The Scapegoat
J. C. Gray. Leviticus 16:20-22 And when he has made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar… I. THE INNOCENT VICTIM. 1. Innocent. Had no sins of its own to bear. Thus Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:24). With sins of its own how could it atone for the sins of others? No man selected who might ceremonially bear the sins of the people away, and then return after being ceremonially purified. 2. Divinely selected. Chosen by lot. "The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord." Jesus was the Lamb of God. The lamb of Divine selection. Hence how great should be our confidence in this Saviour! 3. Representative. Goat generally regarded as representing evil propensities, and therefore as specially illustrating the wicked (Matthew 25:32-46). So Jesus took our nature. Likeness of men and of sinful flesh (Philippians 2:7; Romans 8:3). II. THE IMPUTED TRANSGRESSIONS. 1. Of all the people, and all their iniquities. Vast number, variety, &c., of their sins. Jesus gave Himself a ransom for all. Died for our sins. 2. Transferred from the people by the will of God. By the grace of God Jesus tasted death for us. Our sins laid upon Him according to the mercy of God. 3. Transferred by the priest with confession. They were to be acknowledged as the people's sins. Confession of sin a condition of our acceptance. Not that God does not know, but that the act of confession brings our guilt home more to our own heart, and tends to promote humility and an earnest desire for mercy. Besides, God has willed it (chap. Leviticus 5:5; Hosea 5:15), and added promises of mercy to such as obey (Leviticus 26:40-42; Proverbs 28:13). And pardon follows (Psalm 32:5; 1 John 1:9). 4. Bearing this burden, the goat was then lead away into the wilderness. Away from the camp, whither it might never return to defile it. The iniquity to be clean gone for ever. The people not to be punished for the sins thus "removed far" from them. Christ bore our reproaches, and was crucified outside the camp. III. THE DELIVERED PEOPLE. 1. Deliverance from sin the greatest deliverance. Other deliverances being temporal, but this eternal; others bodily, &c., this spiritual. 2. It would promote happiness. They felt that a great load had been removed. Rejoiced in spiritual liberty. The joy of imputed innocence. Now looked upon with favour, their sins being borne away. "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us." 3. It would excite gratitude. Otherwise they would have had to answer for their sins. Apply this to Jesus, and those who are saved from wrath through Him.Learn — 1. Christ Jesus was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. 2. He made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made, &c. 3. The duty of confession and personal faith. (J. C. Gray.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat: WEB: "When he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat.