John Calvin Commentary Leviticus 16:20

"And when he hath made an end of atoning for the holy place, and the tent of meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat:" — Leviticus 16:20 (ASV)

And when he has made an end of reconciling. The mode of expiation with the other goat is now more clearly explained, namely, that it should be placed before God, and that the priest should lay his hands on its head, and confess the sins of the people, so that he may throw the curse on the goat itself. This, as I have said, was the only bloodless (ἀναίματον) sacrifice; yet it is expressly called an “offering,”²⁴⁸ with reference, however, to the slaying of the former goat, and was, therefore, as to its efficacy for propitiation, by no means to be separated from it. It was by no means reasonable that an innocent animal should be substituted in the place of men, to be exposed to the curse of God, except that believers might learn that they were in no way competent to bear His judgment, nor could be delivered from it otherwise than by the transfer of their guilt and crime.

For, since men feel that they are altogether overwhelmed by the wrath of God, which impends over them all, they vainly endeavor in various ways to lighten or shake off this intolerable burden. For no absolution is to be hoped for except by the interposition of a satisfaction; and it is not lawful to impose this according to human fancy, or, in their foolish arrogance, to seek in themselves for the price by which their sins may be compensated. Another means, therefore, of making atonement to God was revealed when Christ, being made a curse for us, transferred to Himself the sins which alienated men from God (2 Corinthians 5:19; Galatians 3:13).

The confession tended to humiliate the people and thus acted as a stimulus to sincere repentance, since the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, (Psalms 51:17); nor is it fitting that any but the prostrate should be lifted up by God’s mercy, nor that any but those who voluntarily condemn themselves should be absolved. The accumulation of words tends to this, all the iniquities, all their transgressions, all their sins, that believers may not only lightly, and as a mere act of duty, acknowledge themselves guilty before God, but rather that they should groan under the weight of their guilt.

Since now, in Christ, no special day in the year is prescribed in which the Church should confess its sins in a solemn ceremony, let believers learn, whenever they meet together in God’s name, humbly to submit themselves to voluntary self-condemnation and to pray for pardon, as if the Spirit of God dictated a formulary for them; and so let each in private conform himself to this rule.

²⁴⁸ C. refers to his own translation, “ refers to his own translation, “tunc offeret hircum vivum.” Lorinus.” Lorinusin loco says, “The Greek says, “The Greek προσάξει signifies he shall bring or lead near, (signifies he shall bring or lead near, (offeret vel adducet) Although ) Although הקריב hikriub, is not infrequently rendered to is not infrequently rendered to offer.