And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the Lord commanded Moses.
Leviticus 16:34 (KJV)
Everlasting statute – Not many of us understand the gravity of this most solemn day for Israel. The effort and preparation for this day exceeded all other days, especially for the High Priest. Let us review the service in whole as written down in the Mishnah Yoma.
READ MOREFor transgressions against God, the Day of Atonement atones; but for transgressions against a fellow-man, the Day of Atonement does not atone, so long as the sinner has not redressed the wrong done, and conciliated the man he has sinned against.
Rabbi Elazar ben Azaryah
This is an authoritative teaching of Judaism. Think about it. The Day of Atonement did not cover all your sins; only the sins against God. YHVH did not forgive any sins that were done against your fellow man, if you have not reconciled them with that person. These sins were not under God’s jurisdiction. Continue reading “Day of Atonement Doesn’t Cover Everything”
Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.
Leviticus 23:27 (KJV)
Afflict your souls – There is only one day per year required by God to fast. And what’s interesting is it doesn’t even say “to fast”, but rather to “afflict your souls”. So where is the correlation made, and how did we end at the conclusion of fasting? Continue reading “Afflict Your Souls”
