(By Sam Nadler) The most solemn of the High Holy Days, Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, is about God reconciling His covenant people to Himself. Even though we are the offenders, God took the initiative to restore a relationship with us. He provided all that is needed in Messiah. Regarding Yom Kippur, the Old Covenant required the offering of a blood sacrifice (Lev. 16; Num. 29:7-11); for there is no forgiveness without a blood atonement (Lev. 17:11).
Since so much of the atonement of this day is already discussed in Leviticus 16, the Yom Kippur portion in Leviticus 23 contains only a brief mention of the sacrifice; this portion instead emphasizes humility: “You shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the Lord…[because] If there is any person who will not humble himself on this same day, he shall be cut off from his people” (Lev. 23:27, 29, NASB). READ MORE
