The Meaning Behind Animal Sacrifices
Understand why God had Israel play skits for us that demonstrate for us how it was that Jesus Life was used to Redeem the whole world of mankind born in Adam.
James Schucker
What is it that the Lord desired to demonstrate with the sacrifices described in the scriptures? This subject matter has perplexed me for many years, and it is only since 2025, that I feel I have grasped it more thoroughly. One of the things I have long struggled to understand is why the person making a sacrifice must own the animal being sacrificed. If the animal is somehow supposed to represent Jesus, how is it that Jesus is owned by the one doing the sacrificing? Weren't we the ones “bought with a price?” 1Corinthians 6:19-20. See also: 2 Samuel 24:20-24
What makes Atonement
What I have learned on this account is that under the law there is a distinction made between the flesh of an animal and its life. Scripture states in Leviticus 17:11: "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls upon the altar; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul." Israel under the law was then permitted to consume the flesh of an animal for physical nourishment but not its blood, which is stated to represent its life. Conversely, when an individual uses an animal to make a sin offering sacrifice under the law, the sacrificer is portrayed as receiving the animal's life but then they are not permitted to eat its flesh. That animal's flesh was to be consumed by the priest doing the offering as stated in Leviticus 10:17-18 “it was given to you [the priesthood] to take away the guilt of the congregation by making atonement for them before the LORD.”
In the process of making these sacrifices as sin offerings it states in Leviticus 4:3, 15, 24, 28 & 32 That when the sacrificer (depending upon his standing in the community) incurs guilt “he is to lay his hand on the head of the (appropriate animal) being offered, so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.” The transfer of one's guilt is then understood to be achieved through the laying of the offerer's hand upon the head of the animal being offered. The animal being offered is then equivalent to the owner of the animal saying, this animal represents my flesh, and I am symbolically placing the sin of my flesh upon the altar, and at the same time I am promising that I will actively put to death that part of my actual flesh that caused me to do what I did. This is well stated by the apostle Paul in Galatians 5:24-25 “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its (sinful) passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit.” In putting our flesh to death as is also pictured by baptism, we then receive back spiritual life and nourishment – through help from Jesus, which represents the (life) received from the sacrificed animal. It is as though the sacrificer is spiritually saying I am now dead, and it is now the life of the animal [representing Jesus] that I slew [because of my sin] that is now (in a spiritual sense) what is living within me. This is stated similarly again by Paul giving to us the antitype in 2 Corinthians 4:10-12 “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.” Which is another way of Paul saying I am sacrificing my life and energy which I have received from Jesus on the Corinthians behalf. I believe the equivalent act for a Christian is shown in Baptism. Another one along this same line is found in Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
The scriptures in both Galatians and Corinthians offer insights into the significance of the animals that were sacrificed under Jewish law. It is telling us what the Jewish people were meant to understand about the meaning of those sacrifices. The reason an unblemished animal was required was a shadow looking forward to the fact that the Messiah’s flesh was going to be perfect, and that he was to be “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners… Heb 7:26 That is, he would be the one who could and would actually keep the law. They were to understand that the life of that animal, representing Jesus Life, which was given to it by God, and was to be seen as the life you are now supposed to be living; so, strive to live your life as Jesus lived his from now on… And just as that animal’s life was sacrificed on your behalf, you should do the same in sacrificing your time and talent on behalf of others thereby becoming a sin-offering yourself as stated in Romans 12:1.
Can Animals Lives Actually Atone for Sin?
The problem is that those animals sacrificed, had no eternal life in them. They were merely picturing the reality of what Jesus does for us. Animals die just like we die. As stated in Ecclesiastes 3:19 “For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals. 20All go to one place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.” This issue is depicted when God provided the animal that He slew and used to cover Adam's sin, which he committed in Eden before he was expelled into the wilderness which prevented his access to the tree of life. Although Adam was, technically according to the law, “atoned” for by that animal’s life, he still died because he no longer had access to the tree of life as stated in Genesis 3:22-24. “And Jehovah God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever, therefore Jehovah God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground.” We all understand that there is nothing wrong with knowing the difference between good and evil. The problem in God’s eyes is the amount of time one must experience the sinfulness of sin-evil to fully learn the lesson. The Lord desired to cut short man’s pain and suffering. Therefore, he restricted man from accessing the tree of life so that he would die and thus end the lesson. He also began to reveal what would be necessary to address the consequences of his disobedience. Another life was going to be required to cover their sin as the one he was now living was lost.
