Shimini

The posuk says that Moshe told Aaron to bring an עגל for a קרבן חטאת. The next Posuk says to tell the בני ישראל to bring an עגל for a קרבן עלה.
Rashi says the reason Aaron brought an עגל was to show that he was forgiven for the sin of the golden calf.
The das zekainim says the reason the people brought an עגל was to show that 'ה forgave them for the sin of the golden calf.
Now if both of these קרבנות were coming to show that 'ה forgave them for the same sin, why the difference? Shouldn't the עגל have been for the same קרבן for both?
We have to understand how a קרבן works. 'ה had sworn that He was going to run the world with justice, so if one sins & should really be sentenced to death, how does bringing a קרבן help?
The Ohr Ha'chaim explains that chazal say that no one sins unless a רוח שטות enters him, meaning that the whole essence of man leaves him at the time of sin & he's no better than an animal.
Then when he has feelings of repentance & wants to get close to 'ה again, he ascends from lowly animal back to the realms of man.
So if we would punish man for something he did when he wasn't in the realm of men that wouldn't be just!
Therefore he has to bring an animal to remind him of what he was at the time of sin, & when he feels the pain in his mind that this should have really happened to him, he will then get a kapara.
The Kelai Yakar says, that's why they brought different קרבנות. Aaron's intent was pure, & he did it only לשם שמים; his sin was only in the action, so he brings a chatas like anyone who sins unintentionally. Conversely, the sin of the people was the opposite; it was in the intent, so they brought it in the ola which is מכפר for improper thoughts. With this the Torah shows us that no matter how you sinned, either just in action with no intent, or even with intent, as long as your heart wants to turn back to 'ה there's always forgiveness!