It is customary for religiously practicing Jews to read from an annual cycle of weekly Old Testament readings called Torah Portions. This is said to be the same reading schedule that was taught every Sabbath in the Synagogues during the times of Jesus in the first century.

As Christians who profess our faith in Jesus, we study the Old Testament to understand the historical, cultural, and contextual background of the history of our heritage in Jesus. This is commonly known as the Messianic teachings of Christianity and is a part of our Saturday Church in Norman, Oklahoma.

While customs are not commandments there is beauty for believers in Jesus (Yeshua) to understand their identity as grafted into the covenants with Israel. As descendants of Abraham, all Christians are heirs according to the promise given to Abraham even before Sinai. Christians should study and learn the Torah and show respect for their Jewish brothers and sisters. It is through the study of the law that we see another level of greatness in Jesus who is the lawgiver and the greatest Torah teacher of all time.

Yom Kippur is the Hebrew title for “Day of Atonement” and is also known as the day of Judgement. The reading is in the Book of Leviticus starting in chapter 16 verse 1, and going through verse 34.

It is also important to point out that along with the Torah portion readings and teachings, there are what are called Haftarah portions which are readings from the Bible in the books of the prophets. This week’s haftarah reading comes from the book of Isaiah in chapter 57 verse 14 through chapter 58 verse 14.

The gospel readings that are incorporated with the weekly Torah portion readings come from the book of Matthew in chapter 12 with verses 38 through 45 and chapter 25 with verses 31-46.

As Christians exploring the Torah portion cycle we must maintain a balance of including the Old Testament, the prophets, and the gospels in our weekly bible study.

Torah Portion Overview-

Starting at the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) we see the beginning of the Fall Festivals. The Feast of Trumpets starts ten days of preparation for Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement.) During these ten days, we see awe and reflection on the fruit of our faith walk with Jesus. The Day of Atonement is the tenth day of the seventh Hebrew month. It is a day when we are commanded to afflict our souls. Traditionally this is done by fasting, confession of sins, repenting, and asking God to forgive us of those sins. During the time of the Tabernacle and Temple, it was a day that included sacrificial rituals done for the purification and atonement of the sins of Israel. It is also the only day when the High priest of the Levitical priesthood was allowed to enter into the holy of holies.

The book of Hebrews tells us of this day through the lens of Jesus as the Messiah. His sacrifice atones once for all sins and is not an annual sacrifice like the previous annual sacrificial rituals.