Yom Kippur Scripture Reading List

Reading Scripture is an important part of preparing for any of the Biblical holidays! Since the Creator's holidays don't get the hype of the cultural ones with sections of decorations in stores or songs on the radio, saturating yourself in the pertinent Scriptures is a great way to build anticipation for these special times and to calibrate yourself to our Creator's calendar! Here are Scriptures to read for Yom Kippur. They would also be great to study on the day of or to have children act out as part of the festivities.

Yom Kippur Scripture Reading List:

Leviticus 16 - instructions for Yom Kippur.

Leviticus 23:27-32 - talks about Yom Kippur being a day of rest.

Numbers 29:7-11 - details the offerings to be presented to YHWH.

Psalm 32  - a Psalm about the blessings of having our sins be covered.

Isaiah 53 - prophecy of the Messiah being killed for our sins.

Jonah - this is traditionally read on Yom Kippur. The topic of repentance and forgiveness coincides with this set apart time.

Acts 27:9 - here is a mention of New Testament believers paying attention to the Biblical holidays, long after Yahusha ascended into Heaven.

Romans 5 - the Messiah's blood justifies us, and we are forgiven of our sins through him.

Hebrews 9-10 - this is a passage with many details on the Messiah's sacrifice and priesthood. It also calls for perseverance of our faith.

Hebrews 13:11-13 - talks about how the Levitical high priest would offer sacrifices on Yom Kippur and compares that to the Messiah's work. Calls our attention to Yahusha's priesthood over the Levitical.

1 Peter 1:2 - says that we are sprinkled with the Messiah's blood.

1 Peter 2:24 - says that the Messiah bore our iniquities on the tree and quotes from Isaiah 53.

1 John 2:2 - the Messiah is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Related posts:
The Meaning of Yom Kippur (Day of Covering)
Prayer and Fasting on Yom Kippur
Ephesians 1:7 Printable

The Biblical Invitation We've Missed to the Fall Feasts

Did you know that you've been invited to special celebrations your whole life? I don't know about you, but I missed this even though I literally lugged the invitation around with me in my Bible case. Each of us has been invited to take part in the glorious times known as the Biblical holidays or feasts.

If the Messiah invited you to a party what would your response be?

Seriously, imagine what that would be like. What kind of special evening would the King of the Universe have in mind? What kind of food would be served? How would the tables be set? What would you wear? How would he feel if you refused to go?

He sent his servants to invite them to the wedding party. But they didn't want to come. -Matthew 22:3

Do you know this parable? In this story Jesus told there is a king who was hosting a wedding party. A five-star banquet had been prepared by a top chef, special clothing had been designed and tailored with skill, tables were set, candles were lit, attention had been given to each lovely detail, and finally all of it was ready. But they didn't want to come.

YHWH holds seven special feasts a year. And his people decline the invitation. Like in the Messiah's parable we have had better things to do. "This is a busy time of year for me." "Work has been crazy." "We are set free from that." It's not that we didn't get the invitation. It's not that something is physically keeping us away. We just have refused to come. How does this make the host feel? Verse seven, The King was furious and invited someone else.

Don't miss out on this invitation from the Creator. Change which box you have been checking on these kingdom RSVPs. Three of his feasts are coming up soon! We aren't far away from the celebrations of the Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot but there is still time to make it to these parties. Did you know that our Messiah honored and celebrated these times? And not only that but the nature of each feast speaks a different truth about who YHWH is and his redemptive plan for us.

The kingdom of Heaven is like a party no one wants to go to.

Now is the time to plan to celebrate as YHWH instructed us (see Leviticus 23). Make plans to keep these feasts, whether that's on your own, with your family, your church community, or traveling to connect with others.

Since God did not give us Gregorian calendar dates for his feasts there is some confusion as to exactly when they fall. If you are involved with a group I would personally go with their dates so you can celebrate as a community. If not, study and pray about what you should do.

Take some time to familiarize yourself with the Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippur, and Tabernacles and begin to plan. How should you accept the King's invitation? Put in for vacation from your job and plan to have the no-work days free. Will you be going camping or building a sukkah for Sukkot? Can you gather friends for a party or would you like to give gifts? You don't have to know how to do everything perfectly to accept this invitation, and really it is a learning and growing process that becomes more joyous and special with each year. The kingdom of Heaven is like a king preparing a feast for his son. Invite to the party as many as you can find. Say yes this year!

