What is the significance of the temple veil tearing in Luke 23:45? Setting the Scene Luke 23:45 — “The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.” The Temple Veil—What It Was • A thick, massive curtain (tradition says about 60 ft high, hand-breadth thick) hung between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:31-33). • Only the high priest could pass it, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement, carrying sacrificial blood for the nation (Leviticus 16:2-34; Hebrews 9:7). Why God Installed the Veil • To picture His holiness and mankind’s sinfulness. • To warn that unmediated access would bring death (Numbers 18:7). • To foreshadow a future, perfect Mediator who would one day remove the barrier (Hebrews 9:8-10). A Supernatural Tear • Matthew 27:51 and Mark 15:38 note the tear ran “from top to bottom”—God’s action, not man’s. • Happened at the precise moment Jesus yielded His spirit (Matthew 27:50), linking the event directly to His atoning death. Fourfold Significance 1. Open Access to God – Hebrews 10:19-20: “we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place … through the curtain of His body.” – Every believer, not just one priest once a year, may now “draw near with a sincere heart” (Hebrews 10:22). 2. Completion of the Old Covenant Sacrificial System – Jesus’ cry, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) matches the veil’s tear. – Animal sacrifices pointed to Him; with His blood presented, the earthly sanctuary’s purpose was fulfilled (Hebrews 9:11-12). 3. Judgment upon the Temple and Its Rituals – The ripped veil exposed what was meant to remain hidden, symbolizing the coming destruction of the temple in AD 70 (Luke 21:6). – God no longer honored that physical structure as the focal point of worship (John 4:21-24). 4. Confirmation of Jesus as the Great High Priest – Hebrews 4:14-16 calls Him “a great high priest who has passed through the heavens.” – The veil tearing announces His successful passage into the true heavenly sanctuary (Hebrews 9:24), interceding for us forever. Living Implications for Today • Bold approach: we pray directly to the Father “in Jesus’ name,” certain of welcome (Ephesians 3:12). • Ongoing cleansing: the blood that opened the veil continues to cleanse our consciences (1 John 1:9; Hebrews 9:14). • Unity in Christ: the barrier between Jew and Gentile is gone together with the curtain (Ephesians 2:13-18). • Call to holiness: access does not cheapen God’s holiness; it empowers us to “pursue sanctification” (Hebrews 12:14) through the Spirit. Key Cross-References • Exodus 26:31-33 – original veil instructions • Leviticus 16 – Day of Atonement • Matthew 27:50-51; Mark 15:37-38 – parallel accounts • Hebrews 9:1-14; 10:19-22 – theological explanation • Ephesians 2:13-18 – access and reconciliation |
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