Leviticus 23:26-32

Leviticus 23:26-32

[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.  [28] And ye shall do  no work  in that same  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.  [31] Ye shall do  no manner of work:  it shall be a statute  for ever  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,  shall ye celebrate  your sabbath. 

What does Leviticus 23:26-32 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Moses described this day (Heb. Yom Kippur) in chapter16 more fully for the priests" benefit. Here he stressed the responsibilities of the ordinary Israelite.
This day was a fast rather than a feast. The people were to "humble" or "deny" themselves ( Leviticus 23:29), which involved fasting and abstaining from their normal pleasures and comforts (cf. Leviticus 16:29). God permitted no ordinary work on this day ( Leviticus 23:28; Leviticus 23:30-32). By this He taught the Israelites that the yearly removal of their sins was entirely His work, to which they contributed absolutely nothing (cf. Ephesians 2:8-9).
The sacrifices the priests made on this day atoned for all the remaining sins of the believing Israelites that other sacrifices did not cover. However the benefits of the Day of Atonement lasted for only one year.
"The principles taught by the Day of Atonement are valid for the New Testament believer: sin must be regularly removed in order for spiritual service and fellowship to take place. Beyond that, sin can only be removed eternally through the sacrifice of Christ made once and for all-not annually." [1]
Prophetically this day will find fulfillment at the second coming of Christ. Then God will purify His people who have returned to Him in repentance and self-affliction as a result of His chastening during the Tribulation period ( Zechariah 12:10; Zechariah 13:1; cf. Hebrews 9:28).
"The release from the pressure of work and social inequalities, experienced on and through the Sabbath and its sister institutions, could effectively epitomize both past and future divine deliverance." [2]
"In order to find spiritual renewal, people must cease their works, humble themselves before God, and draw near to him on the merits of the atoning sacrifice." [3]