03/04/2026 - Matthew Destry

Leviticus 16:5–10, 20–22, 29–30

And he shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering…

And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel.

And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the Lord and use it as a sin offering,

but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness…

And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place… he shall present the live goat.

And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel… And the goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area… For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the Lord from all your sins.

John 19:28–30

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said… “I thirst.”… When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Exegesis: Restoration

The first goat is for the Lord. Slain. Blood shed. Sin is judged.

The second goat is for “Azazel”. Alive. Hands laid on it. Sin is confessed onto it. Then it is driven into the wilderness.

key idea: atonement – literally “at-one-ment”

Sin must be dealt with in two directions:

upward, toward God, outward,

away from the people

1: Sin is a weight

2: Jesus fulfils both goats

3: Jesus meets us in the wilderness