Yom Kippur and the Righteousness of God

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year in the biblical calendar—a day when the people of Israel humble themselves before God with fasting, prayer, and repentance. It is a day that reminds us of two profound truths: the seriousness of sin, and the mercy of God who provides a way back to Him.

For generations, Jewish people have gathered on this day to confess sins and seek forgiveness, longing for assurance of God’s pardon. And yet, for followers of Yeshua (Jesus), Yom Kippur carries an even deeper meaning. The apostle Paul—Rabbi Sha’ul—writes in Romans 3 of a God who is both just and merciful, whose plan of atonement has reached its fullness in Messiah Yeshua.

Far from being in tension, Yom Kippur and the message of Messiah are in perfect harmony. Together, they proclaim the hope of forgiveness, restoration, and righteousness from God.

Why Do Messianic Believers Observe Yom Kippur?

Some wonder: if Yeshua has already made atonement once for all, why still keep Yom Kippur? The answer is simple: we do not observe it to replace or add to Messiah’s finished work, but to remember and proclaim it.

Yom Kippur reminds us of God’s covenant with Israel and His faithfulness to His people. It gives us a sacred, God-appointed time to humble ourselves, confess sin, and renew our walk of teshuvah (repentance). We keep it as a testimony that Yeshua is our Kohen Gadol (High Priest) and kapparah (atonement), the fulfillment of all the Torah foreshadowed in the Temple service.

At the same time, we join in solidarity with the wider Jewish community, entering into prayers for forgiveness and redemption. And we look forward to the day when all Israel will recognize Messiah, when God’s justice and mercy will embrace the whole world. As the Torah says, Yom Kippur is to be observed “throughout your generations forever”—and as one rabbi wryly put it, “we ain’t reached the end of forever yet.”

The Heart of the Day: God’s Justice and Mercy

The Torah calls Yom Kippur a Shabbat Shabbaton—a sabbath of sabbaths. If the weekly Shabbat reminds us of God as Creator, Yom Kippur reveals Him as Redeemer. On this day we rest, not only from work, but in the mercy of God who provides atonement for sin.

Paul writes in Romans:

• “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

• “But now God’s righteousness apart from the Torah has been revealed … through putting trust in Messiah Yeshua”(Romans 3:21–22).

This is the essence of Yom Kippur: we cannot cleanse ourselves by works alone. Our hope lies in God’s provision of righteousness through faith in Messiah.

Paul goes on to say:

• “God set forth Yeshua as an atonement, through faith in His blood, to show His righteousness in passing over sins already committed” (Romans 3:25).

Yeshua is both the High Priest and the offering. His blood satisfies God’s justice and extends His mercy. In Him, justice and mercy embrace, as Psalm 85 beautifully declares: “Lovingkindness and truth meet together. Righteousness and shalom kiss each other.”

Redeemed!

There’s a story of a boy carrying a rusty cage filled with frightened birds. He planned to torment them before feeding them to his cat. A man, moved with compassion, offered to buy the birds. The boy laughed—they were worthless—but agreed to sell them for ten dollars. The man took the cage, carried it to a quiet field, and opened the door. At first the birds hesitated, but soon they stretched their wings and flew free, singing a song of redemption.

That is us on Yom Kippur. Once trapped by sin, deemed worthless by the enemy, but purchased and set free by the blood of Messiah. The door has been opened. We are free to sing a new song: freedom, forgiveness, and mercy.

A Call to Teshuvah

Yom Kippur calls us to teshuvah—to turn back to God with repentant hearts, to trust in Messiah’s atonement, and to experience the assurance of forgiveness. It invites us not only to ask but to receive, to be renewed, cleansed, and reconciled as one people before God.

As we reflect on this holy day, may we remember that Yom Kippur points us to Messiah’s once-for-all atonement. And may our prayers of confession and thanksgiving rise like incense before Him, as we wait in hope for the final redemption—when atonement will be complete for Israel and for the nations.

✨ Closing Thought: Yom Kippur is not just about sorrow over sin, but joy in God’s mercy. It is the day when heaven’s justice and love meet—and we, the redeemed, are invited to rest in it.