“But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance” (Hebrews 9:7).
There is a symbolic element within this verse that undoubtedly held significance for the original audience of this epistle. For contemporary readers of this passage, some background information can help us develop a greater appreciation for the conclusions that our author will begin to draw in the following verse.
For instance, the “second part” of the tabernacle refers to the Most Holy Place mentioned earlier. The only period when a human being could lawfully enter God’s presence there occurred on the annual Day of Atonement. That human being was the High Priest and Leviticus chapter sixteen details his agenda for that day.
First, the High Priest was required to bathe and “…put on his linen tunic and the linen undergarments worn next to his body. He must tie the linen sash around his waist and put the linen turban on his head” (Leviticus 16:4 NLT). He had to sacrifice a young bull for his sins (and those within his household) as well as a ram for a burnt offering (Leviticus 16:5-6).
What happened next was rich with significance…
“From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering… Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat. Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering. But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat.
…When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness” (Leviticus 16:5, 7-10, 20-22 NIV).
The following verse will serve to explain why our author has focused on these offerings. We’ll take a closer look at those conclusions next.