01/10/2025
Someone asked, why are there no standard Brit Chadashah portions added in weekly Shabbat Torah Portions and Festivals Torah portions. Below are the answers and the journey of Messianic Jewish Communities so far:
Good question!
The reason New Testament (Brit Chadashah) readings are not included in the Torah readings for Yom Kippur or other Jewish festivals boils down to the difference between Mainstream Judaism and Messianic Judaism:
1. The Torah cycle predates New testament which was compiled about 30 years after the death of Yeshua Hamashiach.
The public reading of the Torah (the Five Books of Mosheh) and the Haftarah (prophets section) is an ancient Jewish practice that was already firmly established well before the birth of Yeshua [around first century. E.g Luke 4:16-21 - here Yeshua read from Isaiah 61 ( a Haftarah portion); Luke 4:31-32 &
Mark 1:21 after the reading of Torah he was given opportunity to interpret or teach]
The apostles also participated in Torah and synagogue readings in their time.
The Book of Acts gives us several clear examples.
Evidence from Acts
1. Paul and Barnabas in Pisidian Antioch
“On the Shabbat they entered the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them, saying, ‘Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.’”
(Acts 13:14–15)
This shows the apostles were present for the Torah (Law) and Haftarah (Prophets) readings, which were standard synagogue practice. Then they were invited to give a drash (sermon).
2. Paul in Thessalonica
> “As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Shabbat days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures...”
(Acts 17:2)
Again, Paul is following the synagogue rhythm — readings first, then teaching.
3. James (Yaakov) in Jerusalem
“For the law of Mosheh has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues every Shabbat.”
(Acts 15:21)
James, leader of the Jerusalem assembly, acknowledges the ongoing Torah reading cycle across the Jewish world]
Key Points
The apostles kept attending synagogue services where the Torah and Prophets were read weekly.
They respected the cycle of readings but used the opportunity to show Yeshua as the fulfillment of those Scriptures)
Yom Kippur, Pesach, Sukkot, Shabbat, etc., all have prescribed Torah and Haftarah readings in the Jewish calendar before Yeshua was born.
Mainstream Judaism recognizes only the Tanakh (Torah, Prophets, Writings) as sacred scriptures. Brit Chadashah came much latter and therefore not part of synagogue liturgy. Since Yom Kippur and all festivals and Shabbat predated the birth of Yeshua, their readings are exclusively from the TaNaCh.
Over the years Messianic Jewish congregations developed a side by side Brit Chadashah portions to pair Torah and haftarah portions for example, on Yom Kippur, Hebrews 9–10 is read alongside Leviticus 16. But this is a Messianic innovation, not part of traditional Judaism.
Let me lay it out clearly for Yom Kippur (both evening and day), showing the traditional Jewish readings and how Messianic communities often add New Testament (Brit Ḥadashah) readings.
Yom Kippur Readings Side by Side
Service Traditional Jewish Readings Messianic Jewish Additions (Brit Chadashah)
Erev Yom Kippur (Kol Nidrei – Evening) Torah: none (focus is Kol Nidrei prayer) Haftarah: Isaiah 57:14–58:14 (true fasting, repentance) Romans 3:21–26 (atonement through Messiah) - Mark 2:18–22 (teaching on fasting)
Yom Kippur Morning (Shacharit) Torah: Leviticus 16:1–34 (service of the Kohen Gadol on Yom Kippur); Haftarah: Isaiah 57:14–58:14 Hebrews 9:1–28; 10:1–25 (Messiah as High Priest, atonement through His blood)
Yom Kippur Afternoon (Minchah) Torah: Leviticus 18:1–30 (holiness and forbidden practices) ; Haftarah: Jonah 1:1–4:11 (repentance of Nineveh); Matthew 12:38–41 (sign of Jonah); Acts 27:9 (Paul fasting on Yom Kippur)
Neilah (Closing service) No Torah or Haftarah – focus on final prayers and Shema Revelation 20:11–15 (final judgment, Book of Life) ; 1 John 1:5–9 (confession and forgiveness)
In Mainstream Judaism, only Torah + Haftarah (Prophets) are read.
In Messianic Judaism, the same readings are kept but supplemented with New Testament passages that highlight Yeshua as High Priest, atonement, and the ultimate fulfillment of Yom Kippur.
38 seconds · Clipped by Abraham Ndukwe · Original video "Yom Kippur Song/ Day of Atonement/ English-Hebrew Messianic Worship Song" by Timeless Hebrew Tunes
