Access Granted ~ Matthew 27
“And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom…” Matthew 27:51 ESV
Curtains perform many tasks. They provide privacy, offer light control, and can even offer sound reduction within the space they inhabit. Curtains can make an interior space more attractive, protect interior furnishings from UV light pollution, and be effective in dividing large spaces. But also, curtains can conceal. And it was for this purpose that the mighty curtain hung in the temple of God in Jerusalem during the days Jesus walked this earth.
The temple design was given by God and built by men empowered by the Holy Spirit of God. Built to exact dimensions to contain exact interior and exterior spaces, the most Holy of all of those spaces was appropriately called the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies housed the ark of God which contained the symbolic (and at times physical) presence of God upon this earth. And considering this, no one could look into this space that housed the presence of God. Well, they could, but it would end in immediate death. So to protect humans from the overpowering presence and purity of Himself, God commanded a huge curtain (veil) be hung to separate and conceal the Holy of Holies from the adjoining Holy place. And what a curtain it was.
Although we are not specifically told of the exact dimensions of the curtain along with the other dimension details in Exodus chapter 26, we can however ascertain the dimensions of the Holy of Holies opening in which the curtain was to conceal. The curtain was estimated to be a amazing 60 feet tall (18.3m), 30 feet wide (9.1m), and had a staggering thickness of 4 inches (10cm). A thickness that was only achieved by an intense process of doubling heavy fabric onto itself. And this process was claimed to be carefully executed by no less than 82 seamstresses. The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (c. AD 36-100), beyond just noting the above curtain details, notes that the curtain was so large and heavy that it took 300 priests to remove it for annual cleaning. It was also speculated by Josephus that the tremendous strength of the curtain could resist the efforts of two teams of horses pulling in opposite directions. Folks, the details when collected are clear, God did not commission just any ordinary curtain to separate and conceal His presence in the Holy of Holies.
Considering the above data, it makes our study verse from Matthew 27:51 even more powerful in two distinct aspects…physical and spiritual. Concerning the first, God made it clear only He, in His power, could physically tear this tremendous piece of fabric as His Son completed His work upon the cross. And how beautiful that God documents for us that He tore it from top to bottom. A beautiful picture of God reaching down from His home in heaven to tear away the veil that kept His people from free and open access to Himself through Jesus. Concerning the latter, the spiritual, the curtain spiritually concealed God from all but the high priest who entered the Holy of Holies only once per year (Yom Kippur) to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat of the ark to atone for the sins (both intentional and unintentional) of the people of Israel. Other than that, no other person had access to stand in the presence of God and receive forgiveness of sins. But if you are a student of God’s Word, the Bible, you know that God changed all of that restricted access to forgiveness of sins as His only Son’s physical body expired upon the cross…the perfect lamb that takes away the sins of the world.
The skies go dark, Jesus utters “it is finished”, the earth quakes, the rocks split, graves open, and the mighty curtain is torn completely in two from the very top to the very bottom, now exposing the Holy of Holies and the presence of God upon this planet to all that walked its surface. What a message the torn veil holds.
As a result of that torn curtain, today, God is accessible. And He is accessible and available to all that seek Him and call upon His name. It is truly sad that the world preaches a message that is just the opposite of this. Contrary to what you may hear today, God is not a mystery to find, He is not hidden from His creation, and it is not impossible to have a relationship with Him, and yes, even talk to and hear from Him. But in order to have this close personal relationship with God, He created a very specific way. A way to walk through that torn curtain and directly access God.
1) God loves. God loves the world He created and every human within it…and that includes you. And in this perfect Godly love, God desires a personal relationship with you and for you to be in heaven with Him for all of eternity. (John 3:16)
2) But man has sin. Every single human has sin in their life and this sin separates you from a perfect, righteous God that cannot be in the presence of imperfect sin. This sin causes all brokenness and death in this world. (Romans 3:10)
3) But Jesus came. Since all sin requires a payment of innocent blood, God made a way for His human creatures to be redeemed from their sin by having His only Son Jesus be the perfect, sinless sacrifice. Jesus was born without sin, lived a life without sin, was crucified on a cross, died, and then rose again 3 days later to atone (pay for) your sin, my sin, and all sin for all time (Romans 5:8)
4) Place faith in Jesus Christ. All who believe and place their faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord, Savior, King, and redeemer, will be saved from their sin and are promised a home in heaven with the Father and the Son for eternity. (John 1:12)
5) What is your response? Knowing all this means nothing if nothing is done in response to it. You can know the above 4 steps yet physically die and be separated from God in hell for eternity if you refuse to make a decision concerning God’s plan for your redemption and salvation.
The curtain is torn and access to God is granted to all that call upon the name of Jesus Christ to save them from the death penalty of their sin. The work has been done, Jesus finished it upon the cross, the only question that remains is…what will you do with Jesus?
Blessings as you faithfully commit to walk through the torn veil ~ Dan
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:19-22 NIV
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