The second time God provided an animal to be used to picture what Christ does for us is when Isaac asked Abraham “where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Found in Genesis 22:7&8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son”. Again, the problem is that the animals used to do the redeeming work had no actual everlasting life in them. It was just a skit being performed looking forward to the reality of Jesus. This problem is well stated and solved by what is stated in Romans 8:3 “For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God provided by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, as an offering for sin.” Also stated in: John 6:51 “This bread represents my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” A person's sacrifice in seeking forgiveness and atonement cannot be a sacrifice of just time and effort as is stated by the Apostle Paul in Hebrews 9:22 “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
We need to notice the details that occur in the scriptures if we really want to understand. In the account of Abraham and Isaac, they both mentioned that God would provide a lamb, yet we note that it was a ram that was ultimately offered. The difference between the two is that a lamb is a young sheep, typically a year old or less, while a ram is an adult male sheep. We should ask ourselves why it is that Jesus is pictured as different kinds of animals. He is pictured in scripture as a lamb, a ram, a goat, a bullock, a serpent and a lion… When the Lord slew the animal that was used to cover Adam and Eve, we are not told what kind of animal was used because that was not the point. Now that we know the difference between a lamb and a ram, we ask then when was the lamb slain? The answer spiritually is “from before the foundation of the world” as stated in Revelation 13:8 & Ephesians 1:4. That was when Jesus was still a lamb and was still so at his baptism according to John 1:29. But by the time he died on the cross however, he was a ram! As he had “learned obedience by the things he suffered. 9And having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” Heb 5:8-9. We should also understand that the different kinds and personalities of animals that are used in the different sacrifices are important to the circumstances surrounding them.
After realizing and understanding the above thoughts I began focusing my attention on trying to understand the sin offering sacrifices specified in Leviticus the 4th chapter which deal with the different kinds of animals that were used in sacrifices and were offered for sin. Four types of sacrifices are mentioned.
1. "If a priest sins, bringing guilt on the people", a bullock is required to be offered to offset the effect of that sin… Lev 4:3 (transferring his guilt to the bullock)
2. "If the whole congregation sins and incurs guilt," again a bullock is offered, and the elders of the congregation are required to put their hands upon the head of that bullock and it is then that it is slaughtered (transferring their guilt to the bullock)… Lev 4:13
3. "When a leader (an exalted one, a king, or prince) sins unintentionally, he incurs guilt…" he is required to bring an unblemished male goat as his offering… Lev 4:22
4. "If one of the common people sins unintentionally, he incurs guilt." He is required to bring an unblemished female goat or lamb as his offering for that sin…" Lev 4:27 Note: this reminds us of the parable of the Sheep and Goats of Matthew 25:31-46
Laying on of Hands Heb 6:2
The Apostle Paul says: “Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God, 2instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And this we will do, if God permits.” Bible students rarely discuss the laying on of hands because it mainly pertains to sacrifices depicted in the law, which Christians today seldom address. Nevertheless, Paul characterizes it as a fundamental concept that we need to understand especially if we want to understand the meaning of animal sacrifices.
It has been observed that in each instance, the individual making an offering for their sin is required to possess ownership of the animal. This requirement is found in Leviticus 1:2-3 and states that a person bringing a burnt offering must offer it from their own herd or flock, indicating ownership. Some translations are better than others on the ownership. But, 2 Samuel 24:20-24 records David insisting on purchasing the land and oxen for his sacrifice, saying, "I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing." I believe they were required to own it because what they were about to do with the animal is spiritually what we are to do with our own flesh. The person then lays his hand upon its head and slays it, spiritually saying, ‘on the one hand I am transferring the guilt of my sin to the animal (representing my flesh) and on the other hand I am putting my flesh to death. This spiritually signifies that the animal's death serves to release from death the person, who had committed the transgression, so that he might continue to live. It is noteworthy that the individual receiving atonement through the sacrifice consistently stands beside their own animal, which they must slay to provide the redemption price of life. It should not be too difficult to see then that this is what is happening as a demonstration with the two goats on the day of atonement. The one goat is meant to show the redemption-atonement of the other. It is in effect picturing a ransom, one dies to set free the other. This is what Paul was pointing out in Romans 5:11-21 of how Jesus died a corresponding price for Adam.
