Leviticus 16:20-22

THE SCAPEGOAT 16:20-22
TEXT 16:20-22

20

And when he hath made an end of atoning for the holy place, and the tent of meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat:

21

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, even all their sins; and he shall put them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a man that is in readiness into the wilderness:

22

and the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a solitary land: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 16:20-22

354.

The sin is forgiven. What need is there for the scapegoat?

355.

This goat becomes a sin bearer. How?

356.

Who takes the goat into the wilderness? Why?

357.

Read John 1:29; Isaiah 53:11-12; Psalms 103:12 and show the application here.

PARAPHRASE 16:20-22

When he has completed the rite of atonement for the Holy Place, the entire Tabernacle, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat and, laying both hands upon its head, confess over it all the sins of the people of Israel. He shall lay all their sins upon the head of the goat and send it into the desert, led by a man appointed for the task. So the goat shall carry all the sins of the people into a land where no one lives, and the man shall let it loose in the wilderness.

COMMENT 16:20-22

Leviticus 16:20-22 The cleansing is now complete. The priests, the people and the sanctuary along with all its utensils are clean. It is now time to turn attention to the scapegoat who has been standing patiently in the court. The goat is brought forward and all Israel hears the high priest's voice confessing their sins and iniquities and transgressions. Most solemnly, and no doubt even weeping, did Aaron confess his people's sins over the head of the scapegoat. He felt on his heart the load which was lying on the victim. These confessed sins having been thus laid on its head, the goat stood laden with the curse. Against it alone will the lightning be directed nowon this one point will vengeance fall. Israel is now clearthe stroke must slope over their heads to their substitute. And a fit man, one appointed for the purpose, leads it away down the courts, in the presence of all the people, slowly and carefully, till he has gone out of sight and reached the wilds of some rugged spot, some uninhabited waste. The fit person returns and attests that he left it there, and Israel feels the joy of pardon. Wrath against these confessed sins now alights in the desert, not upon them. The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all, is their song. (Bonar)

FACT QUESTIONS 16:20-22

369.

Show how perfectly this goat represents our Lord.

370.

Who does the man represent who led the goat into the wilderness?

371.

What present-day hymn seems appropriate as an expression of the meaning of this text to us?