How to Correctly Keep Yom Kippur
How to Correctly Keep Yom Kippur
How to Correctly Keep Yom Kippur
Believers Want to Know How to Keep Yom Kippur Correctly
We have brethren in our Faith Community who are seeking Truth and want to understand when and what Yom Kippur is and how to properly observe and celebrate the day.
As mature Torah Observant Believers in Yeshua Messiah, we are compelled to remind ourselves of the meaning and purpose of the day and prepare ourselves (emotionally, intellectually, spiritually and even physically).
Permit me to approach this briefly from a personal perspective and from the perspective of one who has folks who will listen to this program and need and desire to know how to make the day relevant to them as a 21st-century Messianic Believer.
The Overall Basis for the Day
Yom Kippur—Hebrew for Day of Atonement—is considered by most in our community (and I would tend to agree as well) as the holiest day of the Father’s sacred calendar year. For this is a day to commemorate and reflect upon our need for a savior. More specifically, reflect upon sin and the influence of sin on our relationship with the Creator of the Universe.
Another aspect of the day is that it is a day to reflect upon the sin of the nation and to seek forgiveness and atonement (at-one-ment) for violations of Torah.
- It is a complete “fast” day.
- The Day of Atonement is to be a statute (a chuqqah—an enactment or prescription given to us by Father) forever that we are to observe (Leviticus 23:31).
- When this statute was given to us at Sinai, Father set out the process whereby the Levitical High Priest would make animal sacrifices on behalf of himself and the whole nation: to atone (to cover and bring us back into the good graces of our Father) for national (I believe to a somewhat lesser sense individual) sins.
- The specific passages of Torah that directly address Yom Kippur are found in Leviticus 16 and Numbers 29. (Leviticus 16 and Numbers 29 go into specifics on the animals to be offered and on how those sacrifices were to be presented and administered by the High Priest on behalf of himself and the entire nation.
- The sacrifices would be offered and applied to the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant located in the Holy Place (the Holy of Holies) of the Tabernacle. (NOTE: The Levitical High Priest could enter the Holy Place of the Tabernacle only once a year: that being Yom Kippur). It is on that day, in the Holy Place, that the High Priest would apply the blood of the atonement sacrifice to the Ark of the Covenant).
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The entire chapter of Leviticus 16 addresses the Day of Atonement. There was a sequence of events and actions that were to be followed and all those events and actions are rich in meaning and prophecy.
The bottom line elements of The Day of Atonement are as follows:
- It is to be a day of convening a holy convocation (a sacred gather).
- It is to be a day where NO work is to be done.
- It is to be a day where an offering of fire is to be made.
- It is to be a day where we afflict (anah—oppress; humble; deny) our souls.
Judaistic Traditions Applied to Yom Kippur
Most Jews believe that Yom Kippur is the most solemn and sacred time of the calendar year.
It is a time of great introspection and reflection on one’s life. It is a time where the Jew deals with their guilt and shame and takes actions to address those guilts and shames by seeking forgiveness from those they’ve offended or wronged and from God. (This process of introspection and reflection actually takes place over the entire 10-days leading from Trumpets to the Day of Atonement—traditionally referred to as the 10-days of awe.
At least one popular Hebrew Roots teacher has applied significant prophetic meaning to these 10-days of Awe.
The following are Jewish general practices of Yom Kippur:
- Judaism requires members to attend synagogue on the Day of Atonement.
- The day before Atonement, many Jewish families will prepare and enjoy a festive meal.
- It is a day of charitable giving and visiting others’ homes seeking and giving forgiveness.
- Most Jews observe a 25-hour fast on the day—that extends from sundown the day before Atonement to just after nightfall on the day of Atonement.
How Should a Spirit-Filled Torah Observant Believer in Yeshua Messiah Observe Atonement?
What follows is based solely upon my opinion which is based upon my personal study of Scripture, prayer, meditation and years of personal experience related to the Feasts of Yahovah and Yom Kippur.
At the very least, we must observe the day as a special Sabbath—mainly, no work and a day dedicated to focusing upon Father and our relationship with Him.
Additionally, we must consider what it means to afflict our souls and how we will convocate. These two aspects or elements of the Scriptural undergirding of the day must be worked out between us as individuals and with our Father.
The Temple is no longer with us. We are now the Temple of Yahweh (I Corinthians 3:16,17).
