Why is Jesus called the scapegoat? Lev 16
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isa 53:6
Aaron transferring Israel’s sin to scapegoat.
Jesus has removed our sins.
As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Ps 103:12
…you have put all my sins behind your back. Isa 38:17
Therefore Jesus is our scapegoat!
But, is Lev 16 speaking of that truth?
Dictionary Definition: Scapegoat: One that is made to bear the blame of others. (name came from Bible) Actually term is Azazel.
From ez and ‘azal: goat of departure; or escaped goat; which in English was translated “scapegoat.”
or
Azazel, a proper name of a spirit haunting desert.
“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places (desert) seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ Lk 11:24
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Mt 4:1
How was Jesus successful against the devil?
Jesus’ 40 day trial was victorious because His belief in God/Scriptures gave Him the victory over Satan.
Why was Israel made to wander in the desert for 40 years?
Israel wandered in the desert for forty years because of their unbelief!
7 So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness,
9 where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did.
10 That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ 11 So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ” 12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. Heb 3:7-12
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LEV 16:6-10,15,20-22 6 “Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household. 7 Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 8 He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the Lord and the other for (Azazel symbolizing Satan– a person, not the goat) the scapegoat. 9 Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering. 10 But the goat chosen by lot as the (Azazel) scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat (transfer of Israel’s sins unto the scapegoat). 15 “He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it. 20 “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. 21 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 (this man wouldn’t be leading Jesus out to the wilderness then releasing Him to make sure He didn’t come back to the Temple) appointed for the task. 22 The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness (But this man might be portray the Holy Spirit, as He led Jesus into the wilderness to be tested by Satan Mt 4:1. He might be making sure that these sins of sinners were returned to Satan. The symbolism could be that anyone refusing the Gospel would spent eternity separated from God with Satan).
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Mt 27:15-26 15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, Ac 3:14 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him. 19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with thatinnocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbasand to have Jesus executed. 21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered. 22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” 23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” 24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” ((Pilate evaded his responsibility) 25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!” (True, any unbelievers will pay for their own sins). 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. |
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v8) Lots cast to determine which one who be freed. Lord’s goat – sacrificed. Azazel’s goat- people’s sins transferred to goat then set free. |
v17) Pilate asked the crowd which one to set free. They chose Barabbas—guilty criminal to be freed. Jesus- sacrificed. Barabbas- set free. |
The Woman in a Basket Zec 5:5-11
5 Then the angel who was speaking to me came forward and said to me, “Look up and see what is appearing.”
6 I asked, “What is it?”
He replied, “It is a basket” (confinement). And he added, “This is the iniquity of the people throughout the land.” What was the purpose of the basket? Confine evil. Lead cover to keep wicked woman from escaping.
7 Then the cover of lead (confinement) was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman! 8 He said, “This is wickedness,” and he pushed her back into the basket and pushed its lead cover down on it.
9 Then I looked up—and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth.
10 “Where are they taking the basket?” I asked the angel who was speaking to me.
11 He replied, “To the country of Babylonia What does Babylon represent? (represents evil) “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’ She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal. 3 For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.” Rev 18:2,3 to build What would be the purpose to build a house for these wicked people? (confinement-separated from God/Israel) a house for it. When the house (Lake of Fire) is ready, the basket (those who refused Christ) will be set there in its place.”
Jesus separated the goats from the sheep Mt 25:32,33 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right (those who received the favor of God/Gospel) and the goats on his left (those who refused His salvation) .
Those who believe in the effectiveness of the sin sacrifice remain part of Israel/God
but
those who refuse His finished work are led out into the desert/separated from God as their punishment.
“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, (God is light, in Him is no darkness 1 Jn 1:5) where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Mt 22:13
Mt 18:15-17 15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’17 If they still refuse to listen(concerning their sin), tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector (be separated from them).
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 2Co 6:14
CONCLUSION: I believe the symbolism God was taught was to rely on His lotted goat-Jesus, who grants eternal life with God, while choosing Azazel’s goat brings eternal separation.