← All outlines

Outline 030 of 100 · Leviticus

The Day of Atonement

Leviticus 16:1-22, 34 — Final cleansing of the sanctuary and the assurance of complete atonement

Hands-free narration of this study — good for the car.

Synopsis

Once each year, on the tenth day of the seventh month, Israel observed a solemn day unlike any other — the Day of Atonement, when the high priest entered the most holy place with blood to cleanse the sanctuary from the accumulated record of the people's confessed sins. Throughout the year, sin had been symbolically transferred into the sanctuary through the daily sacrifices; on this day it was finally removed. Two goats featured in the ritual: one slain as a sin offering, its blood applied within the veil, and one, the scapegoat, over which the high priest confessed all Israel's sins before it was sent away into the wilderness, bearing them off never to return. The day required the whole congregation to afflict their souls — genuine, humble self-examination — for those who did not were to be cut off. This ceremony pictures the great final work of judgment and cleansing, when Christ's ministry in the heavenly sanctuary reaches its climax, sin is finally and forever separated from the redeemed, and every case is settled in the pre-advent judgment before His return. It calls believers today to genuine heart examination and full trust in the completeness of Christ's atoning work.

  1. I. The solemn day appointed

    • Once a year, unlike daily sacrifices
    • Entry into the most holy place
    • A day for the whole congregation, not priests alone

  2. II. The two goats

    • The Lord's goat, slain and its blood applied
    • The scapegoat, bearing confessed sin away
    • Two aspects of a single, complete atonement

  3. III. The cleansing of the sanctuary

    • Sin symbolically accumulated through the year
    • Final removal on the Day of Atonement
    • A picture of the final judgment and cleansing from sin

  4. IV. The call to self-examination

    • "Afflict your souls"
    • Those who did not were cut off
    • Genuine heart searching, not mere ritual
The appeal

Just as Israel was called to afflict their souls in solemn self-examination, so we are called today to examine our hearts in light of Christ's ministry of final atonement. Will you trust the completeness of His work and let Him search your heart now?

Key points

  • The Day of Atonement pictured the final, complete removal of sin from God's people.
  • The two goats together portray both substitutionary death and the total removal of confessed sin.
  • The call to self-examination points to the seriousness of the pre-advent judgment today.

Key passages

  • Leviticus 16:7-10
  • Leviticus 16:21-22
  • Leviticus 16:29-31
  • Hebrews 9:23-24