It appears then that the purpose of those animal sacrifices is to show us the manner and rules by which one can be “set free” as is also stated in Rom 6:7, 18 & 22 also Rom 8:21 set free from the guilt and death penalty for the sin or sins which they have committed. All these scriptures that Paul talks about being “set free” he is referring effectively to the scapegoat which got set free and sent into the wilderness. We should also note that it got set free because of the goat which died for it. The ultimate penalty for sin is found in Ezekiel 18:20 ‘The soul that sins it shall die’ the idea then appears to be that the life of the animal sacrificed dies on the other’s behalf allowing the one who sinned to be “set free” from their sin and continue to live. Stated another way the animal sacrificed redeems the sinner of their sin. Of course, we all realize that somehow the life of the animal being sacrificed ultimately represents the sacrificed life that Jesus our Messiah made upon our behalf. Explaining it precisely so that others can understand it, as expressed in the animal sacrifices the Lord had Israel perform, is challenging especially when many have preconceived ideas about it. The best explanations I have found are from the writings of the apostle Paul. His familiarity with the actual sacrifices, which most contemporary Christian’s lack, provides valuable insights. Paul's familiarity with and understanding of those sacrifices explains his frequent incorporation of the language he used.
With these thoughts then, let us look again at Adam and see what happened to him. Adam was told: Genesis 2:16 “You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, 17but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.” Adam and Eve both transgressed by disobeying - consuming the fruit from the forbidden tree, resulting in their eventual death. However, it raises the question as to why Adam was permitted to live another 900+ years and have numerous offspring before his demise. We notice that the Lord, before allowing Adam and Eve to continue to live, slew for them an animal from which he took its skin and clothed them. Although Adam and Eve were now regarded as sinners, their sin was being symbolically covered by another’s robe, specifically the skin of the sacrificed animal. This is spiritually articulated in Isaiah 61:10 “I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness…” This pictures what Christ does for us in giving us his spiritual robe. In essence we are then antitypically covered by Jesus ‘skin’ which he spiritually calls “a robe of righteousness.” This is also stated in: Romans 13:14 “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.”
The cost for Adam and Eve to learn the knowledge of good and evil was their right to continue to live in the paradise that God had made for them and were thus condemned to live out the rest of their lives under a sentence of hard labor in a wilderness condition along with their children. Thus we all share in that same sentence. We all are learning the knowledge of good and evil together. A terrible price to pay! The Lord, wishing to give us clues as to how his salvation or reconciliation from all of this works, had Israel play sacrificial skits. There he used live animals to show us how ultimately God sees what is necessary for man’s redemption from sin to work. This is stated by Paul in Rom 3:25-26 “God presented Jesus as the atoning/propitiation sacrifice through faith in His blood… 26He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.” This is another reference to the Atonement Day Sacrifices but most translations don't use atoning sacrifice they use the word propitiation. This prevents people from realizing that Paul is referring to the Atonement Day Sacrifices. Paul tells us in Romans 5 that one of those skits is found in the Day of Atonement sacrifices articulated for us in Lev 16. The clue that he is referring to the Atonement Day Sacrifices is that he states “we have now received the Atonement” Rom 5:11 KJV and then he begins to explain in great detail how the two goats of the atonement day sacrifice represent the flesh of Adam and Jesus. And he does this in such a way that if one does not know what happens on the Atonement Day or that he is even referring to it (because of poor translations), they are likely to miss that connection. And here again most translations don't use atonement, they typically use propitiation or reconciliation. He states in the following verses “12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned… 18So then, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the same many shall be made righteous…
The Atonement Day Sacrifices
On the Day of Atonement, two unblemished goats of equal value are chosen to play the ransom part of the skit, the part Paul was referring to as the one for one. One goat is then selected to be sacrificed on behalf of the other, which then gets set free. This procedure follows the established pattern for all sin-offering sacrifices except that, instead of a human and an appropriate animal, two goats are used annually on the Day of Atonement. An animal was also offered as a sacrifice to atone for Adam and Eve before their expulsion from the Garden of Eden into the uninhabited wilderness of the world, the scapegoat was then set free and subsequently driven into an uninhabited wilderness. This is the pattern used to help us realize the goat was to spiritually represent what happened to Adam and Eve. This act symbolizes the transgressions of humanity being placed upon Adam's flesh, but instead of being put to death by the right hand, it was released due to the sacrificed goat. This in turn represents Adam’s goat-flesh receiving redemption through the death of Jesus' flesh. Romans 5:11-20 note especially verse 14 where he states that “Adam is a pattern of the one to come” that is Jesus. Thus we observe a parallel that when Jesus was on the cross, being put to sleep. He was pierced in his side, from which came blood and water like unto Adam’s rib with which He then creates the 2nd, Eve. Romans 5:14. There in the book of Romans, the apostle Paul illustrates for us the concept of ransom being integral with this part of the sin offering. He explains that what Jesus accomplished through His sin offering will be the restoration of actual paradise, rather than merely a return to a guilt free life in a wilderness. Leviticus 16:21-22. Also it should be noted that Eve is being pictured still within Adam, and the second Eve is represented as still within the flesh of Jesus.
