Torn in Two

“And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.” Matthew 27:51

The veil in the temple was a thick curtain between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. This veil was about 60 feet high, 30 feet wide, and four inches thick. The purpose of the veil was to create a separation between a holy God and sinful man. Only the high priest was allowed to enter into the Holy of Holies on one day each year, the Day of Atonement. The high priest would make meticulous preparations to enter there and sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice on the Mercy Seat on top of the Ark of the Covenant.

There is tremendous significance to the fact that the veil was torn in two at the moment when Jesus yielded up His spirit on the cross. The veil was torn from the top down, indicating that it was an act of God. It was torn into two separate pieces, leaving an opening through which any person could walk. God was showing us that we all have direct access to Him now through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

God is no less holy, and man is no less sinful; but Jesus Himself became the Veil that separates those who refuse to trust Him from God the Father and makes it possible for those who do trust in Jesus to gain access to the Father. As believers in Christ, we now have access to God. How often do we take advantage of this opportunity to approach the throne of grace?