Leviticus 16 explains the Day of Atonement, the yearly ritual through which Aaron, the high priest, made atonement for the sanctuary, the priests and the whole nation of Israel. These questions suit a small group, a Sunday class or personal study. Use them in order or pick the ones that fit your time and the people in the room.
Leviticus 16 at a Glance
The chapter opens by recalling the deaths of Aaron’s two sons after they approached the LORD improperly, and it sets limits on when and how the high priest may enter the innermost room of the sanctuary. Aaron then prepares himself, offers a bull for his own sin, and casts lots over two goats, one for the LORD and one for the wilderness.
The rite moves outward from the most holy place to the Tent of Meeting and then to the altar, cleansing each in turn. The second goat carries the people’s sins away into a barren land, and the chapter closes with a permanent statute calling Israel to rest, self-denial and a yearly reset before God.
Observation Questions
Use these first to make sure everyone has the text in front of them. Ask the group to find the answers in the chapter before anyone offers an interpretation, and let the words do the work.
Leviticus 16:2
And the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother, not to come at all times into the Most Holy Place within the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark; lest he die: for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat.
(WEB)
Read this early in the session to establish that the holiness of God is real and that approaching him requires care. It frames the whole chapter and gives the group a reason to take the rules seriously.
Leviticus 16:15-16
15 “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat. 16 He shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, even all their sins; and so he shall do for the Tent of Meeting, that dwells with them in the middle of their uncleanness.
(WEB)
This passage shows that the sanctuary itself needs cleansing because the people’s sins reach into the place of worship. Reading it aloud helps the group see that atonement is not limited to individuals but extends to the whole life of the community.
Leviticus 16:21-22
21 Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. 22 The goat shall carry all their iniquities on himself to a solitary land, and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.
(WEB)
The confession over the live goat is the emotional center of the chapter. Reading it slowly lets the group hear the language of confession and removal, and it prepares the discussion on how sin is carried away.
Leviticus 16:29-31
29 “It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and shall do no kind of work, the native-born, or the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you: 30 for on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins you shall be clean before the LORD. 31 It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever.
(WEB)
These verses state the yearly command to afflict souls and rest, and they include the foreigner. Reading them together helps the group see the scope of the statute and the call to a regular rhythm of humility.
Leviticus 16:30
For on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins you shall be clean before the LORD.
(WEB)
This single verse states the purpose of the entire rite in one sentence: cleansing and being clean before the LORD. Ending the reading on it gives the group a clear summary to carry into the discussion and the prayer.
Memory Verse for Leviticus 16
A Closing Prayer for the Group
Father, we come to you as people who know our need for cleansing. You are holy, and we cannot approach you on our own merit. Thank you that you provided a way for sin to be carried away and for your people to be made clean. Help us take our own failures honestly, to bring them to you without hiding, and to trust that you have dealt with them. Teach us a steady rhythm of humility and rest, and make us grateful for the mercy that has been given to us. Amen.
