The Veil of the Temple Torn in Two

Matthew 27:50-52
50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.

52The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.

Mark 15:37-39
37 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.

38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

39 So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”

Luke 23:44-46 (New King James Version)

Jesus Dies on the Cross
44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.

46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last.

John 19:29-30
29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.

30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

------

I have been thinking about this great miracle of the temple veil being torn from top to bottom at the very moment Christ died for our sins. He had been on the cross, pouring out His lifeblood for us. He was made sin for us there on the cross. He died in our place. He took our punishment on Himself.

John records His words, "It is finished!"

Nothing more needs to be done to save us. Nothing more can be done to save us. We cannot add to or take away from the finished work of Christ. We in Him believe. We receive Him.

John 1:12,13
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

So, because our sins were paid for on the cross, and the Father accepted the sacrifice of His Son, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). His wrath can now turn away from the sinner who accepts the sacrifice of Christ for his sin. He can now look at the sinner in a merciful, propitious way. He can now forgive the repentant sinner who believes in Christ. Now the sinner can be reconciled to God by faith in Christ.


Because of that, we can now enter right into the presence of God without fear of death. We don't have to stand on the outside looking in, so to speak. We can enter into fellowship with God Himself. Now the veil separating us from God has been torn in two.

No man tore the physical curtain in the temple from top to bottom. Think about it. It was a heavy object, made of several layers of material. It would be hard to start tearing it from the bottom in order to split it in two. The Bible says that this veil was split from top to bottom at the very moment Christ finished dying for our sins! When I was a kid, this miracle fascinated me and gripped my heart. How amazing!

Believe it. Receive it. Christ's death is for you.
-----
Question: "What was the significance of the temple veil being torn in two when Jesus died?"

Answer: During the lifetime time of Jesus, the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was the center of Jewish religious life. Here was the place that animal sacrifices were carried out and worship according to the Law of Moses was followed faithfully. Hebrews 9:1-9 tells us that in the Temple a veil separated the Holy of Holies—the earthly dwelling place of God’s presence—from the rest of the Temple where men dwelt. This signified that man was separated from God by sin (Isaiah 59:1-2). Only the High Priest was permitted to pass beyond this veil once each year (Exodus 30:10; Hebrews 9:7), enter into God's presence for all of Israel, and make atonement for their sins (Leviticus 16).


From: Got Questions?