The offerings and the application of the blood to the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies in the Temple have been replaced by Master Yeshua who ceremonially accomplished this once and for all upon His ascension to heaven just after His crucifixion and resurrection. Hebrews 10:1-12. Thus presenting an offering made by fire is not truly possible. Such offerings for us today take on a meaning that must be reconciled between us as individuals and Yahovah our Elohim.
Some give financial offerings and tithes to their assigned congregations and favorite Messianic ministries. Some take a more spiritual bend (to which I tend to personally agree), whereby sacrifices of praise are offered—that is, the fruit of our lips giving praise to His Name (Hebrews 13:15).
In terms of afflicting our souls, I believe it should be a “complete fast” as suggested in Isaiah 58:3-6 and Acts 27:9. I believe it could go even further than a fast, whereby we deny ourselves anything that we desire or feel we need for that day. (What that may be is again, between us as individuals and our heavenly Father.)
Prophetic Utterances of The Day of Atonement
The Feasts of Yahweh (the Moedim of our Elohim) are divinely appointed times of the sacred calendar year (Abba’s calendar) where He from the beginning determined to meet and commune with us (Genesis 1:14 and Leviticus 23:4). They also serve as a yearly reminder of the things of our God (throughout the whole of Torah it talks about memorial).
Additionally, the Feasts of Yahweh seem to brilliantly paint for the Torah Observant Believer in Yeshua Messiah, Father’s Plan of Salvation. Hebrews 9:28-10:1 (READ) strongly suggests this.
- Passover-Yeshua our Passover Lamb slain for the sins of the world.
- Unleavened Bread—the purging of sin from our lives.
- Shavuot—the filling and indwelling of the Holy Spirit (i.e., the Ruach Kodesh) in our lives.
- Yom Teruah/Day of Trumpets—the resurrection and translation of the saints.
- Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement—the banishment of hasatan from the earth.
- Sukkot/Tabernacles—The advent of the Millennial Kingdom and Yahovah finally, once and for all, tabernacling amongst us—His people.
At least one prominent Messianic/Hebrew Roots teacher ties the Day of Atonement to the Great Tribulation and the destruction of Israel and Jerusalem.
Many tie The Day of Atonement with the prophetic event of Revelation 20:2,3 (READ) when hasatan will be eliminated and the world is freed from his deceiving influences. Then the Word of Yahovah will be proclaimed upon the earth and men will once and for all realize Truth without being deceived by the enemy. This is certainly a brilliant comparison to the ceremony involving the scapegoat being taken from the midst of the people and dragged out to the desert forever (Leviticus 16:7-10).
Closing Thoughts and Reflections
I do not presume to tell you how you should celebrate, observe or honor Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). It must be a thing between you and Yahovah. What I will say, however, is that we must honor the day, at the very least.
Presuming that we elect to honor the day, I believe that our efforts must transcend any and all taught or suggested rote/mechanically prescribed ideals and traditions and beliefs.
As well intending people of our Elohim, we tend to fall into this belief that we need to be told how to do—how to observe—what not to do—how best to do it—when it comes to the things of Yahuah; especially when it comes to the Feasts of Yahuah.
Why do we do this? Why do we acquiesce to the directions and prodding of those whom we hold up as paragons of our Faith Community as if they are Yeshua or Moses? I believe we do it because we genuinely want to do it right and we don’t want to make mistakes. We genuinely want to please our Elohim. Thus we seek direction on how to do it right and how to please our Elohim.
The truth of the matter is, however, that we have it within each of us to please Father without having to resort to the prescriptions of other people as relates to pleasing Father and observing His holy days. Such prescriptions are purview of religion. Religion’s role in the earth is to control the people and dictate to them how they are supposed to live.
I decided in my walk with Messiah to reject religion with all her trappings and traditions. Religion by her very nature is anti-Torah; anti-Elohim and anti-Messiah. Religion offers no place for the true worship of Yahovah and the working of the Holy Spirit (i.e., the Ruach Kodesh) in every aspect of the believer’s life. Why? Because the controllers of religion make the rules and dictate to the members how, when, where, why and everything in between. Religion then becomes man-centric as opposed to Elohim-centric.
The one thing I would not like us to do on this solemn, most sacred day of the Creator’s calendar year, is to acquiesce to the constructs of religion to direct our observance and honoring of the day. Instead, let us acquiesce to the leading of the Spirit to direct our observance and honoring of the day; with Torah as the foundation upon which we construct and put into practice our actions for the day.
No, I’m not saying that we go rogue and leave our observance of the day to chance and do whatever it is that we think is best to do. No. I’m saying, let us turn the day over to Father: His Word and His Ruach HaKodesh. Then and only then will be please our Father in heaven and observe the day properly.
