The divine services of the first covenant: the rites and bloody sacrifices, 1–10; are far inferior to the “dignity and perfection of the blood and sacrifice of Christ, 11–28. (87)
“But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and the errors of the people” (v. 7). The great day of atonement described at length in Lev. 16. On the tenth day of the seventh month (our September) Israel’s high priest, unattended and unassisted by his subordinates, entered within the holy of holies, there to present propitiating sacrifices before Jehovah. Divested of his garments of “glory and beauty” Ex. 28:2 and clad only in “the holy linen” Lev. 16:4.
- He first entered the sacred precincts bearing a censer full of burning coals and his hands full of incense, so that a cloud of incense should cover the mercy-seat Lev. 16:12, 13, which spoke of the fragrant excellency of Christ’s person unto God, when He offered Himself an atoning sacrifice.
- Second, he took of the blood of the bullock, which had been killed for a sin-offering for himself and his house Lev. 16:11 and sprinkled its blood upon and before the mercy-seat 16:14. “Which he offered for himself,” for he too was a sinner, and incompetent to make real, efficacious and acceptable atonement for others; thereby intimating that he must yet give place to Another.
- Third, he went out and killed the goat which was a sin-offering for the people, and did with its blood as he had with that of the bullocks 16:15. “And for the errors of the people,” which is to be interpreted in the light of the Old Testament expression “sins of ignorance” Lev. 4:2; 5:15; Num. 15:22–29, which are contrasted from deliberate or presumptuous sins Num. 15:30, 31. God graciously made provision for the infirmities of His people, which is to be interpreted in the light of the expression “sins of ignorance” Lev. 4:2; 5:15; Num. 15:22–29. In the carrying of the blood into the presence of Jehovah and the sprinkling of it upon His throne, witness was borne to His acceptance of the atonement which had been made.
- He came forth and laid both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confessed over him “all of the iniquities of the children of Israel and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat,” which was then sent away “unto a land not inhabited” Lev. 16:21, 22; this was typical of the Atonement made by the Lord Jesus, the plenary remission of sins through His blood and Christ resurrection for our justification. This is like the living bird in Lev. 14:7. In the placing of the sins of Israel upon the live goat and its carrying of them away into a land uninhabited, there was a foreshadowing of the resurrection and that, as far as the east is from the west hath God removed the transgressions of His people from before Him.
- “Into the second veil went the high priest alone: There shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement” Lev. 16:17. This denoted that Christ alone was qualified to appear before God on behalf of His people: none other was fit to mediate for them. “Once every year,” to foreshadow the fact that Christ entered heaven for His people once for all: Hebrews 9:12. But, lest the church should apprehend, that indeed there was no approach, here, nor hereafter, for any person into the gracious presence of God; He ordained that once a year the high priest, and he alone, should enter into that holy place with blood. For all believers in their own persons were utterly excluded from it” (John Owen)
- “The Holy Spirit this signifying:” or making evident, that “the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest.” Wherefore, to enter these holies is nothing but to have an access with liberty, freedom and boldness, into the gracious presence of God on the account of reconciliation and peace made with Him Heb. 10:19–22. The holies then is the gracious presence of God, whereunto believers draw nigh, in the confidence of the atonement made for them, and acceptance thereon: Rom. 5:1–3, Eph. 2:14–18, Heb. 4:14, 15’ (John Owen).