On the Atonement Day, Israel's sins were forgiven, and they returned to the state of Adam after being cast out of the garden, picturing Israel now without guilt. In Leviticus 16:20-22 it states “When Aaron has finished purifying the Most Holy Place,[with the blood of the Bullock and Goat] the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he is to bring forward the live goat. 21Then he lays both hands on the head of the live goat and confesses over it all the iniquities and rebellious acts of Israel regarding all their sins. He is to put them on the goat’s head and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man appointed for the task. 22The goat will carry on itself all their iniquities into a solitary place, and the man will release it into the wilderness.” Being set free no longer to be under man’s control or dominance. The goat is being returned to the wild = wilderness.
The really big problem we have here is that in all other cases of sin offerings the guilt is placed on the head of the animal that is slain. But here it appears that the guilt is placed on the head of the live goat that gets set free. What is going on here? This is to remind us of the scripture which states that we ‘fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ’. We will deal with this again a little later.
It is very tempting to think that the scapegoat also refers to Jesus when considering Isaiah 53:12 “Yet He bore the sin of many” but if you read the context you will observe that Isaiah is referring to the goat that got sacrificed not the scapegoat. Note: “Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.” As with all the sacrifices for sin we are to spiritually see the life of the animal sacrificed now being transferred into the one that it was sacrificed for. In this case Jesus sacrificed his life directly for Adam. Adam then gets set free. And now because of this we, having been born in Adam are ‘set free’ by faith in that ransom transaction for Adam’s race. This transaction is carried out through the process of our adoption. Eph 1:5 & Gal 4:5
This still begs the question how it is that Jesus bore man’s sin and guilt upon himself. He did this quite literally by taking upon himself flesh (to be the antitypical goat that got sacrificed) and participating in the condemnation that was given to Adam by living amongst us and going through what we all go through by becoming the offspring of Adam and thus he bore upon himself the ultimate result of Adam’s transgression which was death. Yet he did not sin, which gave him a right to life according to the law, as stated in Lev 18:5 “Keep My statutes and My judgments, for the man who does these things will live by them. I am the LORD.” Also: 1Peter 2:24 “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His stripes you are healed.” He took Adam's stripes upon himself as part of the punishment for Adam's disobedience.
Again, as in most cases of sin offerings the individual that has committed the sin both provides and slays the animal that is used to redeem them. Three exceptions: #1 being when God provided the animal that was used to redeem Adam. #2 being when God provided a ram for Abraham and Isaac to use. And #3 “Aaron shall take from the congregation of Israel two male goats for a sin offering.” Under the law then in all cases, the one being redeemed stands next to the animal which is used to do the redeeming. This then gives us a quandary because on the atonement day we have two goats standing next to each other which gives the idea that the flesh of one animal is meant to show the redemption of the other. We all know and understand that Jesus died to redeem Adam, and it should not be difficult to put these thoughts together. And is so stated in 1Corinthians 15:21-22, and Romans 5:12-19. At this point, the flesh of Jesus, who died, covers / redeems the flesh of Adam, the antitypical goat released into the wilderness. Just as Adam was.
