The Day of Atonement is a High Holy day that The Most High ordained the children of Israel to remember and to keep holy by afflicting their souls by means of denying the body of food and water for an entire day. This fast is to atone (to acknowledge and repent)  for sins of the past year. This is a law in Israel that the Israelites are to fast for sins committed against the Most High.

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"Leviticus 23:26-27  

26 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
27 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."

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The Day of Atonement is to be kept on the tenth day of the seventh month annually as a holy convocation. This means as Israelites we must gather together in keeping this holy day (it is essentially a feast day without food or water).

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"Leviticus 23:28-30

28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God.

29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.

30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people."

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The Most High requires that every Israelite keep this High Holy Day. Those that choose not to do so, but would rather eat, drink or work, during the time of Moses they were put to death.

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"Leviticus 23:31-32

31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath."

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The Day of Atonement is also to be observed as a Sabbath, so the laws that govern the Sabbath day are to be followed also during the Day of Atonement. (No working, cooking, buying, selling, and additionally eating or drinking). Furthermore for this particular day there is to be no sex with your spouse on this particular day. 

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1st Corinthians 7:5 “Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with a consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.” 

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A very common question individuals ask is the Day of Atonement a High Holy Day that has to be observed?  This question generally arises due to the misconception that Christ came to do away with God’s commandments.

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"Titus 2:12 – 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world".

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"Matthew 5:17,19 “Think  not that I come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

19 “Whosever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least (meaning death) in the kingdom of heaven, but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven”.

 

Christ commanded the children of Israel to keep the laws of the bible through him. So therefore we have to keep the laws and High Holy Days through Christ.

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"Acts 27:9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast (meaning the Day of Atonement) was now already past, Paul admonished them.”

 

This scripture is a clear example that Paul and other Israelites kept the Day of Atonement by fasting. To be clear for brothers and sisters, a fast consist of not having food or water or tasting anything for the entire day. An example of our fore parents fasting is recorded in the Book of Esther.

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"Esther 4:16 Go gather together all the Jews (meaning the Israelites) that are present in Shushan and fast ye for me, neither eat nor drink …” 

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So in observing the Day of Atonement there is no eating nor drinking. 

 

"Romans 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement”.

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This means Christ laid his life down for the nation of Israel.  However he instructed the Israeites to keep the laws through him. The Israelites are commanded to keep the Day of Atonement through Christ by fasting. Christ is the mercy and grace that if we keep these commandments through him. The Heavenly Father can forgive us of our sins. Let no man deceive you that you do not have to fast for this High Holy Day. 

 

Christ said in John 14:15 “ If ye love me, keep my commandments”.

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            Shalom!!!