LEV180 Now we will clarify fully what pertains to the various categories of atonement. Our Sages, z"l, (Yoma 86a): Rabbi Masya ben Charash asked Rabbi Elazar ben Azaryah in Rome, "Have you heard about the four categories of atonement upon which Rabbi Yishmael expounded?" He answered, "There are three, and repentance accompanies each one of them. If a person transgressed a positive commandment and repented – – before he can move, he is immediately forgiven, as the pasuk says (Yirmeyahu 3:22), 'Return, rebellious sons, and I will [immediately] heal your rebelliousness.' If he has transgressed a negative commandment and has repented – repentance suspends (I.e. suspends atonement until Yom Kippur) and Yom Kippur atones, as the pasuk says [this verse]. If he has transgressed prohibitions that incur excision or capital punishment administered by beis din, and has repented--repentance together with Yom Kippur suspend, and suffering purges [and completes the atonement], as the pasuk says (Tehillim 89:33), 'Then I will punish their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with plagues.' However, one who is guilty of the transgression of desecrating Hashem's Name--repentance does not have the power to suspend, nor Yom Kippur to atone, nor suffering to purge. Rather, they all suspend [the atonement] and death purges, as the pasuk Pacific says (Yeshayahu 22:14), '[I promise] that this sin will never atone for you until you die.'" (Thus, the three categories of atonement are Yom Kippur, suffering, and death. Rabbi Elazar ben Azaryah does not consider repentance as a unique category because it is always necessary for atonement (Rashi). Our Sages, z "l, said (Yoma 36a) that a burnt-offering atones for the transgression of a positive commandment after one has repented. For although his sin is [immediately] atoned for through repentance, nonetheless the burnt-offering will enhance the atonement and will bring one to find even greater favor before Hashem.