Leviticus 16:1 - Meaning and Application

This law about the Day of Atonement was given after the death of Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu, as recorded in Leviticus 10:1. Aaron might have feared that the guilt of that sin still clung to his family, or that another sin by his remaining sons might bring ruin on his house. So God gave him a way to make atonement for his household, so it could stay in favor with God. The atonement would help secure his family and keep God’s blessing on it.

The deaths of Nadab and Abihu also warned the priests to come before God with reverence and holy fear, since coming carelessly had cost them their lives. So God gave directions for drawing near to him in the right way, so it would bring safety, benefit, and comfort. The other priests were not to say, “Then we will stay away,” but, “Then we will come by God’s rule.” Their punishment became a lesson for the rest. In this way, God’s judgments on some teach others.

One purpose of this law was to keep deep respect for the most holy place, the room inside the veil where the shechinah, the visible sign of God’s glory, rested between the cherubim. God told Aaron not to come at any time into the holy place (Leviticus 16:2). Some priests came every day before the veil to burn incense on the golden altar, but no one went inside the veil except the high priest, and he only once a year, with great care. The place where God showed his special presence was not to be treated like an ordinary room.

If no one was allowed to enter the chamber of an earthly king without being called, not even the queen under penalty of death (Esther 4:11), then much more should the King of kings be treated with sacred honor. Yet the gospel of Christ brings a blessed change. All true Christians now have confidence to enter the holy place through the veil every day (Hebrews 10:19, Hebrews 10:20). We come boldly, not with the fear and trembling Aaron had, to the throne of grace, also called the mercy seat (Hebrews 4:16). When God’s presence and grace were seen in outward signs, they had to be limited, because familiar things lose their sense of awe. But now that these things are spiritual, faith grows by use, and we see more of God’s greatness and goodness the more we draw near. So now we are welcome to come at all times into the holy place not made with hands, and by faith we are seated with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). Then Aaron must not come near at all times, or he would die. Now we must come near at all times so that we may live, because distance from God brings death. Then God appeared in the cloud above the mercy seat, but now we behold the Lord’s glory with unveiled faces, not in a dark cloud, but as in a clear mirror (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The work of this day was given to the high priest alone. “Aaron shall come into the holy place” (Leviticus 16:3). He was to do everything himself on the Day of Atonement. Still, another priest was to stand ready to help or take his place if sickness or ceremonial uncleanness kept him from serving. All Christians are spiritual priests, but Christ alone is the high priest. He alone makes atonement, and he needed neither helper nor replacement.

The high priest also had to wear plain linen clothing for this service, not his rich garments that belonged to his office. He was not to put on the ephod with its precious stones, but only the linen clothes he wore in common with the lower priests (Leviticus 16:4). That simpler dress fit this day of humility best, and it would also let him work more freely, since everything depended on his actions. Christ, our high priest, made atonement for sin in our nature. He did not come in the robes of his own glory, but in the plain linen of our mortal humanity, clean indeed, but humble.