Yom Kippur 5786/2025

Biblical Observance

What is the Biblical observance of Yom Kippur?

[Lev. 23: 26-32, Num. 29: 7-11, Lev. 17:11, Lev. 16: 3-10]

Leviticus 23:26–32 TLV

Adonai spoke to Moses, saying: “However, the tenth day of this seventh month is Yom Kippur, a holy convocation to you, so you are to afflict yourselves. You are to bring an offering made by fire to Adonai. You are not to do any kind of work on that set day, for it is Yom Kippur, to make atonement for you before Adonai your God. For anyone who does not deny himself on that day must be cut off from his people. Anyone who does any kind of work on that day, that person I will destroy from among his people. You shall do no kind of work. It is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It is to be a Shabbat of solemn rest for you, and you are to humble your souls. On the ninth day of the month in the evening—from evening until evening—you are to keep your Shabbat.”

Numbers 29:7–11 TLV

“On the tenth day of this seventh month, you are to have a sacred assembly. You are to deny yourselves and do no work. You are to present to Adonai a burnt offering as a pleasing aroma, one young bull from the herd, one ram, and seven year-old male lambs without defect, along with their grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil: three tenths of an ephah with the bull, two tenths with the ram, and one tenth with each of the seven lambs. Also offer one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering for atonement, as well as the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and their drink offerings.

Leviticus 17:11 TLV

For the life of the creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your lives—for it is the blood that makes atonement because of the life.

Leviticus 16:3–10 TLV

“In this way shall Aaron come into the Sanctuary: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He is to put on the holy linen garment, have the linen undergarments on his body, put on the linen sash, and wear the linen turban—they are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water, and put them on. “Then he is to take from the congregation of Bnei-Yisrael two he-goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering. Then Aaron is to offer the bull for the sin offering which is for himself and make atonement for himself and his house. Then he is take the two goats and present them before Adonai at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron will then cast lots for the two goats—one lot for Adonai, and the other lot for the scapegoat. Aaron is to present the goat on which the lot for Adonai fell and make it a sin offering. But the goat upon which the lot for the scapegoat fell is to be presented alive before Adonai, to make atonement upon it, by sending it away as the scapegoat into the wilderness.

So what do we see from Scripture?

Yom Kippur is a Holy Convocation (gathering)

A day for us to afflict and humble our souls

The only time the high priest could enter into the Holy of Holies. Had to specially prepare himself bathing the entire body in water, dressing in simple priestly garments.

High priest offered bullock for himself and family as a sin offering. Also took 2 goats for a sin offering for the people. Why so much for “himself and his family?”

One goat was killed and the blood sprinkled on the mercy seat in the Holy of holies (Hebrew: ‘Chatat’). The high priest then laid his hands on the other goat, confessed over it all the sins of Israel and sent it away in to the wilderness. That goat was called the scapegoat (Hebrew: ‘Azazel’).

Traditional Observance

As in Biblical times Yom Kippur is the most solemn of all the Jewish holy days.

Kippur comes from the Hebrew word to cover ‘kappor’. God ‘covered’ the sins of His people by the blood of the sacrifice

Since the destruction of the temple in 70 AD there are no longer any sacrifices but instead the Rabbis have substituted: Repentance, Prayer & Fasting and Charity (good deeds).

Fasting is not considered sufficient itself… it has to accompanied by sincere repentance and a firm resolve to make amends for the past and live a noble life in the future…

Wear White, Study of Torah (Holy Scriptures) – Isa. 1:18

“There is no more important theme in the Holy Scriptures than receiving atonement for sin in God’s prescribed manner!” – Barney Kasdan

Fasting begins sundown 9 Tishri and finishes the following day at sundown.

Leaving the Clothes of Splendour

Ordinarily, the high priest’s outfit was something of dazzling splendour. There were bright colours and a breastplate of precious stones. But on Yom Kippur, the high priest was required to take off these glorious robes in exchange for simple, white linen garments, in order to go into the holy of holies. Ramban, a Jewish sage, suggested it was reminiscent of a serving angel, and that the purity of the simple, white material symbolised the holiness of the day (Ramban 17, 4). Only his turban remained. To all intents and purposes, he looked just like any other priest. This foreshadows Yeshua, our great high priest, putting aside his robes of heavenly splendour and putting on human flesh to become one of us - and yet remaining holy. The priest was required to offer a sacrifice for own sins and the sins of his household, before he was clean in God’s sight to offer sacrifices for the people. There were two goats chosen - one to be sacrificed, and one to be released into the wilderness, never to be seen again! The priest had to lay his hands on its head, symbolically transferring the nation’s sin to the goat before it disappeared forever. What a glorious picture of God taking our sin away, as far as the east is from the west, and remembering it no more.

https://www.oneforisrael.org/bible-based-teaching-from-israel/yeshua-in-yom-kippur/

Yeshua and Yom Kippur

Sin is so offensive and the debt is so great that it took nothing less than the sacrifice of Yeshua Himself in order to secure our reconciliation with God. We therefore should tremble with fear before God in reverent gratitude of His mercy toward us. [Isa 53:10, Rom. 3:23-26]

Isaiah 53:10 TLV

Yet it pleased Adonai to bruise Him. He caused Him to suffer. If He makes His soul a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the will of Adonai will succeed by His hand.

