THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
It is impossible for anyone to achieve cleansing from impurity and to be free from sin apart from Christ, in Whom and through Whom all purification can occur, for He underwent the redemptive sacrifice on our behalf. This fundamental truth is widely recognized, as demonstrated by the subsequent statute, which states: “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law concerning the sin-offering: The sin-offering shall be slain before the Lord in the place where the burnt-offering is slain; it is a great holy thing; the priest who offers the sin-offeri
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ng shall eat it; it shall be eaten in the holy place, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation; whatever touches its meat shall be sanctified; And if a garment be sprinkled with its blood, the sprinkled thing shall be washed in the holy place; the earthen vessel in which it was boiled shall be broken; but if it was boiled in a brass vessel, it shall be cleaned and washed with water; all the male sex of the priestly race may eat it: it is a great holy thing...” (Lev. 6:24-29). Thus, the sin-offering represents Immanuel, the true "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). However, His sacrifice occurs in the location designated for the burnt-offering, for Christ is not holy in fragments, as we are, since He "did no sin" (1 Pet. 2:22). Rather, He embodies complete purity and holiness, being the source of sanctification for all others; even though He was “accounted with the lawless” (Is. 53:12) and numbered among the condemned, the Father recognized that the death of the Son was sacred. Consequently, it is stated, "in the place where the burnt-offering is slain; it is a great sanctuary..." (Lev. 6:25). The Son is both the God of gods and the Holy of holies, sanctifying all of creation by His Spirit, as He was begotten by the Father and is truly divine. It is further stated, “the priest who performs the sacrifice shall eat it” (Leviticus 6:26), for all those elevated to sacred office are meant to receive the fruits of their labors and reap the rewards of their service. The remainder of the offering is also to be consumed in the holy places, within the vestibule of the holy tabernacle (Lev. 6:16), for this is where the sacraments are administered, and the elect are honored through a sacred meal. The area in which the lawful priests serve is to be set apart as holy. The sacrifice purifies those who partake in it, and the sprinkling of the blood (Lev. 6:27) signifies that we approach the holy mysteries to commune with Christ through an ineffable and spiritual offering. The instruments used in the sacrifice are likewise consecrated, ensuring that what has served within the sacred space is not employed otherwise or for mundane purposes. This principle is upheld in the churches. Furthermore, it is fitting for the laborers to receive blessings, as clarified by the law: “all the male sex of the priestly race may eat it” (Leviticus 6:29). The message is clear.