THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Let us present the sin offering as if we are in the sacred court, partaking of the holy foods. By engaging in the sacramental gift, we will be made holy. The law affirms this, stating, “Every one that toucheth meat... shall be sanctified.” The act of sprinkling the blood of the sacrifice is akin to receiving the sacramental blessing. Furthermore, the law declares, “And to him also if any sprinkling of the blood of the sacrifice be upon the garment, and if any sprinkling be upon it, it shall be blotted out in the holy place.” By sharing in the sacramental blessing, we shall be made completely sanctified and pleasing to God.
However, no individual can be cleansed from impurity or escape sin except through Christ, in whom all purification is made possible, as He bore the redemptive sacrifice for us, a truth that is universally acknowledged. This is further illustrated by the following command: “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-offering shall eat it; it shall be eaten in the hol
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y 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). He is sacrificed at the site designated for the burnt-offering, for Christ is not partially holy like we are; He “did no sin” (1 Pet. 2:22). Instead, He is entirely fragrant and holy, imparting sanctification to all others; although He was “accounted with the lawless” (Is. 53:12) and deemed among the condemned, the Father recognized the holiness of the Son’s death. Therefore, it is stated, “in the place where the burnt-offering is slain; it is a great sanctuary…” (Lev. 6:25). The Son embodies both the God of gods and the Holy of holies, sanctifying all creation through His Spirit, as He is begotten of the Father and is indeed God. It is further stated that “the priest who performeth the sacrifice” (Leviticus 6:26) shall partake of the offering: for those elevated to the sacred office will gather the rewards of their labor and receive the fruits of their ministry. The remaining portions of the offering are to be consumed in the holy places, specifically in the vestibule of the holy tabernacle (Lev. 6:16), as it is in the churches that the sacraments are administered, and the chosen race is honored with a sacred meal. The area where lawful priests serve is consecrated. The offering sanctifies those who come into contact with it, and the blood sprinkling (Lev. 6:27) underscores our approach to the holy mysteries, which is to commune with the holy Christ through an indescribable and spiritual offering. The utensils used for the offerings are also made pure, to ensure that what is dedicated to the holy should not be employed for mundane purposes. This command is upheld within the churches. It is also appropriate that the laborers be blessed, as affirmed by the law: “all the male sex of the priestly race may eat it” (Leviticus 6:29). The message is quite clear.