Leviticus 16:15-17

This is the actual command about what he is supposed to be doing. This is after he had killed the bull, and atoned for his own sins, and his house's sins. Then he was able to go into the holy place because before the sin offering of the bullock, he was not fit to enter.

This is the passage in which the high priest is instructed about entering the Holy of Holies. And he is going into the holy of holies with the blood of the goat that was slain for the sin offering. And he takes that blood and sprinkles it on the mercy seat using the specific ritual for this, and also sprinkles it in front of the mercy seat, and while this was going on, the incense altar was billowing smoke—it is said that if it were not billowing smoke he would likely die—and he had to go through this very specific ritual.

First, notice in verse 16 that the sins of the people are really emphasized. It says, "because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, because of their transgressions, and for all their sins."

Now the idea I get from all of this is that God wants to make sure we understand that this atoning sacrifice covers everything. All the sins of whatever stripe of whatever magnitude, from uncleanness, to transgressions, to sins. Everything is covered by this sacrifice. There is nothing left out.

Secondly, in verse 17, no one accompanied the high priest when he did this. He was entirely alone because it was his duty alone. No one else could do this except the high priest.

Leviticus 16:11-20

Half of all the appearances in the entire Bible of the word "atonement" appears in this chapter—Leviticus 16. The word "atonement" literally means "to cover." Yom Kippur—the Day of Covering. It means covering in the sense of: "hide from view," or "to completely pay for," as in the expression, "This amount will cover everything." It means that this covering meets the needs of all. The point in chapter 16 is the complete total expiation of every aspect of every sin committed by every Israelite during the year.