More about the fall Bible holidays:
The Beginner's Guide to the Feast of Trumpets

Honoring Yom Kippur as a Believer in Messiah

The Feast of Tabernacles: What it Means and Why You Should Celebrate It

Prayer and Fasting on Yom Kippur

What do you do on Yom Kippur? The most common answer is to fast. Scripture's instruction for Yom Kippur is that we should anah ourselves. Traditionally this is applied as a 25 hour fast. There is some debate over whether or not fasting is required as the Hebrew word anah is usually  translated as afflict or humble, and never fast. But of course fasting could be a way of humbling yourself.

But if you're fasting on Yom Kippur, that should just be part of your Yom Kippur. Going without food is not the whole point. Our lack of understanding is sadly shown when we treat this Biblical holiday as just a day to not eat. There's nothing wrong with fasting and it can be used to add meaning to this special time. But if that is the only connection with a Bible holiday given to us by the Creator of the universe I think we have missed something.

Because fasting is always to be paired with prayer. Here are a some examples of that throughout the Bible.

-King David fasted while pleading for the life of his sick child. (2 Samuel 12:23)

-Anna never left the Temple, but worshipped day and night, fasting and praying. (Luke 2:37)

-Daniel was fasting and then prayed for Judah's release from exile. (Daniel 9:3)

-The disciples had trouble curing a boy from demonic, epileptic fits and the Messiah told them healing could only happen through prayer and fasting in that instance. (Mark 9:29)

-Hannah was fasting when she went to the Tabernacle to ask YHWH to give her a son. (1 Sameul 1:18)

-Jesus fasted and prayed in the wilderness. (Matthew 4:2)

-Paul and Barnabas appointed elders to the congregations with prayer and fasting. (Acts 14:23)

-Joel recorded YHWH as saying to return to him with fasting and prayer. (Joel 2:12)

Can you see there's more to fasting than just missing a meal? I want Yom Kippur to be honored and celebrated for all it stands for, including that the perfect sacrifice now intercedes for us continually. What if we made this a day of prayer? Not that fasting isn't valuable and beneficial. But we should be known for our prayers.

There are a few places in Scripture where fasting is not accompanied by prayer and it is clear that God is not pleased. One instance is how the Pharisees made it a point to show others they were fasting. Another examples is in Isaiah 58 when YHWH asks if the objective of a fast is to spread ashes and sackcloth on yourself. In other words, is the point of fasting simply to sit there without food all day or to try and impress others with your actions? Is this day to draw attention to yourself or should it be to direct your intention to the Living God?

What if on Yom Kippuur instead of emphasizing to our friends and family that we are fasting, we showed that this is a day we intercede for them? What if we spend this Bible holiday praying for repentance and mercy? What if we prayed for the restoration and for YHWH's best to be done in our family, community, and world?

What if the point to fasting isn't to go without food yourself, but to be able to give that food to someone hungry?

My point is not that fasting is bad or that it shouldn't be done. The Messiah gave us instructions on the procedures for this, assuming we would fast. My point is to remind you there is more to this day than just going without food. Our ministries and congregations could be known as a house of prayer in this time.

I hope you have a very beautiful and meaningful Yom Kippur!

Related posts:
The Meaning of Yom Kippur (Day of Covering)
How to Pray for Our World
Yom Kippur Scripture Reading List

Looking Forward to Yom Kippur

Yes, you read that correctly. I am looking forward to Yom Kippur. Why? Because it is a time that YHWH designated as different from the rest of the year. He made it distinct from the other set apart days. Yom Kippur is worth celebrating and we should be excited about it.

I don't want to give you the idea that I've always felt this way. Yom Kippur used to be a day of trepidation and dread for me. An entire day without eating and drinking? That doesn't exactly sound like a joy. But it is.

It is important to know that Yom Kippur (like the rest of YHWH's festivals) is not a "Jewish holiday." While the majority of those who observe Yom Kippur may be Jewish, YHWH's intention was not to create festivals and set apart times only for a tiny fraction of His people. Yom Kippur is for all of YHWH's people, whether or not they are from the tribe of Judah.

