How does Exodus 36:35 reflect God's instructions for the tabernacle's holiness? Context and Verse Exodus 36:35 — “He made the veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it.” Faithful Obedience to Divine Detail • The craftsmen follow God’s earlier command word-for-word (cf. Exodus 26:31-33). • Exact replication underscores that holiness begins with doing precisely what God says, not approximating it. • Their careful compliance models the reverent attitude every believer is called to adopt toward God’s Word (Leviticus 22:31-33). Symbolism of Materials • Blue — heavenward focus, reminding Israel that the tabernacle bridges earth and God’s throne (Numbers 15:38-40). • Purple — royalty, declaring the sovereign kingship of the LORD in Israel’s midst (Judges 8:26). • Scarlet — sacrifice and atonement, anticipating the blood that would be carried past this veil on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:14-15). • Fine linen — purity, echoing the righteousness God demands (Revelation 19:8). Together these colors preach holiness: God’s presence is regal, pure, and accessed only through atoning blood. Cherubim: Guardians of Holiness • Woven cherubim mirror those stationed at Eden’s gate (Genesis 3:24), silently declaring that entrance to God’s presence is guarded and conditional. • They reinforce that the Most Holy Place behind the veil is not common ground; only the high priest may enter, and then only with blood (Hebrews 9:7). Holiness Through Separation • The veil forms a literal boundary between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:33). • Physical separation teaches moral separation: God is infinitely holy; sinners require cleansing before approach (Psalm 24:3-4). • The annual passage of the high priest dramatizes the cost of access, imprinting Israel with a perpetual sense of reverence. Foreshadowing the Perfect Veil • Hebrews links this fabric barrier to Christ’s flesh: “through the veil, that is, His body” (Hebrews 10:19-20). • At His death, the temple veil tears from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), proving that the holiness once protected by cloth is now satisfied in the Son’s sacrifice. • God’s instructions for the tabernacle therefore aimed beyond Moses to the Messiah, showing how holiness would ultimately be secured. Takeaways for Today • God’s holiness has not diminished; the same reverence shown in Exodus is required now—met through Christ’s finished work. • Precision in Scripture matters; small details carry weight because they originate from a holy God. • Worship that honors God mirrors the balance inside the veil: purity, reverence, and joyful access through atonement. |
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