Leviticus 16-17

“The Lord said to Moses: ‘Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain... or else he will die’” (16:2). As Aaron’s sons discovered, worshipping the Creator was not a human-made scheme. God promised to be present in the holy place where the ark rested (16:13), and so the priests had to properly purify themselves before entering on one special day. The priest made atonement “for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel” (16:17).

“Atonement is to be made once a year ...” (16:34). At Jesus’ death, the final and perfect atonement, “the curtain of the temple was torn in two” (Mark 15:38). By faith we enter freely.