The torn curtain

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

~ Matt. 27:51

Introduction

The day our Lord died, the curtain of the temple was torn. Not a simple torn, but it was torn in two, from top to bottom.

What does this mean? Why was the curtain torn? Why was the curtain torn from top to bottom?

The curtain of the temple

This particular curtain is what Matthew calls  katapetasma (καταπέτασμα) and it is the curtain that divided the holiest place from the others.

This curtain, according to what we see in Exodus 26:31 and 36:35, is blue and purple with scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. This curtain used to be hung to separate the holiest place from the others. Exodus 26:32 says, “And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver.”

Now, what was on the Most Holy place? What did the curtain hide? Exodus 26:33 says, “And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy.”

We see that that was the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place; and the two were separated by the veil. Inside the Most Holy Place, there was the ark of the testimony. Upon the ark of the testimony, there was the mercy seat (Ex. 26:34).

When the ark of the testimony was moved, this veil/curtain was put above it (Num. 4:5). It was before this curtain that the priest sprinkles blood (Lev. 4:6).

Only the holy priests from Aaron are permitted to enter (Lev. 16:2, 12; 15). Hebrews 9:6b-7 says, “The priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 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.” This is indeed, a special place (Lev. 16:11-28).

Anyone else who enters will die (Lev. 16:13; cf 1 Sam. 6:19-20). This was the place where God was, and anyone who looks at God will die (Ex. 33:20), for the LORD is a consuming fire (Deut. 4:24; Heb. 12:29).

This veil or curtain separates the holiness of God from the filth of man. Man cannot go beyond the veil for we have been separated because of our sin.

This veil remained even during the time of Jesus. We are not concerned about the destruction of the temple and its rebuilding. What we are saying is that the separation of the veil remained. In the New Testament, the ark of the testimony is no longer mentioned.

Jesus’ death and the torn veil

The time of Jesus’ death was the time of the Passover Feast. “It is the sacrifice of the LORD’s Passover, for he passes over the house of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses” (Ex. 12:27). This Passover Feast continued to be celebrated.

The veil of the temple signified separation – separation between man and God. But when Jesus died, this veil, this curtain was torn in two. This veil now signified Jesus atonement for our sins. The blameless lamb was sacrificed for sinners, once and for all, “for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Heb. 10:4). “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence in to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh” (Heb. 10:19-20).

Jesus became our high priest, and because of Him, we, sinners, could also enter the holy places. Because of the death of Jesus, the veil that separated man from God had been torn in two. Now we can worship God. The veil that separated us had been removed.

1 John 2:2 says, “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Before, only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place once a year. But Jesus died once, and there is no longer the need for sacrifices. Jesus was our sacrifice.

“But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God” (Heb. 10:12).

This means that, “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sacrificed… Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin” (Heb. 10:14&18).

Conclusion

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus was punished for our sins (Is. 53).

Hebrews 7:20-28:

And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath,  but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:

“The Lord has sworn

    and will not change his mind,

‘You are a priest forever.’”

This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.  Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.”

Halleluiah!