In confronting the Judaizers, who were aggressively attempting to gain total control of the Messianic Assembly of Believers in Colossae, the Apostle Paul (i.e., Shaul) profoundly instructed:
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:1 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,1 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,1 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.1 (Col 2:16-3:1 KJV)
Now, churchianity would use this passage to support her claim that the Law was done away with. However, we who are in Messiah know the truth of this matter. Shaul was setting the plumb-line here and communicating to the Colossian Assembly that they are no longer men and women practicing the religion of Judaism. Instead, the assembly of believers were now dead to their dead religion with all her trappings and man-made traditions. Like the Colossian assembly members, we now belong to Messiah. Our worship of Yahuah is based upon our trusting faith in Messiah and is executed through the leading and agency of the Holy Spirit (i.e., the Ruach Kodesh).
Master informed the Samaritan Woman at the well:
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (Joh 4:21-24 KJV)
I say, on this Day of Atonement, that we worship our Creator in Spirit and in Truth. Do that which is pleasing to Father. Let our hearts and minds be turned fully toward Him and His ways.
It is my sincerest hope, trust and prayer, that you have a spirit-filled—blessed and meaningful day and that we all come out on the other side of this moed, better than when we began it.
Shabbat Shalom. Have a blessed Day of Atonement/Yom Kippur. Shavuatov. Until next time.
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As the Day of Pentecost (aka, Shavuot) descends upon many of us who are of Faith in the coming days, we reflectively prepare for the Day. With that preparing in mind, today I will reveal 5-things every spirit-filled disciple of Yeshua Messiah should know about Shavuot—Pentecost.
To Love Or Not Love Israel?That is the Question–Part 1
As Yeshua-focused Torah Keepers, how are we to view physical Israel? We discuss this polarizing issue from a historic, biblical and personal perspective. Shalom and welcome.
Shemittah and Jubilee-Shadows of the Rest, Redemption and Freedom We Have in Messiah
This week’s Torah Reading/Portion entitled B’Har is a message of the rest, redemption and freedom we have in Y’shua Messiah.
10-Things You Must Do To Improve Your Understanding of the Bible
In this installment of TMTO, I outline 10-things you can put into practice today that will drastically improve your understanding of the Bible.
Being Holy in the Midst of an Evil and Adulterous Generation
This week’s Torah Portion was timely indeed. As we are presently living in perilous times, this week’s Torah Portion challenges us to live holy lives in Messiah. We explore what it means and how to live holy lives.
Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread Replay
In light of this weekend’s Passover observance and our week’s longing keeping of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, I elected to repost a teaching I posted last year on Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Chag Pesach Sameach. Shalom.
Keeping God’s (Yehovah’s) Feasts
I give an overview of the Creator’s Feasts by discussing why we keep them; when we keep them and what they mean. Shalom and welcome.
M’tzora-Person Afflicted With Leprosy-Torah Portion 28-Commentary
Parashah 28-M'tzoro--Person Afflicted With Tzara'at Continuation This week's Torah Portion/Reading entitled "M'tzoro," or a "Person Afflicted with Tzara'at (Leprosy)" is somewhat of a continuation of last week's reading (ie., Tazaria) that dealt with the diagnosis and...
Tazria (She Conceives)-Leprosy, A Shadow of Sin and the Healing Work of Messiah–Parashah-27
In this week’s Torah Portion entitled Tazria, we consider the spiritual applications of leprosy.
How to Keep (Guard) the Month of the Aviv–Replay
In this replay of a past episode, we discuss how to keep–how to guard the Month of the Aviv. Happy New Year! Shalom.
Irresistible Holiness-Torah Portion-26-Eighth-Shi’mini–TMTO-23
What Father is essentially saying here to us through this shadow picture—this lesson—this Torah Portion—is, “Look, I’m going to get the glory and my holiness is going to be proclaimed and demonstrated to all the world. Now this can be done by and through your actions of obedience and worship of me. And if you choose to glorify me and extol the virtues of my holiness to the world, you’re going to have to do it my way. For if you don’t choose to do it my way, then I’m still going to get the glory and my holiness will be demonstrated and manifested through my chastising of you. You see, it’s going to be done my way; or it’s going to be done my way. Either way, I’m going to be glorified and deemed holy to all the world.”
