THE VEIL

The tent of the tabernacle was divided into two rooms. A tapestry-like curtain, or veil, separated the two areas.

The first room housed the lampstand, the table, and a small golden altar for incense. Beyond the veil, in the Most Holy Place, sat the “ark of the covenant” (Exodus 25:10-22). Concerning the ark, God said, “I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the testimony; I will speak with you from there about all that I command you regarding the Israelites” (Exodus 25:22).

Not everyone was welcomed into the Most Holy Place. Only God’s chosen High Priest was to enter through the veil, and then only one time each year, on the Day of Atonement.

The veil foreshadows Jesus.

At the very moment that Jesus cried out, “it is finished” (John 19:30), the veil was torn, from the top to the bottom (Matthew 27:51). If it had been ripped from the bottom up, it might have been done by man. But it was torn from the top, something only God could do.

When Jesus’ body was broken, the way into God’s presence was opened. Because the veil, that is the body of Christ was broken, we can now “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16, NKJV).

“It is finished!” God has torn the veil. The way is opened, and we are invited into God’s holy presence.

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).