TRV
Yom KippurThe Day of Atonement
Introduction
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Observed on the tenth day of the seventh month, ten days after Rosh Hashanah, it is a solemn day of fasting, prayer, and repentance. On this day, the high priest entered the Most Holy Place to make atonement for the sins of the people. Through elaborate rituals involving sacrifices and the scapegoat, God provided a way for Israel's sins to be covered for another year. Yet these ceremonies were temporary shadows pointing to the ultimate atonement accomplished by Jesus Christ. He is our great High Priest who entered the heavenly sanctuary once for all, offering his own blood to secure eternal redemption. Understanding Yom Kippur illuminates the glory of Christ's finished work.
The Biblical Institution of Yom Kippur
God commanded Israel to observe the Day of Atonement as a permanent statute. On this day, the people were to deny themselves (fast), do no work, and present offerings to the Lord. It was a Sabbath of solemn rest, a day for making atonement for sin.
And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.
God instructed Aaron (and subsequent high priests) regarding the specific rituals for this day. The high priest was to bathe, put on sacred linen garments, and make atonement first for himself and his household before making atonement for the people. This requirement revealed the high priest's own sinfulness—he needed cleansing before he could mediate for others.
Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.
Leviticus 16:3-4
KJV
And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.
Leviticus 16:6
KJV
The Two Goats and the Scapegoat
Central to Yom Kippur were two goats chosen by lot. One goat was sacrificed as a sin offering for the people, its blood sprinkled in the Most Holy Place to make atonement. The other goat, the scapegoat, was presented alive before the Lord. Aaron was to lay both hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities and transgressions of Israel, and send it away into the wilderness.
And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.
And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.
The scapegoat symbolically carried away Israel's sins, removing them from the camp. The goat bore upon itself all their iniquities to a remote area, representing the complete removal of sin. This ritual illustrated both the payment for sin (the sacrificed goat) and the removal of sin (the scapegoat).
Both aspects find their fulfillment in Christ. He paid for sin through his death and removes our sins as far as the east is from the west. As John the Baptist declared, Jesus is "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world"—both atoning for sin and carrying it away.
Entering the Most Holy Place
Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest alone could enter the Most Holy Place where the Ark of the Covenant resided, overshadowed by the cherubim of glory. He entered not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. This annual ritual demonstrated that the way into the true sanctuary had not yet been opened.
Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
Hebrews 9:6-7
KJV
The high priest sprinkled blood on the mercy seat (the cover of the Ark) and before it, making atonement for the holy place because of the uncleannesses of the people and their transgressions. Even the sanctuary itself needed cleansing due to Israel's sin. This ritual emphasized the seriousness of sin and the necessity of blood for atonement.
And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
The writer of Hebrews explains that these regulations were imposed until the time of reformation—until Christ came as the ultimate High Priest. The earthly tabernacle and its rituals were copies and shadows of the heavenly realities, temporary measures pointing to the perfect and final sacrifice.
Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
Hebrews 9:10-11
KJV
Christ Our High Priest
Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant, having obtained eternal redemption. When Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Hebrews 9:11-12
KJV
Unlike the earthly high priests, Jesus had no need to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. He is holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens—the perfect High Priest who needs no purification.
For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Hebrews 7:26-27
KJV
The earthly priests entered a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one. But Christ entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. He did not enter to offer himself repeatedly like the high priest entering the Most Holy Place every year with blood not his own. Instead, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Hebrews 9:24-26
KJV
Christ's priesthood is superior because it is based on a better covenant, established on better promises. The old covenant, though glorious, was flawed because it depended on human obedience and required endless repetition of sacrifices. The new covenant rests on Christ's perfect obedience and once-for-all sacrifice.
But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Hebrews 8:6
KJV
Once for All: The Finality of Christ's Sacrifice
The phrase "once for all" appears repeatedly in Hebrews, emphasizing the finality and sufficiency of Christ's work. He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. He offered one sacrifice for sins for all time and sat down at the right hand of God. His sitting posture indicates completed work—there is nothing left to do.
For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Hebrews 9:26
KJV
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Hebrews 10:12
KJV
By a single offering, Christ has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. The old sacrifices could never make perfect those who drew near, since the same sacrifices had to be offered year after year. If they had cleansed the worshipers, the sacrifices would have ceased. But Christ's one sacrifice accomplished what thousands of animal sacrifices could never achieve.
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Hebrews 10:14
KJV
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
Hebrews 10:1-2
KJV
When Christ cried from the cross, "It is finished," he declared the completion of his atoning work. The Greek word tetelestai means "paid in full." The debt of sin was completely satisfied; the requirements of the law were fully met; the wrath of God was entirely propitiated. Nothing remains to be added or repeated.
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
John 19:30
KJV
Access to God Through Christ
The tearing of the temple veil from top to bottom at the moment of Jesus's death symbolized the opening of access to God. The veil separated the Most Holy Place from the rest of the temple, barring entrance to all but the high priest on the Day of Atonement. When Jesus died, God ripped this veil in two, declaring that the way into his presence was now open to all through Christ.
And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Matthew 27:51
KJV
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. We now have bold access to God's throne of grace.
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:19-22
KJV
Paul writes that through Christ we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. No longer do we need a human mediator or annual sacrifices. We approach God directly, confidently, joyfully, because Christ has opened the way and invited us to come.
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Ephesians 2:18
KJV
Atonement and Propitiation
The concept of atonement involves covering sin, satisfying God's justice, and reconciling sinners to God. The animal sacrifices provided temporary covering, but Christ's sacrifice provides permanent cleansing. John writes that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin—not most sin, not some sin, but all sin.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 1:7
KJV
Propitiation means the satisfaction of God's wrath against sin. God presented Christ as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This demonstrates God's righteousness—he did not simply overlook sin but punished it fully in Christ. God is both just (upholding his holy law) and the justifier (declaring believers righteous).
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Romans 3:25-26
KJV
John declares that God loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. This is love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son. The cross is the supreme demonstration of both God's love and his justice.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:10
KJV
The Day of Judgment
Just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. The Day of Atonement foreshadows not only Christ's first coming to atone for sin but also his second coming to judge the world.
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Hebrews 9:27-28
KJV
For believers, the judgment has already been passed—we are justified by Christ's blood and will be saved from God's wrath through him. Christ has borne our judgment. For unbelievers, the day of judgment remains ahead, a terrifying prospect of standing before the holy God without an atoning sacrifice.
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Romans 5:9
KJV
Conclusion: Atonement Accomplished
Yom Kippur proclaimed annually that sin creates a barrier between God and humanity, requiring blood for atonement. The elaborate rituals, the high priest's careful preparation, the sacrificed goat, the scapegoat—all testified to sin's seriousness and God's provision for forgiveness. But these were mere shadows of the substance, which is Christ. He is the perfect High Priest, the sufficient sacrifice, the scapegoat who bore our sins away. His blood has opened the way into God's presence, secured eternal redemption, and guaranteed that those who trust in him will never face condemnation. The Day of Atonement pointed forward to Good Friday, when Jesus cried "It is finished" and accomplished in reality what Yom Kippur pictured in symbol. We need no more sacrifices, no more high priests, no more Day of Atonement—Christ has done it all, once for all, perfectly and finally.