The scapegoat was the goat that symbolically bore Israel's sins and was sent alive into the wilderness, picturing those sins being carried away from the people.
In Leviticus 16, one goat was sacrificed for the LORD while the scapegoat was presented alive before the LORD, had all Israel's sins confessed over it, and was released into the wilderness. This pictured the removal of Israel's sins to a land not inhabited. Les Feldick teaches that the scapegoat also pictures Christ, who becomes not only the sacrificial goat but the one who carried sins far away.
Leviticus 16:8-10 — This passage describes the casting of lots that set apart one goat for the LORD and one goat as the scapegoat.
Leviticus 16:20-22 — This passage records the confession of Israel's sins over the live goat and its release into the wilderness bearing those sins.
According to Leviticus 16, two kid goats were brought to the door of the tabernacle for the children of Israel. Aaron cast lots upon the two goats: one lot was for the LORD and the other lot was for the scapegoat. The goat on which the LORD's lot fell was offered as a sin offering, but the scapegoat was to be presented alive before the LORD to make an atonement with him and then let go into the wilderness. After finishing the work of reconciling the holy place and the tabernacle, Aaron brought the live goat. He laid both his hands upon the goat's head and confessed over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, all their transgressions, and all their sins, putting them upon the goat's head. Then, by the hand of a fit man, he sent the goat away into the wilderness. The goat bore upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited.
Les Feldick explains the Day of Atonement ritual in which the high priest used a bullock for his own sin and two kid goats for Israel. After casting lots, one goat was killed and its blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat, while the live goat was designated as the scapegoat. Les points out that people still use the word today: a scapegoat is somebody who takes the blame for somebody else. He emphasizes the moment when Aaron laid both hands on the live goat and confessed all of Israel's iniquities, transgressions, and sins upon its head before sending it into the wilderness. The wilderness, Les says, was a place where there was no record and no geographical pinpoint—the goat was sent back into that desolate place, showing the sins being carried far away. Les then applies the picture to Christ. He says Christ "has become not only our sacrificial goat, the one whose blood was sprinkled, but now he becomes the scapegoat." He also reminds his listeners that the one pictured in the scapegoat is Christ, and he connects the goat's hair covering of the tabernacle to the scapegoat as another picture of Christ.
On the Day of Atonement the high priest brought a bullock for his own sin and two kid goats for the people. He cast lots on the two goats—one lot for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat. The goat chosen for the LORD was sacrificed and its blood was presented on the mercy seat. Then, after finishing the sanctuary work, Aaron laid both hands on the live goat, confessed all Israel's sins over it, and sent it into the wilderness.
The Bible says the goat bore upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited. Les emphasizes that the wilderness destination was a place with no record and no geographical pinpoint. The goat was taken alive into that untracked, desolate place, symbolically carrying Israel's sins far away from the people.
Les makes the application explicit: Christ has become not only our sacrificial goat, the one whose blood was sprinkled, but now He becomes the scapegoat. Les also warns his listeners not to lose sight of the fact that the one pictured in the scapegoat is Christ. He further connects the tabernacle's goat's hair covering to the scapegoat, saying these are all pictures of Christ in one of His attributes.
Why Animal Blood Only Covered Sin — Leviticus 16 Explained
die not. For I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat, and it was there that the Shekinah glory was upon, that was the very presence of God, and they could only go into that behind the veil once a year on this Day of Atonement. Now here are the preparations that the priest again had to go through.
Christ as the Scapegoat
Les shows that the sin-laden goat pictures Christ; just as the scapegoat was sent into a wilderness where no record remained, Christ carried sins far away.
The Two Goats Chosen by Lot
Les explains the casting of lots between the Lord's goat and the scapegoat, and defines a scapegoat as one who takes the blame for another.
Hands on the Scapegoat
Les points to the high priest laying both hands on the live goat and confessing all Israel's sins, emphasizing that Christ is pictured in the scapegoat.
Day of Atonement Overview
Les summarizes the ritual: after sprinkling blood for his own sin and Israel's sins, the high priest symbolically laid his hand on the goat taken into the wilderness as the scapegoat.
What the Day of Atonement Really Pictured — Finally Explained
Then after he had presented the blood of the goat on behalf of the children of Israel, he would make his way back out, and now then we pick up his act on the scapegoat where he lays his hand upon it. And come down now to verse 21. When he has finished the work in the Holy of Holies—now again, I've got to make a comment. I've had so many questions.
What the Day of Atonement Really Pictured — Finally Explained
Now it continues, "...offer him for a sin offering, and the goat on which the lot fell to the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to make an atonement with him and to be let go for a scapegoat into the wilderness." Now, he takes then the goat that is designated by lot to be put to death, and I should have used the bullock the first time.
Goat's Hair as a Scapegoat Picture
Les connects the goat's hair tabernacle covering to the scapegoat, explaining that these coverings are pictures of Christ in His attributes.
Leviticus 16:8: And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
This verse establishes the division between the goat that would be sacrificed and the goat that would be sent away.
Leviticus 16:10: But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.
This verse shows the scapegoat was presented alive before the LORD rather than being killed, and then released into the wilderness.
Leviticus 16:21: And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
This verse describes the symbolic transfer of Israel's sins onto the scapegoat's head.
Leviticus 16:22: And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.
This verse states the outcome: the scapegoat carried all their iniquities to a desolate, inhabited land and was let go.
The scapegoat was one of two goats chosen by lot on the Day of Atonement. The high priest laid both hands on its head, confessed all of Israel's sins over it, and sent it alive into the wilderness, symbolically carrying those sins away.
One goat was sacrificed and its blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat for a sin offering. The other goat, the scapegoat, was presented alive before the LORD and sent into the wilderness bearing the symbolic load of Israel's sins. Together they pictured both the blood covering and the removal of sin.
Les Feldick teaches that the scapegoat pictures Christ. He says Christ has become not only the sacrificial goat whose blood was sprinkled, but also the scapegoat who carried sins far away. Les points to the wilderness destination as a place with no record and no geographical pinpoint.
Watch the Teaching: Why Animal Blood Only Covered Sin — Leviticus 16 Explained