“We don't need a blood sacrifice or a mediator. Prayer, repentance, and doing mitzvot (good deeds) replace temple sacrifices today.”

The 30-second answer

Torah establishes that blood is essential for atonement. Without the Temple, Yeshua is the ultimate Yom Kippur sacrifice and the New Covenant.

💡 Ask them back“In Leviticus 17:11, the Torah states: 'For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.' Since the Temple was destroyed in AD 70 and there are no altars or sacrifices in Jerusalem today, where is the blood atonement for Yom Kippur?”

⚠️ What not to sayDon't say the Old Testament is obsolete or worthless. Affirm that the Tanakh is the inspired Word of God.

📖 The full defense

The Biblical Principle of Blood Atonement:
Leviticus 17:11 lays down the principle of blood atonement, and Yom Kippur (Leviticus 16) was always a day of blood sacrifice. After the Temple was destroyed, Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai comforted his disciples that acts of lovingkindness now atone, citing Hosea 6:6 (Avot de-Rabbi Natan 4). Prayer, repentance, and charity (tefillah, teshuvah, tzedakah) are precious—but their replacement of sacrifice was a rabbinic adaptation born of necessity, not the Torah's commanded remedy.

The Promised New Covenant (Brit Chadashah):
Jeremiah 31:31-34 promises: "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a NEW COVENANT with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah... I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people... For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."

Yeshua is the Ultimate Passover & Atonement Lamb:
Just as the blood of the Passover lamb protected Israel from judgment in Egypt, Yeshua's blood establishes the New Covenant and cleanses our hearts forever.

✝️ Scripture anchors (NKJV)

Leviticus 17:11

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.”

Jeremiah 31:31, 34

“Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel... For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

🔁 If they push back…

The comeback you are most likely to hear next — and a reply that keeps the conversation moving toward Jesus.

They say“Blood was never absolutely required. Leviticus 5:11-13 lets a poor person bring flour as a sin offering, and it atoned without any blood.”

You can sayThat was a gracious provision for the very poor—but notice where the flour went: the priest burned it "on the altar according to the offerings made by fire to the LORD" (Leviticus 5:12), on top of the blood sacrifices. It was part of the sacrificial system, not a replacement for it. And the great Day of Atonement was always blood (Leviticus 16).

They say“Hosea 14:2 says we will offer "the calves of our lips"—prayer takes the place of sacrifice. And God forgave Nineveh without any sacrifice.”

You can sayPrayer and repentance are essential—no sacrifice ever worked without a broken heart (Psalm 51:17). But the Torah gave both the broken heart and the altar. Hosea also foresaw Israel living "many days... without sacrifice," and then said, "Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their king" (Hosea 3:4-5)—a Messianic King. Repentance opens the door; the Messiah's atonement is what makes it possible.

🕊️ Pentecostal key — the Spirit on the streetPray for the veil to be lifted (2 Corinthians 3:14-16). The Holy Spirit alone can open eyes to see Yeshua throughout Moses and the Prophets.