The Tabernacle Part 10 The Veil Series

THE VEIL

(Exodus 26:31-35; 36:35, 36)

The inner veil hung between the holy place and the most holy place, dividing the tabernacle into two rooms. Tradition says that the veil was transferred to the temples and used there for centuries.

1. The name

The word suggests something hidden

When Moses came down from the mount, with the second tables of stone, he had to put a veil over his face to

hide the glory of his countenance (Exodus 34:33-35; II Corinthians 3:13)

In the tabernacle, the veil hid the glory of God who dwelt over the mercy seat between the cherubim

2. Its position

It hung before the ark of the covenant, forming the east wall of the most holy place which was a perfect cube,

fifteen feet in dimensions

Behind this veil the high priest went but once a year, on the day of atonement

Not a word was ever uttered of what he saw there. (The significance of all this is discussed in Hebrews

9:1-15.) A prayerful reading of this portion of Hebrews is suggested

3. The material

The veil was made of fine twined linen, the same as the hanging of the gate and the door, and the inner

covering of the tabernacle. Like the inner curtains of the covering, there were worked into this veil the

cherubim by cunning needle work. The fact that the cherubim were found worked into it was suggestive that

it hung in the presence of God's throne

4. The rending of the veil

For fifteen centuries the veil hung between the holy place and the most holy, first in the tabernacle and then

in the three succeeding temples. For all these centuries the ordinary priests never saw what was behind this

veil. To have gone behind it would have meant death for "the way into the holiest was not yet manifest"

(Hebrews 9:8)

One day the priests heard a strange sound and saw a strange sight - the veil was being rent from top to

bottom (Matthew 27:51; Matthew 15:37, 38; Luke 23:45). At this identical time, outside the City of Jerusalem, a

greater event was taking place. In fact, the greatest event of time or eternity; namely, the death of the Son of

God

5. The meaning

These two events happening together was momentous. Let Scripture answer,

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh." (Hebrews 10:19, 20) Anti-type had superseded type. Let us notice what was accomplished:

a. All believers have access to God. (Hebrews 10: 19-22

b. Christ had become the end of the law for righteousness (Romans 10:4;

Galatians 3:13)

c. All Jewish ordinances came to an end (Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:14;

Romans 7:4)

d. All national and social distinctions were removed (Ephesians 2:14-18; I

Corinthians 12:12, 13; Colossians 3:11)

e. During this dispensation the gospel message is worldwide in scope and

universal in privilege and blessing (Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8; 15:14)

6. Repair of the veil

Hebrews 10:11 would seem to indicate that the rent veil had been repaired and that the Priests continued to

perform their ceremonies in the temple

To those who would go back to the religious ceremonies of the temple, the Hebrew writer says, "there

remaineth no more sacrifice for sins" (Hebrews 10:26). From the day of its rending, shadow had given way to

substance. After that day their services were mere mockery

WARNING

The only way to God is through the Christ of Calvary and resurrection (John 14:6; Hebrews 10:19, 20)

To try to get in any other way brands the one who tries as a thief and a robber (John 10:1)

There are those who would make Christ a great teacher, a model patriot, or social reformer. Shun all such!

The rending of the veil was God's ultimatum that the approach to Him is now open, but it is only through

the "new and living way"

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6)