DAY 15 – SATURDAY – 15/3/2025

Reflection: The Veil Was Torn
Bible Reading: Matthew 5:17
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
During Jesus’time on earth, the Temple in Jerusalem was the center of Jewish
religious rituals. This Temple was where animal sacrifices and worship were
conducted according to the Law of Moses, which was strictly followed.

Hebrews 9:1-9 explains that within the Temple, there was a veil that separated the Most Holy Place —the dwelling place of God’s presence on earth at that time—from the rest of the Temple. This practice continued from the time of Moses until the moment the great veil was torn in two.

What does this event mean, and what should we understand from it?

1. The Spiritual Meaning of the Temple:
The existence of the Temple signified that humanity was separated from God
because of sin. Because of sin, humans could not stand in the presence of a holy
God. Only the High Priest was permitted to pass beyond the veil once a year, and
only after offering a strict and complex atonement sacrifice (Exodus 30:10; Hebrews 9:7). The High Priest would enter God’s presence on behalf of all Israelites to make atonement for their sins (Leviticus 16).

Solomon’s Temple was about 13.5 meters (44 feet) high (1 Kings 6:2), but King Herod later rebuilt it to be 18-20 meters (60-65 feet) high,according to the Jewish historian Josephus. Josephus also described the veil as being about 10 cm (4 inches) thick. Even if four horses pulled on either side of the fabric simultaneously, they would not be
able to tear it apart. Exodus states that this thick veil was made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely twisted linen.
“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His spirit. At that moment, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth
shook, the rocks split.”
(Matthew 27:50-51)

2. The Significance of the Torn Veil for Us Today
What does all of this mean? What is the significance of the torn veil for humanity today?

The tearing of the veil at the moment of Jesus’death symbolized that through His sacrifice and the shedding of His blood, redemption for humanity’s sins had been fully accomplished. This event signified that the way to the Most Holy God was now open to all people.

Do you know what would happen if a sinner entered the Most Holy Place in the Temple? They would die.
Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, died because they entered the Most Holy Place in an unholy manner, using unauthorized fire (Leviticus 10:1-6).

When Jesus died on the cross, the Temple veil was torn in two. God left that place
and never again dwelled in a man-made building (Acts 17:24). This is why God
allowed the Temple to be destroyed, and to this day, it has not been rebuilt—
because we no longer need it. Through Jesus, we can now come directly to God. His presence left the physical Temple along with the destruction of the religious system it represented. The Temple and Jerusalem were destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, just as Jesus prophesied in Luke 13:35.

As long as the Temple stood, it represented the continuation of the Old Covenant. Hebrews 9:8-9 refers to a past era that has now been replaced by the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:13).

Additionally, the Temple veil was a symbol of Christ Himself as the only way to the Father (John 14:6). This is supported by the fact that only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place through the veil. Now, Christ is the Great High Priest for God’s chosen people.
Conclusion

As believers in His perfect work, we share in His priesthood. We can now enter the
Most Holy Place through Him. Hebrews 10:19-20 states that every believer has access to the holy place “by the blood of Jesus,” because He has opened a new and living way for us through the curtain—that is, His body.

The tearing of the Temple veil from top to bottom is a historical fact. Its profound
meaning is magnificently explained in the book of Hebrews. Everything in the Temple was a shadow of what was to come. Ultimately, all of these shadows point us to Jesus Christ. He is the veil that leads to the Most Holy God, and through His death, believers now have direct access to God.
The veil in the Temple was a reminder that sin made humanity unworthy to stand in God’s presence. The fact that atonement sacrifices had to be made year after year, along with many other daily offerings by the Israelites, showed that human sin could never truly be erased by animal sacrifices. Through His death, Jesus Christ has removed the barrier between God and humanity. Now, we can approach Him with confidence and boldness (Hebrews 4:14-16).
When we pray, we are no longer bound by rituals or any specific requirements. There is no longer any need for animal sacrifices, as was practiced by the Israelites. Jesus
Christ has made all things new in Him (Revelation 21:5-6).
So keep praying to God—in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Prayer Focus
The Future Generation

1. Pray that the Church in this nation will raise up a new generation who love God and love their country.
2. Pray that they will grow in wisdom to make wise decisions based on truth.
3. Pray that they will have a strong faith and live in love for the Lord.
4. Pray that the younger generation will have hearts full of compassion, respect for one another, and live in harmony.
5. Pray that they will take responsibility for caring for God’s creation and work for the well-being of the nation with integrity and dedication.