Leviticus 16:15 - Meaning and Application

After the priest had sprinkled the blood of the bull before the mercy seat, he was to kill the goat, the people’s sin offering, and go in a third time into the Most Holy Place. There he was to sprinkle the goat’s blood just as he had done with the bull’s blood, and by this make atonement for the holy place (Leviticus 16:16). The people’s sins had angered God and made even that holy place unfit, as it were, for the dwelling of the holy God. This sacrifice showed that sin had to be dealt with so God could remain with his people in mercy.

Then he was to do for the outer part of the tabernacle what he had done for the inner room. He was to sprinkle the blood of the bull, and then the blood of the goat, before the veil, where the table and the altar of incense stood, eight times each, just as before. The reason given is that the tabernacle still stood among a people full of uncleanness (Leviticus 16:16). God was showing them how much their hearts needed cleansing, since even his own dwelling place, because it stood in their midst, needed this purifying sacrifice. He was also showing that even their worship and religious duties had much that was wrong in them, so atonement was needed for those as well.

During this solemn time, none of the ordinary priests were to come into the tabernacle (Leviticus 16:17). By staying outside, they would acknowledge that they were not worthy or fit to serve there, because their mistakes, failures, and many impurities had helped make this cleansing necessary. Their silence and distance were part of the lesson, reminding them that their ministry itself needed mercy.

After that, the high priest was to put some of the mixed blood of the bull and the goat on the horns of the altar before the Lord (Leviticus 16:18, 16:19). It is certain that this refers to the altar of incense, because that is clearly commanded elsewhere (Exodus 30:10). But some think it points to the altar of burnt offering as well, since that altar is also called the altar before the Lord (Leviticus 16:12). If so, the reason would be that this altar too needed cleansing, because all the gifts and offerings of Israel were brought to it, and it also had to be consecrated from the uncleanness of the people.