What Does God REALLY Expect From You?

April 24 2026

Acharei Mot & Kedoshim "After The Death" "Holy One's"

TORAH: Leviticus 16:1-20:27 | PROPHETS: Amos 9:7-15 | GOSPEL: Mark 12:28-34

What in this world does God expect from His people?

This week’s Torah Portions from Leviticus 16–20 combine two sections:

Acharei Mot: “After the death,” 

&

K’doshim: “Holy ones.”

After Aaron’s sons died because they came close to God in the wrong way, God introduced the holiest day on Israel’s calendar—the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur. This was God making a way for Israel to draw near to Him through an offering.

In fact, the word used in Lev 16:6

Aaron [shall offer] the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make atonement for himself and for his house.

“shall offer” actually means:

Original Word: קָרַב

Transliteration: qarab

Pronunciation: kah-RAHV

Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-rab')

(cause to) approach, bring near, draw near

Chapter 17 explains that life is in the blood; therefore, there must be an offering of blood. The animal’s life took the place of the people and bore their judgment.

Because God is holy (sinless), those who draw near to Him must also be holy.

From this Day of Atonement, we get the popular saying “scapegoat.” Two goats would be taken—one would die, and its blood would be placed on the altar. The other would have the sin of the whole nation placed upon it and then be sent away into the wilderness.

Both are a clear picture of Yeshua—who not only gave His life’s blood on the altar but also carried our sin so that we could be set free.

But free for what? To keep on sinning?

What Yeshua accomplished through His blood and by carrying our sin has given both Jew and Gentile access to draw near in holiness.

God says, “Be holy.” Why? Because He says, “For I the Lord your God am holy.”

The way we access God’s presence has changed—from the old system to now being through Yeshua—but God’s purpose for His people has not changed.

Listen to these New Testament Scriptures:

Ephesians 1:4 He chose us... that we should be holy and blameless before Him.

Hebrews 12:14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Romans 12:1 Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.

2 Corinthians 7:1 Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

As the day approaches of Christ’s return to be with His people, let us separate ourselves from the world’s sin. Through the power of the blood of Yeshua, may we be cleansed—drawing closer into His presence and bearing fruit for His Kingdom.

And as those who are grafted into this olive tree of Israel, let us remember:

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a holy priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

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NEXT PORTION May 1 2026 Emor "Say!"

TORAH: Leviticus 21:1-24:23 | PROPHETS: Ezekiel 44:15-31 | GOSPEL: Matthew 26:59-66