Shabbat Midrash (Teaching) Outlines

Historical Background

• Unlike Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur has a specific biblical reference to its name
• Leviticus 23:26-32
• Long considered most Holy Day on the Jewish calendar
• Once a year, on this very day, the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the entire nation
• Yom Kippur illustrates regeneration for those who follow God's way of atonement
• Lev 16 - Details of the ceremony: Adonai is instructing Moshe concerning how Aaron is to enter the Holy of Holies and make the sacrifices necessary for both himself, his household and the nation of Israel
• Aaron is to take a bath and put on the holy garments - tunic, linen shorts, linen sash, linen turban
• Aaron is to take 2 male goats - cast lots to determine which one is for Adonai and which one is for Az'azel (scapegoat)
• The one whose lot fell to Adonai is to be sacrificed as a sin offering
• The one whose lot fell to Az'azel is to be presented alive before Adonai - Aaron is to lay his hands on its head, pronounce the sins and trangressions of Israel over it and send it away into the desert (someone is designated to lead it out and release it)
• Aaron is then to remove the holy garments, make a burnt offering for himself and the people
• The remains of both the bull and goat are to be taken outside the camp and burned
• What was begun on the first of Tishri, repentance and self-evaluation, was completed on the tenth of the month with atonement and regeneration
• In 70 C.E. the Temple was destroyed. How can Yom Kippur be celebrated without the proper place of sacrifice and without the proper Kaparah (atonement) sacrifice?
• Tefilah (prayer), Teshuvah (repentance), and Tzedakah (charity) now replace sacrifices in the modern observance

Traditional Jewish Observance

• The 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are called the Yomim Nora'im, "Days of Awe"
• Torah observant Jews spend these days looking inward, asking how their inner lives might be more pleasing to Adonai
• Lev 23 states that Israel is to "humble your soul" based on the Hebrew "oni" - means fast (going without food)
• Before sundown on Erev Yom Kippur, a festive meal is enjoyed, lighting of the candles, blessings are said over wine and bread
• Fast begins at sundown - Jews attend services at local synagogues - prayers focus on the need for atonement for sins
• Yom Kippur closes with Neilah service (closing of the gates) - Final blast of the shofar is sounded
• Break-the-fast meal is eaten after sundown
• Sweet wine is tasted first, then the sweet challah (bread) as reminders of the sweet new year they hope to experience
• As Messianic believers, we can rejoice in the confidence that our Messiah has paid the price that God required

Yom Kippur in The Renewed Covenant

• Shaul (Paul) explains the significance of our atonement in the context of Yom Kippur
• Romans 3:23-26
• Kapparah is a Greek word that means to appease an angry Greek god
• The Hebrew equivalent of the word means more than appeasement, it means atonement - any first century Jew could relate to this meaning
• On the cross, Messiah Yeshua was displayed as our Kapparah, our sacrifice, our atonement, the fulfullment of what Yom Kippur is all about

Prophetic Fulfillment

• Yom Kippur has a prophetic truth that is relevant to all who believe in Yeshua
• The prophet Zechariah spoke of a future day of repentance when God will pour out His spirit in the latter days and they will look to the one who is pierced - Zech 12:10
• After Rosh Hashanah comes Yom Kippur - after repentance, regeneration
• All of Israel will supernaturally experience the fulfillment of Yom Kippur and the return of Messiah Yeshua
• Romans 11:25-27
• This is the prophetic fulfillment of Yom Kippur - the final atonement realized and received by that generation of Jews living at the second coming of Yeshua
• We as born again Messianic believers can rejoice in atonement now, yet pray for the realization of this blessed hope to come to Israel soon! Amen!

posted by Chris Phillips, Congregational Leader  # 9/30/2005