Yom Kippur 2023 begins in the evening of Sunday, September 24 and ends on the evening of Monday, September 25
This day is a high sabbath.
The name Yom Kippur means “Day of Atonement.” This is the day when the High Priest went into the holy of holies and offered a sacrifice to atone for the nation of Israel (Leviticus 16).
According to Jewish tradition, Yom Kippur recalls the day when the people of Israel sinned against God by making the Golden Calf. God forgave the people of their sin after Moses made intercession on their behalf (Exodus 32-33). This same pattern is outlined in Torah—the High Priest intercedes for Israel every year on Yom Kippur and asks for God’s forgiveness. We also see this exact pattern again with our heavenly High Priest, Yeshua (Jesus), who is “able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
Yom Kippur is truly a day to reflect on the Gospel. Indeed, God gave His only Son to become a sacrifice that would atone for our sins. And Yeshua is our High Priest who makes intercession for us.
