EXPLORE THE TEXT
Believers can be assured of God’s presence with us when we follow Him.
29 “This is to be a permanent statute for you:
In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month
you are to practice self-denial and do no work,
both the native and the alien who resides among you.
30 Atonement will be made for you on this day
to cleanse you,
and you will be clean from all your sins before the Lord.”
When?, How?, and Who?
verses 29-30 (PSG, pp. 115-116)
The Day of Atonement was held on the tenth day of Israel’s first month (just a few days after Passover),
concluded with burnt offerings and various actions to remove all impurity.
Then God made explicit His intention for this to be an annual event.
The opening phrase in verse 29 is first used of the Passover (Ex. 12:14,17).
The Hebrew word for permanent means “eternal/everlasting” in many contexts,
but this is not one of those situations.
Both of these ceremonies also pointed prophetically to Jesus the Messiah.
His “departure” (Greek, exodos),
that is, His death on the cross (Luke 9:31),
would be the crux of earthly history (1 Pet. 3:18).
The concept of public confession of faith and ongoing self-examination and confession of sin
that characterized the Day of Atonement continues in the Christian ordinances of baptism (Matt. 3:6; Mark 1:5)
and the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:20-25).
Although not necessarily falling on the last day of the week,
the Day of Atonement was a special day of Sabbath rest for the people.
The phrase practice self-denial literally could be rendered, “afflict your souls/yourselves.”
The verb ‘anah can also mean “to humiliate, oppress, cause to feel dependent”
(see Dan. 10:12).
It is often associated with fasting, but it certainly involved mourning and personal repentance.
Aaron’s confession of Israel’s sins would bring no benefit unless the people personally humbled themselves before God.
Refraining from work of any kind on the Day of Atonement made it “a Sabbath of complete rest” (Lev. 16:31; 23:3).
This allowed total focus on restoring and nurturing one’s relationship with God
and loving one’s neighbors.
God called the Israelites to be a light that pointed the world toward Him.
As a result, even some who were not Jews by birth would accept the one true God and embrace His authority over their lives.
Some such people certainly came with Israel from Egypt (Ex. 12:38).
Later, Canaanites (like Rahab and Ruth) would trust God and would take up residence among the Hebrews.
Many of these would be servants, craftsmen, or day laborers.
Whatever their positions on the societal ladder, they were equal with the Israelites
when it came to confessing sin and abstaining from work on the Day of Atonement.
After the Day of Atonement, any Israelite would be able to approach the Lord in worship at the tabernacle.
As wonderful as this would be for them, the situation of the person joined to Christ by faith is even better.
The author of Hebrews explains that Old Testament sacrifices revealed only a shadow of what was to come (Heb. 10:1-2).
But Christ’s sacrifice set people apart and made them holy (10:10).
Whereas Aaron’s work at the sanctuary was never done,
Christ was able to sit down at God’s side because He had perfectly fulfilled the mission of atonement and reconciliation (10:12-14).
Through Christ, all our sins and our guilt are completely cleansed and removed, leaving not even a thin film of defilement behind to keep us from God’s presence.
Therefore, even better than Aaron’s high priesthood, we can come directly into God’s presence thanks to Jesus, our High Priest (10:19-22).
The Day of Atonement was supposed to be an annual event, observed by fasting, confession, and refraining from work.
Note that the command also applied to resident aliens, not just Jews.
anyone who claimed God was part of the ritual.
each part of the ritual pointed people toward Jesus, the Messiah-
which matters to us today.
Review these points from Apply the Text on page 117 of the Personal Study Guide:
Call for volunteers to share how they worked through some of the issues raised by each statement.
Encourage the group to respond to the first set of questions on page 117 of the PSG. Allow volunteers to share the impact of personal confession and corporate worship. Encourage adults to work through the second set of questions on page 117 during the week.
Briefly share the Plan of Salvation on the inside front cover of the PSG. Let the group know that you are available to talk with anyone who wants to know more about becoming a Christian. Close in prayer, asking God to work in the lives of each adult.
Reinforce the session this week by texting or emailing the group. Encourage them to share the names of lost friends or family members that you can pray for with them. Follow up individually with anyone who showed an interest in becoming a Christ follower. Pray for them and invite them to accept God’s gift.
There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. (See John 14:6; Acts 4:12.)
Use multiple Scripture passages to understand a major doctrine.
Read Isaiah 53:5; John 1:29; Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 10:1-14; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18. Based on these passages, how does the Day of Atonement point to Jesus? What light does the Day of Atonement shed on the meaning of Jesus’s death on the cross?