Reasons the two Goats Represent Adam & Jesus
(#1) in Lev 4:22 “When a leader [Prince] sins unintentionally and does what is prohibited by any of the commandments of the LORD his God, he incurs guilt. 23When he becomes aware of the sin he has committed, he must bring an unblemished male goat as his offering.” At the time that the Lord was having Israel perform these sacrifices Israel had no Prince. The Lord had Israel's kingship locked up for 10 generations because of what Judah did with Tamar as stated in Deuteronomy 23:2. Israel's first real king or prince then was king David who came 10 generations after Judah. So, you could say that the Lord had Israel use another goat as a placeholder for their Prince. But in fact, the world’s first real prince Adam had already died and was the actual prince needing redemption, according to Romans 5:11-21. The Lord purposefully made sure that Israel didn't have a human prince to use at the time he had Israel set up the Atonement Day Sacrifices.
(#2) In Psalms 82:6&7 it states “I have said, You are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. 7But you shall all die like men and fall like one of the princes.” Jesus states that he is one of those princes in John 10:34. The idea then is that you can either die a Sinner like Adam our first Prince or you can die like Jesus, our second Prince, as a sin offering as stated in Romans 12:1. Therefore, the two goats are being shown representing this world's two princes Adam and Jesus where Jesus dies to redeem Adam which all Christians should intuitively be able to understand as true. And this is Paul’s point in Romans 5:11-21. And there again Paul is linking it to the Atonement Day Sacrifices. The King James translation states atonement most other translations use reconciliation. Of one thing I'm quite sure of is that the apostle Paul was referring to the Atonement Day Sacrifices.
(#3) In Genesis 22:8 “Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son”. He then provided a ram that was caught in the thicket Gen 22:13. Abraham's intentional sacrifice of Isaac was then replaced by the ram (a full-grown Lamb). On the Atonement Day after the goat is slain, again a ram is slain intending to show the same thing i.e., the acceptableness of the previous goat’s sacrifice as representing the Messiah. Just as Isaac in the same way represented Jesus so the ram being sacrificed after the goat on the atonement day shows that the goat is also meant to represent Jesus who is the actual acceptable sacrifice. God's sacrifice of the animal to cover Adam and Eve symbolizes what Jesus does for Adam and thereby mankind. In this context, the two goats symbolize #1 Adam, representing the prince in need of redemption, and #2 Jesus, representing the prince providing the redemption or ransom price. There is no better representation of a ransom than what is presented there.
(#4) In Lev 4 it states that a Priest must offer a bullock, and a Prince must offer a goat. We notice that Melchizedek which the Apostle Paul states is a type of Jesus is both a King and a Priest Heb 7:1. It stands to reason then that he (Jesus) must offer both a bullock and a goat for his sin offering. And this is exactly what we find pictured for us in the Atonement Day Sacrifices. This is part of what Paul was referring to about Melchizedek when he said, “We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing…” Hebrews 5:11. Lev 16:6 “Aaron [representing Jesus] is to present the bull [the bull of Lev4:13 for the congregation] for his sin offering and make atonement for himself and his household” [the Church/congregation in the antitype]. And then: Lev 16:15 “Aaron [again representing Jesus] shall then slaughter the goat [Jesus’ own flesh] for the sin offering for the people” [all mankind in Adam]. Also, being offered was a ram after the bullock and a ram after the goat. Each ram was offered to give us assurance that it was Jesus being pictured by both the bullock and the goat. And just so, we have the statement by Paul in Heb 9:23-28 “But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” The skit played for us is then seen as going into great detail of how that one sacrifice of Jesus is used to redeem two different classes of people. #1, the first-born class displayed by Aaron and his bullock (representing how Jesus dies first for the Church using the bullock of Lev 4:13 which is for the congregation, not the bullock of Lev 4:3 as Jesus himself had no sin). And #2, the after-born rest of mankind displayed by the two goats representing how Jesus dies for Adam. Thereby, ransoming the whole world of mankind.
(#5) Hebrews 13:11-13 “Although the high priest brings the blood of animals [a Bullock & 1 Male Goat] into the Most Holy Place [only on the atonement day once/year] as a sacrifice for sin, the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12And so Jesus [who is represented by the bull and goat for two different classes of people] also suffered outside the city gate, to sanctify the people by His own blood. 13Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore.” Here again is a direct statement by Paul that both the bullock and the goat are being referred to as what Jesus has done for us, and not only us but the whole world of mankind. Paul is further saying that we are represented by the ones selected to take out the dung 13‘bearing his reproach.’ We do this to “fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ” Colossians 1:24.
