The Veil is Torn. The Resurrected King wants your Heart!!

(96) The Lion - YouTube (Before Service)

(96) "Easter" | Resurrection Cinematic Short | The Chosen | Omega Church | - YouTube (before sermon)

Matthew 27:50-54

Matthew writes an account of the resurrection of Jesus very similar to the gospels of Luke and Mark giving an account of the exact moment of Christ death and all write this…

Day 13 - Veil Torn In Two — six notes clothing (image)

⁵⁰ And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

⁵¹ And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

In a Ryrie Study Bible, however, I discovered this note at Ex 26:31-35: “Josephus reported that the veil was 4 inches thick, was renewed every year, and that horses tied to each side could not pull it apart.  It barred all but the High Priest from the presence of God, but when it was torn in two at the death of Jesus of Nazareth (see Mark 15:38), access to God was made available to all who come through him.” 

it is unwise for us to state in an unqualified fashion that the veil was as thick as a man’s hand.  It would be more accurate to say something like, “Early Jewish tradition stated that the Temple veil was as thick as a man’s hand, although this might be an exaggeration.”

There is uncertainty as to the exact measurement of a cubit, but it is safe to assume that this veil was somewhere near 60 feet high, which is like a 6 story building. (Houma Atrium, Half a Foot Ball Field) An early Jewish tradition says that the veil was about four inches thick, but the Bible does not confirm that measurement.

We don’t use curtains in that way…

But we do use doors (bring out a door)

This curtain separated the second room called the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place.

Only 3 items were in the Holy Place: the Lamp Stand (Menorah) symbolizing the light (knowledge and guidance) found in Scripture, the Table of Showbread (12 fresh loaves of bread placed there each week) reminding Israel of God's continuous provision for their 12 tribes, and the ever-burning Incense Altar symbolizing prayer. This was in the center by the veil since prayer is the closest we come to God in this life.

https://kdmanestreet.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/holy-place.jpg

These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. 

The second room, the Holy of Holies, contained the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark was a 3 foot long chest covered with gold. It was carried by staves through rings on the side because no one could touch it and live. It had manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. It embodied the presence of God and radiated a fiery Glory called Shekinah which rose up through the Tabernacle roof and became the fiery Pillar that led Israel through the wilderness. On the Ark's top were replicas of 2 cherubim angels looking down in wonder at the center of the lid, called the Mercy Seat. This was where the high priest sprinkled the sacrificial blood once a year on the Day of Atonement as he prayed for God to forgive the sins of his people.

Hebrews 9:1-9 tells us that in the temple a veil separated the Holy of Holies—the earthly dwelling place of God’s presence—from the rest of the temple where men dwelt.

This signified that man was separated from God by sin (Isaiah 59:1-2). Only the high priest was permitted to pass beyond this veil once each year (Exodus 30:10; Hebrews 9:7) to enter into God’s presence for all of Israel and make atonement for their sins (Leviticus 16).

This veil was colored blue at one end and red at the other end blending into purple in the middle. Blue is for the heavens; red is for the red earth; purple (representing royalty) was the perfect blend of the two.

These colors represented Christ, the God-Man, who's the only Door to God. The Temple veil was the thickness of a man's hand embroidered with figures of cherubim like those Ezekiel saw guarding God's Throne. The veil was also a picture of death whereby we enter the Presence of God.

When Jesus breathed His last, the veil was Torn!

What man’s hand could not do, God’s hand could!! HE RIPPED THE VEIL!

Scripture says, when Jesus died, the veil was torn from top to bottom.

If the earthquake that happened at Jesus' death had ripped the curtain, it would have been torn from the bottom upward as the earth separated. But, the invisible hands of God reached down and removed this barrier himself, tearing it from top to bottom.

Now, no earthly priest high priest is needed to beg for our forgiveness.

We don’t just enter once a year.

We don’t stand far away.

Anyone may enter God's presence by way of Jesus' blood, shed to pay the wages of our sins.

And to stamp it’s authenticity….

And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. ⁵² The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, ⁵³ and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. ⁵⁴ When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

So, what do we make of this?

What significance does this torn veil have for us today?

Above all, the tearing of the veil at the moment of Jesus’ death dramatically symbolized that His sacrifice, the shedding of His own blood, was a sufficient atonement for sins. It signified that now the way into the Holy of Holies was open for all people, for all time, both Jew and Gentile.

When Jesus died, the veil was torn, and God moved out of that place never again to dwell in a temple made with human hands (Acts 17:24).

God was through with that temple and its religious system, and the temple and Jerusalem were left “desolate” (destroyed by the Romans) in A.D. 70 (about the same time the gospels are being written and Matthew is pinning this letter to the churches and the writer of Hebrews prolificates on this subject matter), just as Jesus prophesied in Luke 13:35.

As long as the temple stood, it signified the continuation of the Old Covenant. Hebrews 9:8-9 refers to the age that was passing away as the new covenant was being established (Hebrews 8:13).

The profound significance of the tearing of the veil is explained in glorious detail in Hebrews. The things of the temple were shadows of things to come, and they all ultimately point us to Jesus Christ. He was the veil to the Holy of Holies, and through His death the faithful now have free access to God.

“Therefore brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” 

What Should Christians Remember about it Today?

Let us draw near to God for salvation.

Let us draw near to God for healing.

Let us draw near to God for relationship.

Let us draw near to God with your whole sincere heart.