Topical Bible: the Sacred Vail: Hung Between the Holy and Most Holy Place

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Sacred Veil, also known as the "veil of the temple," holds significant theological and symbolic importance within the biblical narrative, particularly in the context of the Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem. This veil served as a physical and spiritual barrier between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, also known as the Holy of Holies, where the presence of God was believed to dwell.

Biblical Description and Construction

The instructions for the construction of the Sacred Veil are detailed in the Book of Exodus. According to Exodus 26:31-33 , "You are to make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it. Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. Hang the veil from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the veil. The veil will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place."

The veil was crafted from the finest materials, symbolizing its sacred purpose and the holiness of the space it concealed. The cherubim woven into the fabric were emblematic of the heavenly beings that guard the divine presence, as seen in other biblical texts.

Function and Symbolism

The primary function of the Sacred Veil was to separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. This separation underscored the holiness and inaccessibility of God's presence, emphasizing the need for purity and reverence. Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), as described in Leviticus 16:2 : "The LORD said to Moses: 'Tell your brother Aaron that he may not come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the veil, in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.'"

The veil thus represented the separation between God and humanity due to sin, highlighting the need for atonement and mediation.

The Veil in the New Testament

The tearing of the Sacred Veil at the moment of Jesus Christ's death is a pivotal event recorded in the New Testament. Matthew 27:51 states, "At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split." This miraculous event is interpreted as a profound theological statement, signifying the removal of the barrier between God and humanity through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. The tearing of the veil symbolizes the new access to God made possible by Christ's death, as articulated in Hebrews 10:19-20 : "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way opened for us through the veil of His body."

Theological Implications

The Sacred Veil's role in the Tabernacle and Temple underscores the holiness of God and the seriousness of sin. Its tearing at the crucifixion of Christ marks a transformative moment in salvation history, illustrating the fulfillment of the Old Covenant and the establishment of the New Covenant. Through Christ, believers are granted direct access to God, no longer requiring the mediation of a high priest or the annual sacrifices of the Day of Atonement. This access is a cornerstone of Christian faith, emphasizing the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice and the intimate relationship believers can now enjoy with their Creator.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 26:33
And you shall hang up the veil under the clasps, that you may bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony: and the veil shall divide to you between the holy place and the most holy.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hebrews 9:3
And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Copies of Things in the Heavens
... the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail.4. And ... to in verse 3 was that which
hung between the holy ... As the sacred lamps streamed out their hospitable rays ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the copies of things in.htm

Scriptural Types.
... Hence we find the sacred writers freely explaining the meaning of the symbols ... or
proper covering of the tabernacle, as also the vail that hung before the ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxvii scriptural types.htm

The Doctrine of Jesus Christ.
... place which this doctrine occupies in the sacred Scriptures. ... have caught a vision
of the One who hung thereon ... This relation between God and man is a personal one ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrine of jesus christ.htm

Christian Ballads.
... most frequently by his friends, SJ Vail and Hubert P ... mournful silence on the willows
hung, And growing ... sparkling with unnumbered eyes, That sacred gloom, those ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter vi christian ballads.htm

The Christ of the Gospels. By Rev. Professor Schaff.
... more deeply we penetrate through the vail of his ... insulted, smitten, scourged, spit
upon, and hung like a ... these eighteen hundred years, the most sacred theme of ...
/.../the christ of the gospels.htm

Heavenly Worship
... if we were allowed to look within the vail which parts ... simply point to the centre
of the sacred circle, and ... the Saviour knelt in prayer; once he hung upon the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/heavenly worship.htm

Israel's Hope Encouraged;
... This is the sacred, the solemn, the all-important subject ... this cable, and which entereth
into that within the vail. ... know that the case is so between thee and ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/israels hope encouraged.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... he has commented on that portion of sacred scripture, containing ... spiritual conflict
that was fought between the devil ... 20:2); because, as the Holy Ghost would ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

From 1787 to 1791 Inclusive
... after the memorable battle upon Brooklyn heights, between the contending ... at the house
of a Mr. Vail, who, though ... full force against a tree that hung across the ...
/.../a history of the methodist episcopal church volume i/chapter 2 from 1787 to.htm