(#6) Leviticus 4:27 “And if one of the common people sins unintentionally and does what is prohibited by any of the LORD’s commandments, he incurs guilt. 28When he becomes aware of the sin he has committed, he must bring an unblemished female goat as his offering for that sin.” In the Atonement Day Sacrifices all the animals are male; again, suggesting different aspects of Christ Jesus. There were no female goats used in the atonement day sacrifices. How is it that the common people are to use female goats in their sacrifices for sin? We as the offspring of Adam are both male and female. When we were called by Jesus, we were called to be his female Goats. In that sense we are all goats in the wilderness having been freed by the blood of Jesus which was used to purchase Adam. This is what is being suggested by Ephesians 4:22 “put off your former way of life, your old self [born in Adam as a Goat], which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; 24and to put on the new self [begotten to be in Christ as his bride making us into his female goats] created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Also: Ephesians 5:8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light…”
Another scripture along this line helps us to understand the thought being expressed in the parable of the sheep and goats, and also what the apostle Paul is telling us that we need to be transformed Romans 12:1-2. The point he is trying to make is that we are all born in Adam as Goats having goat-like personalities. We all must transform ourselves from that goat like personality into sheep like personalities if we wish to become acceptable as an offering unto the Lord for the work he has for us as his bride. This is why in Leviticus the 4th chapter 4:31 the only offering that was declared having “a pleasing aroma to the LORD” was the female goat offering which was made only by the common people.
We notice that on the atonement day sacrifices after both the bullock and the male goat were offered, in both cases a ram (a male sheep of age) was offered showing the acceptableness of the previous offering. So with us if we desire to be acceptable to Jesus we must transform ourselves from goat like personalities to sheep like personalities and come of age.
Laying on of Hands continued
When a person sacrifices an animal, they place one hand on its head to symbolize transferring their guilt onto it and use the other hand to slay it. Spiritually taking its life to themselves according to the law. In the Atonement Day Sacrifices it is the high priest that slays the goat. We all understand that Jesus is there represented by the high priest. And Jesus says in John 10:17-18 “I lay down My life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.” It is interesting to note that the laying on of hands is stated to be upon the scapegoat in the Atonement Day Sacrifices. Though it is not specified on the goat that got slain, it is assumed as done according to the stated law. In all other cases, the animal that is slain gets the hands laid upon it transferring the guilt to it. Here it is apparent that at least some of the guilt is getting laid upon the goat that gets set free. It is interesting that this is also what Adam did as he blamed Eve. Genesis 3:12. Also, 1Timothy 2:13-14 “For Adam was formed first, and then Eve. 14And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman who was deceived fell into transgression.” So, we as the second Eve are bearing the deceived part of the blame!
The Atonement Day Sacrifices describe what Jesus does with the life he earned by fulfilling the law. (the Life is in the blood Lev.17:11). He first uses it to redeem the Church which is described as his household lev 16:11. Second, he uses it to redeem the world described as for the people lev 16:15. These two salvations are well stated by the apostle Paul in 1Tim 4:10 “who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.” This means that there is a special salvation for those who believe now in this lifetime. As they become the firstborn, which will ultimately lead the rest of the world to the general resurrection of judgment needed to gain life.
The high priest then lays both hands on the live goat's head, and he sets it free after confessing upon it all the sins of the people. The left hand as described earlier to transfer the guilt. In this instance, the right hand is employed to liberate rather than terminate. It was the other goat that got terminated. This is well stated in Hebrews 12:24 “Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkling of blood, speaking better things than the blood of Abel.”
The life force of Jesus is now spiritually to be seen as living within that scapegoat’s flesh. Adam’s flesh now having been redeemed and set free is then sent into the wilderness. Just as Adam and Eve were sent into the wilderness after having an animal sacrificed on their behalf. This applies to all sin offering sacrifices. In this instance, a goat is set free instead of a human, as is customary in all sin offering sacrifices. But wait, why is it then that the priest then confesses all the sins of Israel and places them upon the head of the live goat that gets sent away? This is because there is more than just Adam and Jesus involved in this picture. Also involved is our Mother, Eve. When God confronted Adam, where did Adam put the blame? He placed it upon Eve. Genesis 3:12 Similarly, while Eve held partial responsibility, the Church, represented as in Adam at the time of their call, are called to share in the remaining afflictions. Therefore, the Church, as the second Eve, is depicted as bearing "that which remains of the afflictions of Christ" Colossians 1:24. Therefore, the released goat is to be regarded as embodying both Adam and Eve.
