26 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 27 “Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. 28 And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. 29 For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people. 30 And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. 31 You shall do no manner of work; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath.”
Leviticus 23:26-32
Atonement describes how humans can be reconciled to God. In Old Testament times, the atonement was accomplished through the blood sacrifice. It was the only day when the high priest could enter the holy of holies, to sprinkle the blood of the atonement sacrifice on the altar in payment for the sins of the Jews committed in ignorance that year (Hebrews 9:7). Additionally, the sacrifice covered the sins of the high priest. From A.D. 70 until today, in the Jewish tradition, prayer has replaced the sacrifice, as there is no temple to accomplish that action. In the Christian faith, on the other hand, we understand that the accomplishment of Jesus on the cross was sufficient to cover all of the sins of the world, past, present and future. Additionally, Jesus is the High Priest, and unlike the man in that role in Old Testament times, our High Priest is without sin.
Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
Hebrews 2:17
The only time the word “atonement” is used in the New Testament, it is translated reconciliation, in the following verse:
And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Romans 5:11
Reconciliation is a return to balance, or bringing two things together. In this case, it removes our separation from God due to our sin. By accepting the work done by Jesus, His blood covers our sin. Sadly, the Jews spend this day doing a mental balance sheet of the events in their lives in the previous year. They believe that if more good deeds (mitzvahs) are done than bad, it makes them good people, and they will continue to hold a place in the Lord’s Book of Life. Yet we understand that one sin is enough to make us sinners, and even one sin is punishable by death through God’s law. Additionally, all the good within us is Him, while all the bad comes from our flesh! Without the work of Jesus, we all would be lost.
As Christians, we are not required to observe the Jewish traditions of this day, yet it is a wonderful anniversary to honor God for the reconciliation He allowed His Son to accomplish on our behalves. We should solemnly reflect upon our sins of the previous year, but rejoice in the fact that we serve a risen Savior, who was punished willingly for those sins with the spilling of His own precious blood. Happy Yom Kippur!
Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land.
Leviticus 25:9
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