The Veil
(Exodus 26:31-37)
Exodus 26:33 Hang the canopy from the fasteners
in the ceiling, and put the ark containing the words of my promise under
it. The canopy will mark off the most holy place from the holy place.
The Veil shall be a divider between the holy place and the Holy of Holies" (Exodus 26:33). The Veil was made using the four colours blue, purple, scarlet and white (of the fine linen) that correspond with the four gospels. We have seen these four colours previously at the Door of the Outer Court, the Door to the Sanctuary, the Cherubim Embroidered Covering that forms the ceiling of the Tabernacle and on the Ephod the high priest wore.
The Veil is the final door to pass through, to enter into the presence
of God in the Holy of Holies. Entry was forbidden to all except one,
the high priest, and his access was not free: he was permitted entry
once only per year, on the Day of Atonement, when he brought the blood
of the sacrificed goat to sprinkle on the lid (called the Mercy Seat)
of the Ark of the Covenant.
The Veil reminds us that we are excluded because "we all have sinned
and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). However, just
as the Passover lamb was slain for the redemption of the children of
Israel in Egypt, and the goat was slain so that its blood could obtain
God's forgiveness for the Israelites on the Day of Atonement, so Jesus
"bore our sins in His own body on the tree" (I Peter 2:24).
As Jesus was hanging there on the cross, God "laid on Him the iniquities
(the wrongdoings) of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). The final pangs of
death came as Jesus cried out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken
me?" (Matthew 27:46). Seconds later "He cried out again with
a loud voice and yielded up His spirit" (Matthew 26:50). He cried
"It is finished!" (John 19:30). He died.
VAIL, THE SACRED
• Moses commanded to make. Exodus 26:31
• Made by Bezaleel for the tabernacle. Exodus 36:35
• Suspended from four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold.
Exodus 26:32
• Hung between the holy and most holy place. Exodus 26:33; Hebrews
9:3
• Designed to conceal the ark, mercy seat, and the symbol of the
divine presence. Exodus 40:3
• THE HIGH PRIEST.
• Alone allowed to enter within. Hebrews 9:6-7
• Allowed to enter but once a year. Leviticus 16:2; Hebrews 9:7
• Could not enter without blood. Leviticus 16:3; Hebrews 9:7
• Made by Solomon for the temple. 2 Chron. 3:14
• Was rent at the death of our Lord. Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38;
Luke 23:45
• ILLUSTRATIVE.
• Of the obscurity of the Mosaic age. Hebrews 9:8
• Of the flesh of Christ which concealed his divinity. Hebrews
10:20; Isaiah 53:2
• (Rending of) of the death of Christ which opened heaven to saints.
Hebrews 10:19-20; Hebrews 9:24
