By Rabbi David Cohen:
He said to Aharon, “Take for yourself a yearling calf as a sin-offering.” (9:2)
Aharon HaKohen brought a Korban Chatat, Sin-offering, to atone for his part in the chet ha’eigal. Klal Yisrael also brought a calf to atone for their role in making the Golden Calf. Their calf, however, was not a Korban Chatat, but, rather, a Korban Olah, Elevation/Burnt-offering. Why is there a distinction between their korbanot?
A Korban Chatat atones for the maaseh aveirah, actual deed of performing the sin. The sinful act concerning the Golden Calf was making the molten calf and being involved in the revelry that accompanied its worship. The Korban Olah, however, serves to atone for one’s improper thoughts, one’s machashavos raot.
Klal Yisrael’s role in the sin of the Golden Calf was primarily a sin of thought. Anyone who actually worshipped the Golden Calf was killed by members of Shevet Levi. The remainder of Klal Yisrael just entertained the idea. Aharon HaKohen’s sin was in his incorrect action, an action which in no way reflected any question in his mind regarding Hashem’s Divinity. Aharon made a maaseh aveirah; he, therefore, brought a Korban Chatat.
On the other hand, one’s machashavah, thoughts, determine the turpitude of his actions. One might act inappropriately, but, deep in his heart, his thoughts are far from evil. Let me cite an example. In the previous parsha (Tzav), the Torah begins with a command to Aharon and his sons concerning the Korban Olah. The Korban Chatat is not mentioned until later. Why is this? Since an Olah atones for thoughts, it should follow after the Korban Chatat, which atones for sins of action. Clearly, harmful action is more egregious than bad thoughts.
Hashem knew all of this. Therefore, He first commanded Aharon and his sons concerning the laws of the Korban Olah, which atones for one’s thoughts. Hashem knew that Aharon’s thoughts were positive; he only wanted to save the Jewish People from sin. Thus, his positive thoughts actually transformed his actions from infamous to laudatory.
May all our thoughts and deeds be L’shem Shamyim.
Shabbat Shalom