Yom Kippur is such a strong reminder of how upside-down YHWH's ways are from what we know. It's one of those things that sounds a lot like, Blessed are the poor.... It's something totally backwards from our culture. Interestingly, YHWH deliberately placed an all-day fast in the middle of harvest season. Not eating for a day would make a little more sense in say, February, when most of us haven't seen a plant growing in months. But right now? I have tomatoes and squash in the garden, fresh peaches and a huge watermelon on my counter, just canned jars of salsa and applesauce that need put away, a bowl of peppers that need to be frozen, and a huge pile of greens that need to be dealt with. Food is in abundance right now in most of the world, and if you grow your own you're well aware of what needs picked and how you're going to freeze or store the rest. We would never pick this as the time to fast. It doesn't make sense not to partake in the good things we have. This doesn't seem like it's the best time to fast. But it is.

Why should we be excited about an all day fast?

We should have joy that we have this instruction from YHWH. In Nehemiah 8 Ezra read the Torah scroll to those in Jerusalem; many heard it for the first time and wept. While the text doesn't give a specific reason for the crying, we can surmise that they were mourning that they had not been keeping the instructions of YHWH. In Nehemiah 8:10 it says, "This day is kadosh to our YHWH: neither be sorry; for the simcha of YHWH is your strength." Don't be sad or regret this. This day is set apart to YHWH. He will give you gladness. Our greatest joy is being able to keep YHWH's word.

We are no longer dependent on the blood of animals. While we praise YHWH for providing the Levitical temple system as a temporary appeasement for our ancestors, we can be joyful that Yahusha has once and for all provided the perfect sacrifice for our sins.

It is a day of forgiveness. On Yom Kippur we should spend time in prayer asking for forgiveness and forgiving others. It is a joyous thing to be forgiven of the sins we have done. We should be happy to let go of the burden of unforgiveness against others as well.

Yahusha praises fasting. He taught that fasting, when not done to impress others, would be rewarded. Yahusha also famously fasted for forty days. One day doesn't seem so hard when we remember that.

Fasting is used to make teshuvah. In Joel 2:12 YHWH says, "Make teshuvah to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and mourning." We can use this day of fasting to return to YHWH in all areas of our lives and repent of the wrong paths that we have been on.

It gives us compassion for those with less than us. Some 800 million people, or more than 10% of the earth don't have enough food to lead a healthy life. Going without food, even for one day gives us a tiny idea of what it's like to really be hungry.

We can focus on YHWH. My favorite part of the all day fast is how much more time it gives me for study and prayer. I don't need to make lunch or keep going to the kitchen for water or figure out what to have for a snack. Each year it surprises me how much of our time is spent preparing and consuming our meals. A day set apart for Scripture reading with no distractions is okay with me.

For these reasons we can have gladness in our hearts during Yom Kippur. Why will you be joyous?

The Meaning of Yom Kippur (Day of Covering)

What is the point of Yom Kippur for believers in the Messiah today? Do we still need this Biblical holiday in light of the Messiah's sacrifice? Yom Kippur is often called the Day of Atonement, and that's caused many believers to think that this holiday is outdated, because the Messiah has already atoned for our sins. But there is a more accurate translation of Yom Kippur that will help us to better understand the importance of this time for believers today.

The root of kippur is kapar (Strong's 3722), which means covering. Yom Kippur is the Day of Covering. Atonement is another word entirely, with different etymological roots.

The Bible does not refer to Yom Kippur as the Day of Atonement. Atonement means, "to stand as an equivalent, satisfaction, to make amends, or to procure reconciliation." That means that this would be a one-time event, like the way the death of the Messiah procured reconciliation. Did the day of Yom Kippur ever provide this sort of reconciliation? It did not.

Yom Kippur provides covering, not atonement. It is a limited, conditional reprieve. If it provided all-encompassing reconciliation to YHWH it wouldn't need to be done year after year.

Scripture does not teach that the blood of bulls and goats brings atonement or brought atonement before the Messiah. The Bible does not say that animals were sacrificed to be punished in our place. While the Levitical priesthood pointed to the work of the Messiah, it's work was ultimately very different than what the Messiah accomplished.

