Acharei Mot (After the death) Leviticus 16:1-18:30 Kedoshim (Holy People) Leviticus 19:1-20:27
1.I want us to look at Yom Kippur in Leviticus/Vayikra 16. What is your definition of the word atonement? Is atonement and forgiveness the same thing? What role did Yeshua play in atonement and forgiveness for us? Where else in scripture is the word kippur used?
The word atonement, comes from the Hebrew word Kippur. Kippur means to cover.
Exodus 25:17–21 gives Instructions to make the mercy seat of pure gold and place it on top of the Ark. The covering or the mercy seat of the Ark was called the Kapporet. That is from the same root word.
G-d told Noah to cover the ark with pitch.
Genesis 6:14 (NIV): “So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out“. Cover/coat it with pitch uses the same root word kiporet.
Jacob said he would send gifts and “appease” his brother, hoping to cover the sins he committed against Esau and Esau would accept him when they met. The word appease in Hebrew is the same root word kippor. Jacob was trying to atone for his sins by sending gifts but after accepting the gifts it was up to Esau to forgive.
Exodus 32:20, “and also say, “behold, your servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.”
Romans, 3:25, “G-d presented Yeshua as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.”
This verse tells us that Yeshua covered our sins. He atoned for our sins, past, present and future, on the cross. Without His atonement we cannot come before the Father and ask for forgiveness for our sins. He covered our sins so that G-d could forgive us.
Yeshua’s death on the cross acts as an atonement that “covers” or pays for all human sins, allowing G-d to forgive individuals who come to Him asking for forgiveness. By taking the judgment meant for humanity, Yeshua’s sacrifice enables G-d to see believers as righteous, offering a free gift of forgiveness.
2.Look at the beginning verses of Kedoshim, Leviticus 19:1-3 “The L–rd said to Moses, “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the L–rd your G-d, am holy. “‘Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the L-rd your G-d.” Why do you think G-d, after admonishing them to be holy, immediately said you must respect your parents and observe the Sabbath? There are many other regulations in this Torah portion that could have been listed first.
Honoring your mother and father is basically a repeat of the fifth commandment in Exodus 20:12. It is an essential building block for a healthy society. If the younger generation is constantly at war with the older generation we will have an unstable society. That is what we are experiencing now.
I believe our personal family relations are the first sign of holiness. It took me a few years to understand this but it does not depend on how your mother or father treated you. We are to honor them in their position as our parent. Our issue is how we relate not if they were great parents or not. Our actions are what we must be aware of. How we relate will either set us free or add to our burdens.
Keeping the Sabbath is a repeat of the fourth commandment in Exodus 20:8-11. I believe reverence for parents is linked to reverence for the L-RD. Submitting to parental authority is a step to submitting to Divine authority. Keeping the Sabbath brings G-d’s order to our week.