Torah Portion 25–Give An Order–A Call To Worship
This week’s Torah Reading-Parashah-25–dealt with sacrifices and offerings. These were shadows of our worship of Father in Spirit and in Truth.
Let Your Women Keep Silence in the Church–Part-9 of the Paul and Hebrew Roots Series
We break down 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 to determine what Paul really meant when he instructed that the Corinthian women keep silence in the church.
Patterns of Evidence-The Moses Controversy Film Review
In this 21st installment of The Messianic Torah Observer, I review Tim Mahoney’s newest documentary, “Patterns of Evidence-The Moses Controversy.”
Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading Pedudei-Accounting Of
This week's Torah Reading entitled Pedudei (ie., Accounting Of) focused on worship. The reading consisted of Leviticus 1:1 to Lev. 5:6:7. The Haftorah consisted of Isaiah 43:21-44:23. Specifics of Worship That which was given to us by Abba related to worship...
TMTO-20-Endure Sound Doctrine I Will Not
Many members of the Body of Messiah will not endure sound doctrine as they are being led astray by false teachers or they themselves are teaching false doctrine. We discuss this troubling situation and provide ways to overcome the deception.
The Un-Silenced Women of Paul’s Ministry-Part 8 of the Paul and Hebrew Roots Series
Many female leaders were associated with the Apostle Paul’s ministry. We highlight some of those great first-century women of the Body of Messiah.
When Evil is Considered Good–The Hypocritical, Evil and Demented Mindset of America Today
What are the challenges facing today’s Torah Observant Disciple of Yahoshua in America Today?
The Unsilenced Women of the Bible-From Torah to the Conversion of Paul-Part 7 of the Paul and Hebrew Roots Series
The Pauline Passages of Question So as to re-establish or restate the issue at hand as it relates to Paul’s views about women in the Body and Assemblies of Messiah, the primary passage in question is as follows: “Let your women keep silence in the...
Parashat Mishpatim Judgment-Property and Love of Neighbor
This Week's Torah Reading In continuing my travels through this week's Torah Reading, I came upon Exo. 21:28-36. I found endless truths and spiritual applications that I am so happy to share with you today. The Consequences of Negligence This passage in a narrow sense...
Parashat Mishpatim Judgment-Murder-Abortions-Sanctuary
Timeliness of This Week's Torah Reading This week’s Torah Reading could not have been more timely. And I was compelled to respond in the wake of the news we’ve received over the last couple weeks regarding the legalization of late term abortions on demand. And just...
Parashat Mishpatim or Judgments-Debt and Slavery
Concerning the Treatment of Slaves by Hebrews The first portion of this week's Torah Reading deals with the issue of Hebrews owning slaves; particularly Hebrew slaves (Exo. 21:1-11) . According to this passage, if a Hebrew acquires a Hebrew slave, they would serve...
To Call or Not Call on the Name of the LORD
What Does it Mean? What does it truly mean for a would-be disciple of Jesus Christ (ie., Yahoshua Messiah) to call on the Name of the L-rd? Is it simply an utterance whereby the would-be disciple utters or invokes the actual Name or Title of the Divine One? Or is it a...
Paul-Emancipator or Subjugator of Women-Part 6 of the Paul and Hebrew Roots Series
This is Part 6 of our multi-episodic series on Paul and Hebrew Roots. This installment is entitled: “Paul: Emancipator or Subjugator of Women.” I Corinthians 14:34, 35, and 1 Timothy 2:11,12 have long challenged my sensibilities and understanding of how women are to...
No Pagan Links to Catholicism and Christianity
Pagan Links to Catholicism and Religion in Doubt I have, of late, become somewhat concerned over what I see as growing support by a good many leaders within and without our Faith for there being no pagan links to Catholicism and Protestant Christianity. And how are...
Paul Opposing God On Issue Of Circumcision?
A Matter of Circumcision or No? As I was watching Kenny Russell's (Bulldozer Faith) most recent Sabbath teaching entitled "Press On!," the text of which he based his message being Philippians 3, I became fixated on verses 2 and 3 of that chapter. It is here that Paul...
My Last Word on the Cepher Bible and the Divinity of Yeshua–At Least Till Next Time
Why Discuss the Cepher Bible Yet Again So I elected to do a rather quick reiteration--albeit last word on the Cepher Bible and the Divinity of Yeshua. At least, until the issue comes up, let's just say. Over the last year or so I've received a number of inquiries...