The root of kippur, kapar is spelled with a qof, peh, and resh. Their meanings in Paleo Hebrew:

Qof  q = open hand

Peh   p = open mouth

Resh r = head of a person

Or when you put them together, "The open hand covering the mouth of the accuser." This is what Yom Kippur is all about!

Yom Kippur is the day when YHWH stretches out his hand to cover the accusations against us. This is absolutely something we should participate in. While our sins are atoned for in the Messiah, we still live with their consequences. YHWH graciously covers us from accusation and condemnation.

Yom Kippur accomplishes covering, not atonement. YHWH commands us to keep this holy day in Leviticus 23 and Numbers 29. There is no instruction from the Messiah or Paul or anyone else in the New Testament to discontinue it. Celebrating Yom Kippur is an outward expression of our inward repentance and it enables YHWH to cover the accusations against us.

Only in the Messiah is a person fully reconciled, but Yom Kippur brings the opportunity to have the accusations against us be silenced. Don't miss out on the chance to take part in this Biblical holiday!

More on Yom Kippur:
Honoring Yom Kippur as a Believer in Messiah
What You Need to Know About Yom Kippur

Ephesians 1:7 Printable for Yom Kippur

What You Need To Know About Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur is one of the most significant days of the year. When the Levitical priesthood was in effect it was the only day of the year the high priest was permitted to enter the Holiest Place in the Temple. Vayikra 16 details the Azazel goat that was to be "presented to YHWH alive to be used for making atonement over it by sending it away into the desert." Though YHWH no longer requires animal sacrifices because of Yahusha's sacrificial death, we have a lot to learn about this time that YHWH deemed significant.

In Vayikra 23:31 YHWH himself declares that participating in Yom Kippur is a permanent regulation for all generations, no matter where they are living. This reason alone is enough to celebrate Yom Kippur but it is also mentioned several times in the Renewed Covenant. Paul used Yom Kippur to explain the significance of our atonement through Yahusha in Romans 3:23. Many scholars believe that Yahusha's reading of Isaiah 61 in Luke 4:16-22 happened on Yom Kippur.

Yom Kippur is a day of "humbling your soul." This is traditionally acted out in a 25 hour fast of food and water, from sundown to dark. While fasting is mentioned many places in Scripture, it is not conclusive that this text requires fasting. We do know that Yahusha pointedly mentions in Matthew 6:16 that he expects his followers to fast, so that wouldn't necessarily be an inappropriate expression of humbling yourself.

An all day fast is the perfect reason to make a lovely meal to enjoy before sundown the evening prior. You will also want to plan ahead of time what you will eat when you break your fast. Traditionally wine and challah bread and other sweet things are included in both the pre Yom Kippur dinner and in the breaking of the fast, but Scripture gives no instructions on this so decide for yourself what you would like to eat. Have food prepared in advance to break the fast with - your energy will be low from not eating all day and you won't feel like cooking come nightfall.

We are instructed to have a holy convocation on Yom Kippur and a tradition is to wear white clothing to your congregational service. If you don't have a congregation to attend, consider gathering friends and family for a time of prayer and worship.

In Judaism, a prayer known as the Kol Nidre is a significant part of Yom Kippur services. The idea behind this prayer is that it annuls all your vows for the next year, and it is said to have started during times of persecution when Jews were forced to renounce their faith. I am not sure this is an idea that fits with Scripture. Yahusa said, "let your yes be yes," not, "say whatever's handy and it won't count against you." Instead of the Kol Nidre, pray that you would be wise with your words and commitments.

So what to do for Yom Kippur?

-Prepare for a fast - if you choose
-If you're not fasting decide how you will humble your soul
-Meet with a group of believers for prayer, worship, and Scripture reading
-Wear white to represent your sins being washed away
-Pray! Spend time with your family writing down prayer requests and have each person pray for another.
-Study Scripture
-Give thanks that Yahusha's death covers our sins

Scriptures to be read on Yom Kippur include:
Vayikra 16
Numbers 29:7-11
Isaiah 57:14 - 58:14
Isaiah 61
Book of Jonah
Romans 3:21-26
Book of Hebrews
Colossians 1:14

Please share if you have special Scripture you like to read or a favorite prayer or Yom Kippur tradition below!