Romans 3:23–26 TLV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are set right as a gift of His grace, through the redemption that is in Messiah Yeshua. God set forth Yeshua as an atonement, through faith in His blood, to show His righteousness in passing over sins already committed. Through God’s forbearance, He demonstrates His righteousness at the present time—that He Himself is just and also the justifier of the one who puts his trust in Yeshua.

Unlike the High Priest, Yeshua did not require the Bull for Himself as we see in Heb. 7:26-27

Hebrews 7:26–27 TLV

For such a Kohen Gadol was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need to offer up sacrifices day by day like those other kohanim g’dolim—first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people. For when He offered up Himself, He did this once for all.

We also see that Yeshua is the goat of Adonai as it says in Heb. 9:12-14

Hebrews 9:12–14 TLV

He entered into the Holies once for all—not by the blood of goats and calves but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Messiah—who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God—cleanse our conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

And we see that, just as the scape goat, Pilate left the selection of Yeshua up to chance and then had Yeshua led outside the city Matt. 27:15-17

Matthew 27:15–17 TLV

Now during the feast, the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one prisoner, anyone they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Yeshua Bar-Abba. So when they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Which one do you want me to release for you? Yeshua who is Bar-Abba, or Yeshua who is called Messiah?”

We also know for the book of Hebrews chapters 5 to 10 that Yeshua is both our High Priest and our atoning sacrifice. and After Yeshua’s atoning death and resurrection, the Yom Kippur sacrifice was no longer accepted by God.

Temple Sacrifice Not Accepted

Forty years before the destruction of the Temple, the western light went out, the crimson thread remained crimson, and the lot for the Lord always came up in the left hand. They would close the gates of the Temple by night and get up in the morning and find them wide open.

(Jacob Neusner, The Yerushalmi, p.156-157). [the Temple was destroyed in 70 CE]

Our rabbis taught: During the last forty years before the destruction of the Temple the lot ['For the Lord'] did not come up in the right hand; nor did the crimson-coloured strap become white; nor did the western most light shine; and the doors of the Hekel [Temple] would open by themselves.

(Soncino version, Yoma 39b). http://www.windowview.org/hmny/pgs/talmuds.30ce.html

The Day of the LORD

From an end times perspective, Yom Kippur represents the national restoration of Israel at the end of the Great Tribulation period, and a picture of the Great White Throne Judgment. We see that our deeds will be revealed by fire. 1 Cor. 3:12-13

1 Corinthians 3:12–13 TLV

Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear. For the Day will show it, because it is to be revealed by fire; and the fire itself will test each one’s work—what sort it is.

And that we will give account of our lives. 2 Cor. 5:9-10

2 Corinthians 5:9–10 TLV

So whether at home or absent, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Messiah, so that each one may receive what is due for the things he did while in the body—whether good or bad.

And that even every careless word will be judged. Matt. 12:36-37

Matthew 12:36–37 TLV

But I tell you that on the Day of Judgment, men will give account for every careless word they speak. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Application

There are so many ways that we can actively apply the day of Yom Kippur to our lives. Today I want to focus on three: repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation.

Teshuvah (Repentance)

When we think of repentance, we recognise that this is how we come to faith in Yeshua in the first place. We know the verse in Acts 2:38 “Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be immersed in the name of Messiah Yeshua for the removal of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach ha-Kodesh.”

And most of us know the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32. But I want to focus on how the son repented to his father.

Let’s start reading the story from verse Luke 15:17-19

Luke 15:17–19 TLV

“But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have food overflowing, but here I am dying of hunger! I’ll get up and go to my father, and I’ll say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your presence. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.

Now we usually see this as a picture of someone coming back to Father God, and it is that. But I want to reword this just a little and see if there is another way it could apply.

“I will get up and go to my friend and say to them, “Friend, I have sinned against heaven and in your presence. I am no longer worthy to be called your friend. Please may I be your acquaintance?”

How would that come across?

I have seen far too many “apologies” that come across as, “Well I am sorry if I hurt your feelings,” or “I’m sorry for what i did, but if you knew my past...” or “Well, I didn’t mean it and you shouldn’t have taken it that way.” or “Well, if you weren’t so sensitive ...”

