent he continues for us to reside.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. Here are likewise typified the two great gospel duties of faith and
|
|
repentance, by which we are qualified for the atonement, and come to be
|
|
entitled to the benefit of it.
|
|
|
|
(1.) By faith we must put our hands upon the head of the offering,
|
|
relying on Christ as the Lord our Righteousness, pleading his
|
|
satisfaction as that which was alone able to atone for our sins and
|
|
procure us a pardon. "<I>Thou shalt answer, Lord, for me.</I> This is
|
|
all I have to say for myself, <I>Christ has died, yea, rather has risen
|
|
again;</I> to his grace and government I entirely submit myself, and in
|
|
him I <I>receive the atonement,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+5:11">Rom. v. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) By repentance we must afflict our souls; not only fasting for a
|
|
time from the delights of the body, but inwardly sorrowing for our
|
|
sins, and living a life of self-denial and mortification. We must also
|
|
make a penitent confession of sin, and this with an eye to Christ, whom
|
|
we have pierced, and mourning because of him; and with a hand of faith
|
|
upon the atonement, assuring ourselves that, <I>if we confess our sins,
|
|
God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
|
|
all unrighteousness.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Lastly, In the year of jubilee, the trumpet which proclaimed the
|
|
liberty was ordered to be sounded in the close of the <I>day of
|
|
atonement,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+25:9"><I>ch.</I> xxv. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
For the remission of our debt, release from our bondage, and our return
|
|
to our inheritance, are all owing to the mediation and intercession of
|
|
Jesus Christ. By the atonement we obtain rest for our souls, and all
|
|
the glorious liberties of the children of God.</P>
|
|
|
|
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