Author's Note: All previous volumes of this series are available here. The first 56 volumes are compiled in the book "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible." "Part Two," featuring volumes 57-113, was published in December 2022.

Thanks for joining our interactive Bible study. Please join the lively discussion in the comments or email me.

Today at sundown, the solemn Jewish Day of Atonement, known as Yom Kippur, begins, and one atones to God for their sins through prayer, fasting, and repentance.

Previously, I wrote two Yom Kippur studies, Vol. 28 and Vol. 287, on its origin in Leviticus, the third book of the Torah and Old Testament, from which the phrase “scapegoat” was derived. Leviticus describes the fate of two goats. The first was sacrificially slaughtered. The second was allowed to “escape” into the wilderness after Aaron, the high priest, transferred the collective sins of the ancient Jewish people led by Moses.

In 2025, Vol. 287 was titled “The Yom Kippur Scapegoat Was Crucified on the Cross,” which discusses how Jesus was the scapegoat who took away our sins. John the Baptist famously proclaimed upon first seeing Jesus: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). 

Given our study title, and the fact that Yom Kippur involves asking the Lord for forgiveness of sins followed by repentance, why don’t the New Testament gospels record Jesus observing this annual sacred Day of Atonement? After all, He was a devout Jewish teacher (rabbi) and famously celebrated Passover, first recorded in the Torah’s book of Exodus. (See Vol. 107). Leviticus follows Exodus.

Perhaps there are two reasons the gospels don’t mention Yom Kippur. First, during His earthly ministry, Jesus was fully divine and fully human, yet sinless, with no sins to atone for. Second, by His death on the cross, Jesus offered His life as a sacrifice for........

© Townhall