In all of these cases, we have failed to understand the weight of the offense. Instead our apologies should be specific and clear. Such as saying, “I am so sorry THAT I hurt you, WHEN I did/said .....[be specific]… or said it in that tone. I ask you to forgive me. How can I make it up to you? or How can I do better next time?”

There is absolutely no room in an apology for any excuses. Otherwise it is not a apology. It is time that we all start taking personal responsibility for our own words and actions.

Forgiveness

I will always remember what Rella Shipman said to me once, “Repentance is a gift!” And why is that ? Well simply put, it provides the opportunity for forgiveness. We know what John said about the forgiveness of Adonai in 1 John 1:8-10

1 John 1:8–10 TLV

If we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

So we understand that repentance is a gift because Adonai is faithful to forgive us our sins. John would later write 1 John 4:20-21

1 John 4:20–21 TLV

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar. For the one who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him: that the one who loves God should also love his brother.

Now part of love is to “keep no account of wrong” as found in 1 Cor. 13:4-7

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 TLV

Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not brag, it is not puffed up, it does not behave inappropriately, it does not seek its own way, it is not provoked, it keeps no account of wrong, it does not rejoice over injustice but rejoices in the truth; it bears all things, it believes all things, it hopes all things, it endures all things.

To “keep no account of wrong” is to be forgiving.

But there is a part of forgiveness that we must also cover, and it is found in Matthew 18:15-17

Matthew 18:15–17 TLV

“Now if your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault while you’re with him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen, take with you one or two more, so that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand.’ But if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to Messiah’s community. And if he refuses to listen even to Messiah’s community, let him be to you as a pagan and a tax collector.

Now the first thing I want to ask is, “Who’s responsibility is it to start this process?” The offender or the offended party? The offended party.

There are so many times that people have come to me, and have asked me to mediate between them and another person, but the first step to reconsiliation has not been done. Yeshua tells us that we need to go to the person who has offended us, in person (phone calls are not great and text messages are even worse). And we are supposed to go in private. Sometimes this may not be appropriate such as when there has been abuse, but in most cases this should be attempted first.

Are we so adverse to confrontation, that we are unwilling to attempt to win the person over as a friend? And especially here in this community. Are we brother’s and sisters in Messiah? Many times we are actually closer to each other then to our natural family, especially when our own family are not yet believers.

Should we not give the other person the opportunity to repent? Remember “Repentance is a gift!” Repentance and forgiveness are the best ways that we heal and are changed into Yeshua’s likeness.

The second step is to take someone with you, and while this can be me it can also be someone else who can mediate. This is actually the foundation of going to see a counselor or a mediator.

The third step is to bring the issue before the congregation. Now we need to notice that this has to do with sins, not simply offenses, but the same process applies. We should not be sharing the issue with the congregation, until we have personally met with the person who has wronged us and attempted to resolve the issue.

As believers, if we want Yeshua to forgive us, we need to forgive others, from our heart. There is no excuse, there is no pain or abuse that we can use to justify unforgiveness. If we truly recognise that we need forgiveness from God, then we are to be forgiving to others.

Reconciliation

Finally we will wrap up with reconciliation. There is a difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. Forgivensess has to do with a cancelation of a debt. The other person no longer owes us. And when we are standing before Adonai on the final judgement day, we will not press charges. Yeshua was the perfect example of this when he said from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.”

But what about reconciliation, or the restoration of relationship? Paul puts it this way in Rom. 12:17-21

Romans 12:17–21 TLV

Repay no one evil for evil; give thought to what is good in the eyes of all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live in shalom with all people. Never take your own revenge, loved ones, but give room for God’s wrath—for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” says Adonai. Rather, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For by doing so you will heap coals of fire upon his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

So as much as it depends on us, we should seek to restore relationships, but there may be cases where the other person is not willing. Notice that Paul does not assume that all people will be our friends. He points out that there will be those who are our enemies, but we are still called to love them and do the best that we can for them.

Yeshua puts it this way, and we will close with this, in Matt. 5:23-24

Matthew 5:23–24 TLV

“Therefore if you are presenting your offering upon the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.

Firstly, we see that this passage is in the context of worshiping Adonai. Secondly, the reconciliation is possible because we are the ones who have wronged the other person. So we have the ability to repent to the other person. Just remember what we have already talked about when it comes to HOW we repent to someone else. Thirdly, and this goes back to the passage in Romans, the other person may not be ready to forgive you. This is especially true if they are not a believer. It may take them time to trust you again.

And finally, forgiveness and reconciliation does not mean that the relationship will automatically go back to where it was before. At best, over time, trust will be restored, but the reality is that the sin or offence has damaged the trust. Therefore the relationship may be back at square one, but with the opportunity to build trust over time.