How does the veil in Exodus 26:31 foreshadow Christ's role in salvation?

The Veil Described (Exodus 26:31)

“Make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully embroidered on it.”

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Purpose and Placement

• Hung on four gold-clad pillars, dividing the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:33)

• Marked the boundary where God’s glory dwelt above the mercy seat (Exodus 25:22)

• Only the high priest could pass through—and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:2, 34; Hebrews 9:7)

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What the Veil Said to Israel

• God is perfectly holy; sin erects a real barrier

• Access required a mediator, a sacrifice, and shed blood

• The cherubim woven into the fabric echoed Eden’s guardians (Genesis 3:24), reminding Israel that paradise remained closed

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Foreshadowing Christ

• Material & Colors – Blue (heaven), purple (royalty), scarlet (sacrifice) all converge in Jesus, the heavenly King whose blood secures redemption

• Single Entrance – One opening affirmed that there would be one exclusive way to the Father (John 14:6)

• Tearing of the Veil – “At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” (Matthew 27:51). God, not man, removed the barrier

• New and Living Way – “By a new and living way opened for us through the veil of His flesh.” (Hebrews 10:19-20). The torn curtain points to His broken body making permanent access

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Jesus, the Better Veil

• Hides and Reveals – As cloth once concealed God’s glory, Christ’s humanity veiled His deity; yet in Him “all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9)

• Grants Access – Through faith, believers now “approach the throne of grace with confidence” (Hebrews 4:16)

• Ends Repeated Sacrifice – One perfect offering replaces annual atonement (Hebrews 9:24-26)

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Living on the Open Side

• Draw near daily with a cleansed conscience (Hebrews 10:22)

• Stand firm in hope, knowing the barrier is gone (Hebrews 10:23)

• Encourage fellow believers to live in the freedom purchased by the torn veil (Hebrews 10:24-25)