What Is Yom Kippur?: The Day of Atonement and What It Means for Christians

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is one of the most solemn and sacred days on the biblical calendar.

God established this appointed day for Israel thousands of years ago. It was a day of repentance, humility, sacrifice, and atonement, a day unlike any other in the year.

But for Christians, Yom Kippur also points to something even greater.

The sacrifices offered on the Day of Atonement foreshadowed the perfect sacrifice Jesus would one day make for us on the cross.

Understanding Yom Kippur can therefore deepen our understanding of sin, forgiveness, grace, and the extraordinary price Jesus paid to reconcile us to God.

What Is Yom Kippur?

The instructions for the Day of Atonement are found primarily in Leviticus 16 and Leviticus 23. God told Israel:

“On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be for you a time of holy convocation” (Leviticus 23:27 NASB).

Yom Kippur occurs on the tenth day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, following the period traditionally known as the Days of Awe that begins with the Feast of Trumpets.

God commanded His people to humble themselves before Him and refrain from ordinary work. This wasn’t a celebration in the usual sense.

It was a sacred appointment with God.

The people were confronted with the seriousness of sin and their need for forgiveness and cleansing.

What Happened on the Day of Atonement?

Yom Kippur was the one day each year when the high priest entered the Most Holy Place of the tabernacle, and later the temple.

Before entering, however, the high priest first had to make atonement for his own sin.

That detail is important. The priest was representing the people before a holy God, but he too was a sinner in need of mercy. After making sacrifice for himself and his household, the high priest offered sacrifice for the sins of the people.

Leviticus 16 also describes one of the most memorable parts of Yom Kippur: two goats.

One goat was sacrificed as a sin offering.

Over the other, the high priest confessed the sins of Israel. That goat was then sent away into the wilderness, symbolically carrying the people’s sins away from them.

This is the origin of the familiar term “scapegoat.” What a powerful picture!

Sin required atonement, blood was shed, and the people’s guilt was symbolically carried away.

Yet all of this pointed toward something greater that was still to come.

How Does Yom Kippur Point to Jesus?

The New Testament book of Hebrews helps us understand the Day of Atonement through the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Under the Old Covenant, sacrifices had to be offered again and again. The high priest entered the Most Holy Place year after year.

But Jesus changed everything. Hebrews tells us:

“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 an eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12 ESV).

Once for all.

Those three words capture one of the great differences between the Old Covenant sacrifices and what Jesus accomplished at Calvary.

Jesus wasn’t merely another high priest. He is our perfect High Priest.

He didn’t bring the blood of an animal as His sacrifice. He gave Himself.

Hebrews 10:12 says that Christ “offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins.”

The sacrifice didn’t need to be repeated. The price had been paid.

Jesus Is Our Atonement

The central message of Yom Kippur is that sin separates people from a holy God and that reconciliation requires atonement.

We cannot erase our own sins. We cannot perform enough good works to make ourselves righteous. We cannot save ourselves.

That’s why the Gospel is such good news.

What we could never do for ourselves, Jesus did for us. On the cross, He bore our sins and paid the price for our redemption. Isaiah had prophetically described this centuries earlier:

“The LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6 ESV).

Think again about that scapegoat disappearing into the wilderness, symbolically carrying Israel’s sins away. Then consider the beautiful promise of Psalm 103:12: “As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”

Because of Jesus, forgiveness isn’t something you have to earn. It is something God offers you by grace.

Yom Kippur Reminds Us That God Is Holy

Grace should never make us casual about sin. Yom Kippur reminds us that God is holy, and sin is serious.

The enormous rituals surrounding the Day of Atonement demonstrated that sinful humanity cannot casually enter the presence of a holy God. Yet because of Jesus, something extraordinary has happened.

Hebrews 10:19 tells believers that we now have confidence to enter the holy places “by the blood of Jesus.”

Think about what that means. Under the Old Covenant, one high priest entered the Most Holy Place once each year. Through Christ, every believer has access to God.

• You can come to Him in prayer.
• You can confess your sins.
• You can receive His forgiveness.
• You can enjoy fellowship with your Heavenly Father.

Not because you have lived perfectly, but because Jesus paid the price completely.

A Time to Examine Our Hearts

Yom Kippur also provides a meaningful opportunity to do something Scripture repeatedly encourages us to do: examine our hearts before God.

David prayed: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!” (Psalm 139:23 ESV).

That’s a powerful prayer for any day.

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal attitudes, habits, bitterness, unforgiveness, pride, or hidden sin that needs to be surrendered. When He brings something to your attention, don’t run away from God. Run toward Him.

First John 1:9 gives us this wonderful promise: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Confession isn’t about persuading a reluctant God to forgive you. It’s agreeing with God about your sin and receiving the cleansing Christ has already made possible.

Is Yom Kippur Important for Christians Today?

Christians are not required to observe Yom Kippur in order to earn God’s favor or receive forgiveness. Our atonement has already been accomplished through Jesus Christ.

Yet understanding the Day of Atonement can greatly enrich our faith because God built the message of redemption into His appointed times.

• Yom Kippur reminds us of the seriousness of sin.
• It reminds us of the holiness of God.
• It reminds us that atonement requires a sacrifice.
• Most importantly, it points us toward Jesus.

The shadows of the Old Covenant help us appreciate the substance we have received in Christ.

Rejoice in the Freedom Jesus Purchased for You

Yom Kippur was a solemn day, but for those who know Jesus, the message of atonement ultimately leads us to joy.

Your sin doesn’t have to define your future and your failures don’t have to separate you from God forever.

Jesus has made a way.

Take time today to allow God to search your heart. Confess anything He reveals. Forgive those you need to forgive. Seek reconciliation where possible. Thank Jesus for the incredible price He paid for you.

Then rejoice!

The sacrifice has been made. The price has been paid. The way into God’s presence is open.

Through Jesus Christ, you can know that you are forgiven, cleansed, and free.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Yom Kippur?

Yom Kippur means the Day of Atonement. God established it for Israel as a sacred annual day of humility, repentance, sacrifice, and atonement for sin.

Do Christians have to observe Yom Kippur?

Christians are not required to observe Yom Kippur to receive forgiveness or earn God’s favor. Jesus fulfilled what the sacrifices pointed toward. However, studying Yom Kippur can give Christians a deeper appreciation for God’s holiness, the seriousness of sin, and Christ’s sacrifice.

What can Christians learn from Yom Kippur today?

Yom Kippur encourages believers to remember God’s holiness, examine their hearts, confess sin, extend forgiveness, seek reconciliation, and celebrate the complete atonement Jesus provided.