And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Matthew 27:51

The Way is Open

The Apostle Matthew recorded some strange occurrences during the crucifixion and death of Christ. There was a darkness on the land from noon to 3pm, the time Jesus was crucified up to the time He died. When Jesus voluntarily gave up His life and died (John 10:18) there was a great earthquake and the veil (curtain) in the Jewish temple was torn from top to bottom revealing the inner room where God's presence dwelt. There were other amazing events that happened you can read about in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 27:45-54.

The tearing of the temple curtain is to me perhaps the most pivotal physical event of the day Christ died. The veil was a curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies where the presence of God dwelt. It protected the priests that ministered in the temple from dying from being in the direct presence of the holy power (shekinah) of God. Aaron the priest was warned not to come into the Holy of Holies except once a year (Exodus 30:10) on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), lest he die. In coming into the Holy of Holies he atoned for his sins, that of his household (Leviticus 16:6), and for the sins of the nation of Israel (Leviticus 16:15, Hebrews 9:7).

Upon the death of Christ God tore the curtain from top to bottom. The parting of the veil represented that the way of access for humanity to God had been opened up by the means of the all-sufficient sacrifice of Christ for our sins (Romans 6:10). It is significant the veil was torn from top to bottom. Only God could tear it top to bottom. If it had been torn bottom to top men could have taken credit for it. The tearing of the veil means our abundant hope and eternal life has been confirmed by God Himself.

Christ was our once and for all sacrifice for sin doing away with the animal sacrifices commanded in the Law of Moses (Hebrews 10:1-18). He has now become our great High Priest to which we hold firmly in our confession of faith (Hebrews 4:14). The torn curtain gives us free access to God through our Lord Jesus Christ. When we dare to walk through it we find ourselves standing at the foot of the cross. The way is now open to all who wish to walk through and come in to the presence of the Holy through His Own Dear Son.

Ken