2025.10.01. Study Notes. YOM KIPPUR - My Judeo-Christian Heritage.
William Akehurst, HSWC
Scriptures: Leviticus 16:29-31, Hebrews 9:14, Psalm 51:10, 1 John 1:5-10, Psalms 139:23-24, Psalms 51:1-4, Psalms 51:7-15, Zechariah 12:10, Romans 11:26-27, Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 21:1-7
BIG IDEA: Yom Kippur is GOD’s appointed holy day for atonement, repentance, and spiritual renewal, where we acknowledge our sins, receive forgiveness, and experience reconciliation with HIM to walk renewed in HIS Mercy. And it points to YESHUA/JESUS as the ultimate sacrifice, fulfilling the Temple sacraments.
1. It’s a day of repentance (teshuvah), turning away from sin and returning to GOD.
2. It emphasizes GOD’s mercy and forgiveness, showing that GOD desires restoration rather than punishment.
3. It symbolizes spiritual cleansing and freedom, releasing the weight of guilt and opening the way for a fresh start.
4. For Messianic/Christian believers, it points to YESHUA/JESUS as the ultimate atoning sacrifice, as fulfillment of what the Temple rituals foreshadowed.
YOM KIPPUR – DAY OF ATONEMENT
Tonight begins Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The holiest and most solemn day on the Jewish calendar. Scripture calls it the Shabbat Shabbaton, the “Sabbath of Sabbaths,” set apart as a day of fasting, repentance, and prayer.
As part of our Jewish/Christian Heritage, I am presenting the following compilation from my studies for your review and learning.
Yom Kippur: The Day of Repentance, Prayer, and Fasting
Leviticus 16:29-31 “This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you. For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It is a sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever.”
Even today, Jewish people all over the world will enter into a 25-hour fast at sunset. Some may not observe other holy days, but nearly all will stop work and humble themselves for Yom Kippur. It is customary to greet one another with Tzom Kal - “an easy fast.”
During the time of the Temple, the High Priest alone would enter the Holy of Holies once a year on this day. He brought the blood of sacrifice to the mercy seat, interceding for the sins of the people.
But since the Temple no longer stands, the purification sacrifices described in Leviticus 16 are no longer possible. How then is atonement made?
For those who believe in Yeshua/JESUS the Messiah, the answer is clear:
Messiah Himself has become both our High Priest and our final sacrifice. Unlike earthly priests, He did not need to offer for His own sins, nor repeat offerings year after year. He offered Himself - perfect, spotless, and once for all - cleansing us from sin and giving us access to God’s mercy forever.
Hebrews 9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
And so we pray with David:
Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
As the shofar sounds tonight, may our hearts be humbled, our sins confessed, and our hope renewed in YESHUA -the One who has made eternal atonement for us.
Confessing our Sins
1 John 1:5-10 5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
44 statements – Al Chet – Confession of Sins
(The "Al Chet" is a list of 44 statements to guide us to examine the root of our sins, and confess it before the LORD. In Jewish tradition, The “Al Chet” is spoken ten times in the course of the Yom Kippur services on Yom Kippur Eve, then the next morning and afternoon of Yom Kippur day. The final time, it is spoken in silence.)
As we read these statements, we examine our hearts to uncover areas in our lives in which we need to change.
For the Christian believer, we can say:
ALMIGHTY GOD, We come in JESUS’ Name and ask for Your forgiveness:
1. For the sin which we have committed before You under duress or willingly.
2. And for the sin which we have committed before You by hard-heartedness.
3. For the sin which we have committed before You inadvertently.
4. And for the sin which we have committed before You with an utterance of the lips.
5. For the sin which we have committed before You with immorality.
6. And for the sin which we have committed before You openly or secretly.
7. For the sin which we have committed before You with knowledge and with deceit.
8. And for the sin which we have committed before You through speech.
9. For the sin which we have committed before You by deceiving a fellowman.
10. And for the sin which we have committed before You by improper thoughts.
11. For the sin which we have committed before You by a gathering of lewdness.
12. And for the sin which we have committed before You by verbal [insincere] confession.
13. For the sin which we have committed before You by disrespect for parents and teachers.
14. And for the sin which we have committed before You intentionally or unintentionally.
15. For the sin which we have committed before You by using coercion or intimidation.
16. And for the sin which we have committed before You by desecrating the Divine Name.
17. For the sin which we have committed before You by impurity of speech.
18. And for the sin which we have committed before You by foolish talk.
19. For the sin which we have committed before You with the evil inclination.
20. And for the sin which we have committed before You knowingly or unknowingly.
21. For the sin which we have committed before You by false denial and lying.
22. And for the sin which we have committed before You by a bribe-taking or a bribe-giving hand.
23. For the sin which we have committed before You by scoffing.
24. And for the sin which we have committed before You by evil talk [about another].
25. For the sin which we have committed before You in business dealings.
26. And for the sin which we have committed before You by eating and drinking.
27. For the sin which we have committed before You by [taking or giving] interest and by usury.
28. And for the sin which we have committed before You by a haughty demeanor.
29. For the sin which we have committed before You by the prattle of our lips.
30. And for the sin which we have committed before You by a glance of the eye.
31. For the sin which we have committed before You with proud looks.
32. And for the sin which we have committed before You with impudence.
33. For the sin which we have committed before You by casting off the yoke [of Heaven].
34. And for the sin which we have committed before You in passing judgment.
35. For the sin which we have committed before You by scheming against a fellowman.
36. And for the sin which we have committed before You by a begrudging eye.
37. For the sin which we have committed before You by frivolity.
38. And for the sin which we have committed before You by obduracy/stubbornness.
39. For the sin which we have committed before You by running to do evil.
40. And for the sin which we have committed before You by tale-bearing.
41. For the sin which we have committed before You by swearing in vain.
42. And for the sin which we have committed before You by causeless hatred.
43. For the sin which we have committed before You by embezzlement.
44. And for the sin which we have committed before You by a confused heart.
For all these, God of pardon, pardon us, forgive us, atone for us.