Just as Christ is not one but has many members so also Adam was not one but had many offsprings. We are all part of Adams’ offspring. We come into Christ by accepting Jesus’ call to become part of his bride. Part of the responsibility of becoming part of his bride is bearing some of the results of the first Eve’s sin. We see some of this played out for us when the church was literally persecuted to death as scapegoats during what Revelation calls the wilderness condition of the church Rev 12:14. This took place during the 1260 years of wilderness condition from 539 to 1799. As mentioned earlier it is our choice we can all die like Adam a sinner, or we can die like Jesus a sin offering Psalms 82:6-7. The goat being sent into the wilderness represents the Church's part of the sin offering. With the acceptance of God’s call, He both adopts and transforms us into the body of Christ as an offering for sin. Hence, we are in training to become the second Eve. This scapegoat offering is spoken of by Jesus when he states in Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.”
This helps us to understand how and why the female goats that get offered for sin by the “common people” are used in Leviticus 4:27. This is what the apostle Paul was trying to get across to us in Romans 5:17 stating “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those [goats] who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ,” as his bride.
This brings us to still another point of interest which we have discovered in Leviticus the 4th chapter. Why is it that when the common people sin, they must bring either a goat, or a lamb and it designates that it must be a female goat or lamb. The two sacrifices are identical except that when the goat is offered it states that it has a pleasing aroma or (sweet savor) This pleasing aroma is mentioned only once in the chapter and is only in connection with the female goat sacrificed. I believe the understanding of this is found in Luke 15:4-7 “Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’ 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven [pleasing aroma] over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones [when a female lamb is used it shows the individual has already recognized their sin and made a consecration representing those] who do not need to repent.” This thought gives us more insight into the parable of the sheep and goats. We were all born in Adam as goats, Psa.51:5 “I was shaped in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” But when Jesus finds us and we repent and consequently dedicate our lives to him. We should then strive to be like sheep; some excel more than others. Hence the difference between the Church and Great Company Revelation 7. We become found by our Lord Jesus and with the help of him and his bride the Church we are being changed from ‘Goat like’ to ‘Sheep like’. The sacrificed animal for the common people must be female showing the positive participation of the Church in the conversion and rehabilitation of sinners. The Church participates in the sin offering during the anti-typical Atonement Day the Gospel age. By consecrating ourselves, we join Christ and become part of His sacrifice, entering the priesthood and joining the family of Christ, becoming his bride. We then are represented as female goats that carry the blame that Adam placed on Eve.
Why Sheep and Goats Matt 25:31
In the end the Lord divides people into sheep and goats. Sheep are generally docile, social, and tend to flock, making them easier to manage. Goats, however, are more curious, independent, and often display a more adventurous personality, exploring their surroundings more. Goats are known for being mischievous, stubborn, and escape artists. Their curiosity can lead them to cause trouble, like chewing on things they shouldn't or escaping their enclosures. We are all born in Adam - goat like. But if we desire to live, we must all change to become more sheep-like.
Along this line we note that Adam's flesh is still considered to be present living in our flesh, even as we strive to keep our flesh on the altar of sacrifice Romans 12:1 by not accommodating the desires of our flesh. Romans 13:14. Hence, we say even today when we sin by doing something stupid which we did not intend to do, “it is the life of Adam still alive in our flesh that caused us to do it.” The Apostle Paul explains this in Romans 7:15 “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate; that I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I admit that the law is good. 17and in that case, it is no longer I that do it, but it is the sin [of Adam] still living in me that does it.” So, then on the Atonement Day the sin of Adam’s flesh is spiritually represented as being removed and placed onto Jesus as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:19-21 “that God was reconciling/Atoning the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation /Atonement. 20Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled/Atoned to God. 21God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” As a result of Jesus' sacrifice, Adam and all his descendants are to be justified and set free from Adamic sin. Jesus paid the ransom price, redeeming them from the consequences of Adam's sin. As stated in Hebrews 2:17 “For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make Atonement [also translated propitiation] for the sins of the people.” Notice that it is the sins of the people not the sins of the priesthood. A bullock is used for priestly sins. This is Jesus as the Goat which is used to redeem the sins of the people. Again, showing that the goat that gets slain on the atonement day represents Jesus redeeming Adam and thereby the people of mankind.
