“Atonement” is defined as “reparation for an offense” and it repairs a broken relationship between two parties by offering a payment to make right that which is wrong. In the Old Testament, God’s people offered sacrifices to God through the rituals of Passover, the sin offering, and the Day of Atonement. These observances were prophetic, pointing towards Jesus Christ who offered his life as the ultimate atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2).

1 John 2:2 – “Atonement” is defined as “reparation for an offense or injury.” Atonement repairs a broken relationship between two parties by offering a payment to make right that which is wrong.

Exodus 12:3-13 – The blood of the Passover lamb saved God’s people from death.

Leviticus 4:27-31 – Requiring sacrifice helped deter people from sinning. When a person did sin, God graciously accepted a “sin offering” so the sinner would not die.

Leviticus 16:1-10 – Only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place where God’s presence dwelled, and only on the Day of Atonement. He would confess the sins of the people and cast a goat out into the wilderness. This “scapegoat” symbolically carried away the sins of the people.

Isaiah 52:13-53:10 – The prophets foretold of a Messiah who would offer his life as an atoning sacrifice for sin. Like the Passover lamb (v. 7) he would save God’s people from death. Like the scapegoat, he would “carry” our sins in his body (v. 4). Like the sin offering (v. 10), he would be “pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities” (v. 5).

Matthew 27:11-26, 39-44 – Barabbas (“son of the Father”) deserved to die but Jesus died in his place. Jesus died to bring sinners into a right relationship with God. The veil in the temple tearing symbolizes that, through Christ, we can enter God’s presence.

Hebrews 9:24-28 – Old Testament sacrifices had to be offered over and over again. Christ offered himself as a better sacrifice – one sacrifice for all the sins of the world (1 John 2:2).

Matthew uses the Bible version REV