064. LEV 16:21. THE SCAPEGOAT
Lev_16:21. The Scapegoat
"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," &c.’97Lev_16:21
The various rites and sacrifices of the aw were intended to set forth in a striking form the evil of sin, and its just demerit before God; and likewise to typify the work of the Saviour, who should be the last great atoning sacrifice which God would ever deign to receive, and who should put away sin by the offering of himself. The slain goat, together with the one allowed to escape, very fully illustrated the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Let us, especially, direct our attention to the latter, as presented to us in the language of the text. Observe,
I. The Scapegoat represented the Substitution of Christ in the Place of Sinners.
Here, iniquities, transgressions, and sins were "put upon the head of the goat," and then the goat was dismissed, and went into the wilderness, and was no more seen. In revelation we find similar language employed in reference to Jesus; language which bears precisely the same meaning, and which is never attributed to any other than Christ. "The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all;" Isa_53:6-9. "He hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin;" 2Co_5:21. "Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world;" Joh_1:29; 1Pe_2:24. Prophets have taught, and martyrs have died in the cause of truth, but nowhere are they said to bear our sins, or to die in our stead; this, alone, is attributed as the death and sacrifice of Christ. And if these passages do not teach the doctrine of substitution, then they are the language of mystery itself. Observe,
II. This Substitution of Christ has made ample Satisfaction for Sin.
Sin is fully and satisfactorily atoned for. God can now be just, and holy, and true, and the justifier of the ungodly. Every claim was met by Christ’97every impediment removed’97every accuser silenced’97and a firm and immoveable basis of hope and mercy laid for sinners. So complete is the work of salvation by Christ Jesus, that sinners may have free access to God, come boldly to his throne, obtain mercy, and grace to help in every time of need.
III. This Atonement by Christ extends to all Sins.
Three words in the text:
1. Iniquities.
Some say these refer to our original depravity.
2. Transgressions.
The violations of the positive laws God.
3. Sins.
Neglect of his holy commands. Perhaps they are used to denote that the scapegoat bore away sins of every kind and description. Sins against both tables of God’s law’97sins natural to fallen man’97and sins of a practical and aggravated kind. Now, through the substitution of Christ, and by faith in him, "All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men." "And we are justified from all things, from which we could not be justified by the law of Moses." Sins though scarlet, or doubly dyed as crimson, &c. Observe,
IV. That Christ, as typified by the Scapegoat, has effected Substitution for all People
In the case of the scapegoat, it extended to all the congregation of Israel; and respecting Christ, it is said that "He is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world;"’97that he died for all men’97"tasted death for every man." Ministers had better use the language of Scripture on this, as well as on every other controverted point of doctrine. Let the people have the pure words of the Holy Ghost, and let us not be anxious to inculcate mere human dogmas, and the fallible opinions of men like ourselves.
Observe, then,
V. In what way the Benefits of Christ’s Substitution are received.
In the case of the scapegoat, this is beautifully illustrated.
1. Faith is requisite.
"Hands laid on the head of the goat." Our soul’s confidence withdrawn from every other object. All our trust and reliance placed on the Saviour. No hope or expectation from any other source.
"’Tis all my hope, and all my plea,
That Christ, my Lord, has died for me."
2. Sins confessed and repented of.
All these were to be confessed over the head of the scapegoat. This is necessary, that we may feel our sinfulness and deserts, and that, we may feel the greatness of Christ’s love in the punishment being transferred from us to the substitute; and that we may be deeply humbled and sincerely grateful for it.
3. Future life must be holy before him.
When this was done, Aaron was to wash himself with pure water, see ver. 24. Denoting that holiness and newness of life which must be the fruit of our interest in the saving grace of Christ. This is the great end of Christ’s death, "That he might redeem unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."
Application
(1) Man’s criminal and dangerous condition. Laden with iniquities and sins.
(2) The only way of avoiding the terrible results of transgression. "By Jesus Christ."
(3) The only means by which the blessings of salvation are to be received. By true repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
(4) Let all men thus avail themselves of the redemption that is in Christ. "For this is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."
Autor: JABEZ BURNS