To better understand the Sanctuary, we must study one of its main functions—the forgiveness of sin.

Regarding this function, the Bible says, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22

According to the Bible, the only way God pardoned sin is through the shedding of blood. Notice how the Bible describes the work of the sanctuary and how the shedding of blood was performed by the priest:

“And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it is a sin offering.” Leviticus 4:24

How often was this service performed?

“And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.” Hebrews 10:11

“To offer burnt offerings unto the LORD upon the altar of the burnt offering continually morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the law of the LORD, which he commanded Israel.” 1Chronicles 16:40

According to the text, the sacrificial offering occurred every day, morning, and evening.

Why did the sinner place his hand upon the head of the goat before it was sacrificed?

Prior to the sacrifice, the sinner placed his hand upon the head of the goat. As a matter of fact, almost every sacrificial offering followed this protocol. However, we must ask ourselves— Why would the sinner need to place his hand upon the head of the goat? The answer is found in the Book of Leviticus: “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.” Leviticus 16:21

The Bible reveals that when the Children of Israel performed the sin offering, they placed their hands on the head of the goat and confessed their sins. Then they killed the goat.

It is important to understand this sequence of events. Romans 6:23 tells us, “The wages of sin is death.” If the wages of sin is death, then sinners under the Old Covenant should have been killed for their sins. However, we see that once they confessed their sins over the head of the goat, the goat received sin’s wages, not the sinner. This reveals to us that when the sinner placed his hand on the head of that goat and confessed his sins, he symbolically transferred his sins to the goat.

This is why the goat received the sentence that the sinner deserved, even though the goat was innocent.

Did the Sacrificial process end once the goat was sacrificed?

The sacrificial process did not end once the goat was killed. The Bible tells us what happened next: “And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock’s blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation.” Leviticus 4:5

Once the goat was sacrificed, its blood was carried into the sanctuary.

What happened to the blood from the sacrificed animal?

“And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary.” Leviticus 4:6

“And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering.” Leviticus 4:25

Depending on the situation, the blood was either sprinkled on the vail, or it was placed on the horns and poured at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering. Regardless of the situation, it must be understood that the blood wasn’t only carried into the sanctuary, it was transferred to the sanctuary.

Why did God command the blood to be brought into the sanctuary?

If we think about the sequence of events, we can see what is happening. The sinner symbolically transferred his sins to the animal, then that animal was killed.

If the sinner symbolically transferred his sins to the animal by confessing over it, then what do you think happened when the priest carried the blood of the slain animal into the sanctuary? Ladies and Gentlemen, when the priest carried the blood into the Holy Place, he symbolically transferred the sin to the sanctuary!

Now, the question is—what happened once the sins were transferred to the sanctuary? Our next study will reveal God’s process to remove those sins from the sanctuary.