422. LEV 16:7, LEV 16:8. CHRIST TYPIFIED BY THE TWO GOATS

Lev_16:7, Lev_16:8. Christ Typified By The Two Goats

"And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other for the scapegoat."’97Lev_16:7, Lev_16:8.

None of the ancient sacrifices more fully exhibited the work and expiatory sacrifice of Jesus, than the institution of the goats, both of which were necessary to give a true typical representation of the Messiah. In reading the divine account of this offering, the mind is led, as it were instinctively, to those striking passages of holy writ, where Jesus is described as "bearing our sins," as "bearing the sins of many," and, as "taking away the sins of the world." How very great a portion of the epistle to he Hebrews is occupied in giving full and vivid illustrations of the ancient sacrifices, as referring to, and ending in, the vicarious sufferings and death of the Son of God. In contemplating the two goats, let us observe what is said.

I. As to the Goat that was put to Death.

The goat which was to be sacrificed was decided by lot. And thus it was considered as the choice and appointment of God. And it was also considered, especially for the Lord; that is, devoted to a sacred purpose by the will of God. How this applies to the choice and appointment of Jesus, by the express will of his Father, to be the redeemer of the world, and to redeem it by the shedding of his blood. He was sent forth by the Father. He was the elect of chosen of the Father. "Him did God, by his determinate counsel and foreknowledge, deliver up, Act_2:23. Hence, just before Jesus went to the garden, he said, "The Son of man goeth as it is written of him," &c. Mat_26:24. To die, as a sacrifice for human guilt, was the great end of his life, and mission into our world. Thus was he represented by the goat that was sacrificed. Notice, how the figure was still further carried out,

II. In the Goat which was kept alive.

(1) Over the head of this goat the sins of the people were confessed, and on it symbolically laid. Thus Jesus came to be our surety and substitute. He placed himself between our guilt and ruin, and the law, with the penalty it denounced against us. Thus he really and virtually suffered in our stead, the "Just for the unjust," &c. (2) Iniquities, transgressions, and sins, were confessed and laid on the scapegoat Showing us here the extent of Christ’s sacrifice for all kinds of guilt, whether arising from neglect of God’s commands, or the wilful violation of his righteous prohibitions. In the sacrifice of Christ, then was an atonement for every kind of sin and for all grades and classes of sinners We cannot conceive of a more heinous crime than that of murdering, with envious hate and malice, the Son of God. Yet the offer of mercy was first of all to be proclaimed to the populace of Jerusalem showing the extensiveness of his atonement for all iniquity, transgression, and sin (3) The scapegoat was dismissed into the wilderness, with the imputed iniquity of the people upon it. Thus has Jesus truly borne our guilt away. He has obtained for a world of transgressors, the offer of pardon. For the polluted race of Adam, the means of purity. For condemned and dying sinners, the favor of God and the gift of eternal life. Notice.

III. How the Benefits of the Scapegoat were conferred upon the People.

Aaron was to lay both his hands upon the head of the scapegoat, and there confess all the sins of the people. How clearly does this show us the appointed medium by which, we enjoy the salvation of Christ. (1) There must be implicit faith or confidence in his person and sacrifice. This was symbolically taught in the priest laying his hand upon the head of the live goat, ver. 21. Here we are to bring our sins, our misery, our helplessness, and place our entire confidence, our whole hope and trust, in the sacrifice of Christ. We are to place our whole burden of guilt and ruin where God’s mercy has placed our help and salvation. And how worthy is Christ that all our dependence should be implicitly reposed upon him. (2) Faith in Jesus will ever be accompanied by sincere repentance. It will be connected with ingenuous confession, deep contrition, entire selfabasement, and self-loathing before God, with earnest forsaking of the paths of impenitence and sin.

Application

1. We see here the connection between sin and death. Sin deserves death, exposes to death; where it is unforgiven, it will involve in eternal death. "The soul that sinneth," &c.

2. In Christ’s death is the only real sacrifice for sin: "He died for our sins." What a glorious truth! How precious! How momentous!

3. Faith is the only medium of securing to the soul the benefits of that death. "He that believeth," &c.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS