How does Exodus 40:21 connect to the New Testament's depiction of Jesus as the veil? The Veil in the Wilderness “Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle, put up the veil of the screen, and shielded the ark of the testimony, just as the LORD had commanded him.” (Exodus 40:21) Why the Veil Was Necessary • God’s holiness is perfect; sinful people cannot survive unmediated exposure to His presence (Leviticus 16:2). • The veil acted as a literal barrier, “shielding” the ark where God’s glory rested. • Only the high priest could pass through—only once a year, and only with sacrificial blood (Leviticus 16:14-15). A Prophetic Picture • Hebrews 9:3 speaks of “the second curtain… the Most Holy Place,” echoing Exodus 40:21. • Hebrews 9:8 explains that “the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed” while that first veil still stood. • The Spirit used the veil to foreshadow a future, better access. Jesus, Our Living Veil • “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” (Hebrews 10:19-20). • His flesh—fully human, yet sinless—became the true meeting point between God and humanity (John 1:14). • Just as Moses “shielded the ark” with cloth, God now shields believers with Christ’s righteousness, inviting them to draw near. The Moment the Barrier Fell • “At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:50-51). • Torn “from top to bottom” shows divine initiative; God Himself removed the separation. • The torn veil announces that Christ’s death fulfilled everything the tabernacle veil symbolized. The Ongoing Invitation • “We have this hope… It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf” (Hebrews 6:19-20). • “No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). • Access is permanent, present, and personal—secured by the once-for-all sacrifice of the Son. Removing the Veil from Hearts • “Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” (2 Corinthians 3:15-16) • Physical cloth is gone, yet an inner veil remains for those who refuse Christ. Faith in Him lifts it immediately. Walking in Unveiled Access Today • Approach God boldly; the way is open (Hebrews 4:16). • Worship with reverence—His holiness has not diminished, but His grace now welcomes. • Proclaim the torn-veil gospel: every believer may enter the very presence of God because Jesus Himself is the true, living veil. |
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