Paul on Aggadah–Part 5 of Paul and Hebrew Roots Series
Paul on Aggadah—Part 5 of the Paul and Hebrew Roots Series Let us quickly recall from Part 4 of this series that Aggadah is that unseen/invisible aspect of our lives that prompts or influences or even controls our behavior; in particular,that inward motivation, zeal,...
The Meaning Behind The Recent Dedication of an Altar in Jerusalem
If you’ve been keeping up with world news of late, you may know (or not) that the resurrected Great Sanhedrin, headquartered in Jerusalem, sanctioned a Levitical offering of a previously sacrificed lamb upon a practice altar somewhere in Jerusalem. (Yes, there really...
Paul on Halakhah and Aggadah–Part 4 of the Paul and Hebrew Roots Series
Paul on Halakhah and Aggadah Last installment, or Part 3 of this series, I introduced to you the Hebrew concept of Halakhah. In that discussion, I attempted to not only define what halakhah meant, but I also attempted to convey the significance of...
A Biographical Portrait of the Pre-Converted Paul and Halakah–Part 3 of the Paul and Hebrew Roots Series
Review of Parts 1 and 2 of this Series Over the course of the last two installments of this series, we have been laying the groundwork for assembling our portrait of the Apostle Paul prior to his conversion. In the first two-installments we discussed: Why it is...
To Fellowship Or Not Fellowship
A Nagging Question To fellowship with a group of Sabbath-Feast-keepers or not has been a question plaguing me for the last couple weeks. A couple months ago we were invited to fellowship with this group. Now, know that this is NOT a question whether to participate...
Paul-The Man Beneath the Apostleship–Part 2 of the Paul and Hebrew Roots Series
If you've not already done so, I invite you to listen to or read Part 1--Paul, the Man Beneath the Apostle, before moving in to this installment. Apparent Biblical Contradictions and Controversies Before we address the person of Paul straight-on today, I...
The Apostle Paul–Part 1-The Man Beneath the Apostleship
My Goal For This Series Thank you for joining me for Part 1 of this multi-episodic series on The Apostle Paul. This being part-one of the series, we'll lay the ground-work for understanding the man beneath the apostleship. In succeeding installments,...
Who or What is a Messianic Torah Observer?
Inquiring Minds Want to Know I've received a number of email inquiries over the last couple years from various listeners and readers asking the meaning of the title "The Messianic Torah Observer." Allow me to break this bad-boy down for you. To begin with, I...
The Fall Feasts of Yah-The Feast of Tabernacles-The Feast of Sukkot
And greeting fellow Saints of the Most High Elohim. Welcome to The Messianic Torah Observer. I'm Rod Thomas, your host. And as always, it is my sincerest hope, trust and prayer that this installment of the program finds you, your families and fellowships well and...
The Fall Feasts of Yah–The Day of Atonement–Yom Kippur
The Fall Feasts of Yah and the Torah Observant Disciple of Yeshua As Torah Observant disciples of Yahoshua Messiah we are truly blessed to have the joyous elements of our beloved Faith to keep us focused on the mark of the high calling of Messiah. And as I said...
The Fall Feasts of Yah-Trumpets-Yom Teruah
The Fall Feasts are upon us and the Day of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) has at our doorsteps. What significance do the Fall Feasts and the Day of Trumpets hold for Torah Observant Believers in Messiah? What follows is a brief overview of the Fall Feasts of Yehovah and a...
Tithes and Offerings Related to Torah and Messianics
This week’s Torah Reading touched upon the Firstfruits’ offering and the Tithe. The Firstfruit Offering or Tithe (Dt. 26:1-11) The issue and topic of giving offerings and tithing are always controversial, both within and without our Faith Community. As Torah Observant...
Messianics Engaged in Political and Social Activism
A speaker at a recent prophecy conference denounced apathy in the body of Christ and demanded Christians wake-up from their apathy and engage in political and social activism, so to speak. Given the mixed Faith Communities represented at this conference,...
Torah Portion Re’eh–See–I Set Before You a Blessing and a Curse
Torah Portion Re'eh--(See) I Set Before You a Blessing and a Curse--11:26-16:17 This week's Torah Reading, entitled “Re’eh” or “See—I Set Before You a Blessing and a Curse,” is found in Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17. I found this reading to be rich in...
Torah Portion ‘Ekev–On the Heel Of–Because
This week's Torah Portion (i.e., Reading/Parashat) was entitled, 'Ekev--On the Heel Of--Because. It is found in Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25. [If you follow the Torah Portions or Readings, I invite you to check out my post entitled, "Hebrew Roots and Torah Portions--Are...
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