Psalms 139:23-24 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalms 51:1-4 1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight:
Psalms 51:7-15 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
The following is an outline for a Messianic Yom Kippur Service:
Summary:
1. Opening (Shofar, readings, prayer)
2. Confession & Repentance (Vidui, Psalm 51, 1 John 1:9)
3. Teaching on Atonement (Isaiah 53, Hebrews 9-10)
4. Intercession for Israel & Nations
5. Personal Reflection & Communion
6. Closing Ne’ilah Service (Book of Life, Revelation, Shofar, joyful breaking of fast)
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is a sacred time of repentance, prayer, and fasting, when we turn from sin and seek God’s mercy. It symbolizes spiritual cleansing, freedom from guilt, and renewal, pointing to Yeshua/Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice who fulfills the Temple rituals and grants believers direct access to God. Traditionally observed with fasting, confession, and reflection, Yom Kippur concludes with the final shofar blast (Tekiah Gedolah), signaling forgiveness, reconciliation, and the joyous release of the fast, leaving hearts renewed and reconciled with God.
MESSIANIC YOM KIPPUR SERVICE
1. OPENING (SUNSET / BEGINNING OF FAST)
• Shofar Blast – Tekiah (long single blast) to mark the beginning of Yom Kippur.
• Greeting: “G’mar Chatimah Tovah” (May you be sealed for good in the Book of Life).
• Opening Prayer: Asking God to open hearts to repentance and forgiveness through Yeshua.
Scripture Reading:
• Leviticus 23:26-32 Command of Yom Kippur.
• Hebrews 9:11-12 Yeshua as High Priest entering the heavenly sanctuary.
2. CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE (VIDUI / SELICHOT PRAYERS)
• Traditional Vidui (Confession) recited in community, acknowledging sins corporately (“We have sinned… we have turned away…”).
• Messianic Addition: Recognizing that forgiveness is through Yeshua’s sacrifice.
Scripture Reading:
• 1 John 1:8-9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive.
• Psalm 51 David’s prayer of repentance.
Prayer:
“FATHER, we confess our sins before YOU. We admit we have failed in word, thought, and deed. Yet we thank YOU for the Blood of YESHUA, our Messiah, WHO cleanses us from all unrighteousness.”
3. ATONEMENT IN MESSIAH
LESSONS/STUDY:
• The scapegoat (Leviticus 16) foreshadows Yeshua carrying away our sins.
• The High Priest entering the Holy of Holies points to Yeshua’s perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 10:19-22).
• Reflection on Isaiah 53 “He was pierced for our transgressions…”
Suggested Hymn/Worship Song - “Look to the Lamb of GOD”
4. INTERCESSION & ISRAEL’S FUTURE REDEMPTION
Corporate prayers for:
• Personal cleansing and forgiveness.
• Families and community.
• The salvation of Israel (Zechariah 12:10, Romans 11:26-27).
• The nations, that all may turn to Messiah.
Scripture Reading:
• Zechariah 12:10 Israel mourning for “the one they pierced.”
• Romans 11:26-27 “All Israel shall be saved.”
5. QUIET REFLECTION (AFTERNOON MEDITATION)
• Time of silence for personal confession and seeking God.
• Reading: Psalm 32 “Blessed is the one whose sins are forgiven.”
• Communion (to remember YESHUA’s blood of the covenant).
6. CLOSING SERVICE (NE’ILAH – “CLOSING OF THE GATES”)
• Final prayers for God’s mercy and sealing in the Book of Life.
Scripture Reading:
• Revelation 20:11-15 The Book of Life.
• Revelation 21:1-7 Eternal redemption for those in Messiah.
Shofar Blasts (Tekiah Gedolah - Great Long Blast) to close Yom Kippur.
The Tekiah Gedolah, the final great long shofar blast of Yom Kippur, signals the completion of repentance, God’s forgiveness, and the joyful release of the day’s fast, serving as a triumphant “Amen” to our prayers and faith.
• Leviticus 25:9 Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land.
• Break-the-fast meal in fellowship, celebrating God’s mercy and atonement through Yeshua.
POINT: Yom Kippur ends with NE’ILAH, “the closing of the gates”, and one great long blast of the Shofar…one final Trumpet Blast on the Day of Atonement that is to sound throughout all the land.
CLOSING THOUGHTS:
Ne’ilah - The closing of the gate compares with the door shut on Noah’s Ark before judgment.
The Final Trumpet Blast on the day of "at-one-ment" with the LORD.
Hmmm… Makes you think, doesn’t it?
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Bill