But the Atonement Day sacrifices are just a skit and resulted in the children of Israel continuing to do the same things because they did not fully understand. Hence this ritual was done to remind them once a year until the actual atoning Goat, Lamb, Rams and Bullock were to come in the form of Jesus. And since the actual atoning blood and life of Jesus was now available, he caused Israel to cease playing the skit. Heb 9:7-14
Once we have understood the foregoing thoughts, there is an additional thought behind the understanding of the Ram. We noticed that it was used in the consecration & ordination of the priesthood in Leviticus 8:14-35. Have you understood that Jesus has ransomed Adam from his sin and thereby your sins, that you owe him your life. It is therefore your duty to utilize the knowledge you have acquired to pursue an advanced understanding of the principles found in God's word. Understand that you are being called to come up higher. Luke 14:10-11 “But when you are invited, go and sit in the last place, so that Jesus your host will come and tell you, ‘Friend, move up to a higher place.’ Then you will be honored in front of everyone at the table with you. 11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Our Sin Offering Sacrifice
With these thoughts in mind let us go through what is described as the Church's sacrifice for sin and see some of the corresponding new testament scriptural references. Leviticus 4:27 “if one of the common people [Not many of you were wise… 1 Corinthians 1:26] sins unintentionally [like Eve 1 Timothy 2:14 and we the Church] and does what is prohibited by any of the LORD’s commandments, he incurs guilt. 28When he becomes aware of the sin he has committed [aware that he is a sinner being part of the Adamic race], he must bring an unblemished female goat [his own flesh/body Romans 12:1] as his offering for that sin. 29He is to lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it [Galatians 5:24-25 “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.] at the place of the burnt offering. 30Then the priest [Jesus’ involved in converting and instructing us] is to take some of its blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering [a portion of the power (horn) of their life is acceptable as a sacrifice to God] and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 31Then he is to remove all the fat, just as it is removed from the peace offering, and the priest is to burn it on the altar [fat which burns furiously represents love Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength] as a pleasing aroma to Jehovah [Causing “joy in heaven over one sinner who repents”]. In this way the priest will make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven. NOTE: Our priest (Jesus) will consume these sacrifices. 1Tim5:17-18 1Cor9:7-13 Lev 10:18 Lev 8:29 & 31
Summary: What does it take to be a sin offering?
How did Jesus react when he was brought before those who had power over him. “As a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.” Jesus did answer, “You could have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” In contrast, some flatter others for their own advantage Jude 1:16. This is what the Pharisees and Sadducees were doing when they said we have no king but Caesar. Do you defend those who speak the truth but worry about doing so that it may cost you your position? Do you help the poor and the downtrodden, the weak and the heavy laden. Do you blame others or do you take the blame to help make peace. Blame and guilt are closely connected. Why did Judah receive the blessing from Jacob? He guaranteed Benjamin’s safety, saying, ‘If I do not return him to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father’ Gen 43:8. Cornelius, a centurion, gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly. The angel answered him, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering (sweet savor) before God” Acts 10. David was constantly pursued by Saul, but David never raised his hand against Saul. 1Cor 4:12 “We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.
What kind of characteristics should we avoid and follow? Anger never persuades. Hostility upbuilds no one. Contention seldom leads to solutions. We should be willing to put aside our differences. Listen with understanding and love one another as brothers and sisters. Jesus the Prince of peace taught “blessed are the peacemakers.” He challenged us to “love our enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.” We are those goats in the wilderness of the Gospel Age becoming scapegoats in the process of being converted-transformed into female sheep. Hence Jesus words Matthew 5:11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely because of Me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets and Jesus himself before you.” So, as sheep before shears be dumb by avoiding contention over this subject.
Your servant in Christ Jesus
Jim Schucker – jimschucker@gmail.com 808-754-8978
Understanding The Meaning Behind Animal Sacrifices and the Day of Atonement
Call: 808-754-8978