The Day of Covering, Yom Kippur
 

Introduction
On many printed calendars this past week, you may have noticed the words Yom Kippur. It began Wednesday evening and ended Thursday evening, marking the close of what the Jewish people call the High Holy Days. For observant Jews, this is the most important day of the year—the Day of Atonement. The Hebrew word Yom means “day,” and Kippur means “covering” or “atonement.” While it is a deeply significant Jewish observance, it has great relevance for Christians because Jesus came to accomplish atonement for us. In Leviticus 16, God gives detailed instructions for this day. Understanding them helps us appreciate the depth of Christ’s sacrifice and the seriousness of sin.

I. Atonement Illustrated in Numbers 16
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram rebelled against God’s appointed leaders, Moses and Aaron, and were destroyed by God’s judgment along with 250 followers. The next day, the congregation blamed Moses, and God sent a plague that killed nearly 15,000. At God’s instruction, Aaron took a censer of incense into the midst of the people and “made atonement for them,” standing between the dead and the living so that the plague was stopped.
Atonement means to appease God’s wrath and save the people. It is the turning away of God’s anger through an offering. In the Old Testament, that offering was animal sacrifice; for us, it is the blood of Jesus Christ.

II. The Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16

1. The High Priest Had to Be Spotless

   • Aaron could not enter the Most Holy Place at will or in any way he pleased (Leviticus 16:1–2).

   • He had to bring a bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering for himself (Leviticus 16:3, 11).

   • He had to exchange his golden garments for simple linen garments, symbolizing humility before God.

   • Jesus, our High Priest, came humbly, clothed in humanity, and was without sin (Hebrews 7:26–28).

2. The High Priest Entered with Incense and Blood

   • Aaron entered the Most Holy Place with a censer of burning coals and incense to create a cloud that would cover the mercy seat, dimming the glory of God so he could live (Leviticus 16:12–13).

   • He sprinkled the blood of the bull and the goat on and before the mercy seat to make atonement for himself and for the people (Leviticus 16:14–15).

   • Jesus entered the true heavenly Most Holy Place with His own blood, securing eternal redemption once for all (Hebrews 9:11–14).

3. The Cleansing of the Holy Place and Altar

   • Because of the sins of the people, the tabernacle and altar became ceremonially unclean and had to be cleansed annually with sacrificial blood (Leviticus 16:16–19).

   • Aaron made atonement for the holy place, the altar, himself, and the entire assembly.

   • Jesus’ blood cleanses not only the heavenly tabernacle but also our consciences from dead works to serve the living God.

4. The Scapegoat

   • Two goats were presented: one was sacrificed, and the other, the scapegoat, symbolically bore the sins of the people into the wilderness (Leviticus 16:20–22).

   • This represented the complete removal of sin from God’s people.

   • In Christ, our sins are taken away forever, never to be remembered (Psalm 103:12).

III. The Seriousness of Sin
The Day of Atonement was an annual statute (Leviticus 16:29–31) because the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sin permanently (Hebrews 10:1–4). It reminded Israel each year of the seriousness of sin and the cost of forgiveness. For Christians, the cross should continually remind us that our personal sins nailed Jesus there.

IV. Jesus as the Fulfillment of the Day of Atonement

1. He is the perfect High Priest who needed no sacrifice for Himself (Hebrews 7:26–27).

2. He entered the heavenly sanctuary once for all with His own blood (Hebrews 9:11–12).

3. His sacrifice was sufficient to cover sin forever; no repetition is needed.

4. He suffered “outside the camp” to sanctify His people, fulfilling the symbolism of the Day of Atonement rituals (Hebrews 13:10–13).

Call to Action
The Day of Atonement was the most solemn day in Israel’s calendar. It was a time to afflict the soul, to think seriously about sin, and to be thankful for God’s provision for forgiveness. For us, every day should be a day of remembrance of the cross. Let the seriousness of sin lead us to continual gratitude, faithful living, and a desire to share the good news of Christ’s atoning work with others. If you have never obeyed the gospel, you remain under the guilt of sin. Through repentance and baptism into Christ, His blood can cleanse you. If you are a Christian who has sinned, confess and repent so the cleansing of His atonement may be renewed in you today.

Key Takeaways

• Atonement is the turning away of God’s wrath through sacrifice (Numbers 16:46–48).

• The high priest had to be cleansed before making atonement for others (Leviticus 16:3, 11; Hebrews 7:26–28).

• The blood was essential for atonement; without it there is no forgiveness (Leviticus 16:14–15; Hebrews 9:22).

• The scapegoat symbolized the complete removal of sin (Leviticus 16:20–22; Psalm 103:12).

• Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of the Day of Atonement, offering one sacrifice for all time (Hebrews 9:11–12; Hebrews 10:10).

Scripture References
Numbers 16:46–48 – Aaron stands between the dead and the living
Leviticus 16:1–31 – Instructions for the Day of Atonement
Hebrews 7:26–28 – Jesus as sinless High Priest
Hebrews 9:11–14 – Christ’s atoning blood in the heavenly sanctuary
Hebrews 10:1–4 – Ineffectiveness of animal sacrifices
Psalm 103:12 – Sins removed far away
Hebrews 13:10–13 – Jesus suffered outside the camp

Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at Granby, MO