Leviticus 16:20
““When he has finished atoning for the Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat.”
What does Leviticus 16:20 mean?
On the Day of Atonement, the high priest performs an elaborate ritual to cleanse the sanctuary itself, not just the people, because sin was understood to affect the whole community and even God's dwelling place among them. After making these offerings, he brings forward a second goat—one that has been set apart and symbolically carries away all the sins he's just addressed. This "scapegoat" will be sent out into the wilderness, representing the complete removal of guilt and wrongdoing. The ritual reminds us that forgiveness involves both acknowledging what's broken and letting it go, trusting that what's been confessed doesn't have to stay with us forever.