Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit. Just then the temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks were split apart. And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had died were raised. Matthew 27:50-52
New English Translation
Strangely a lot of people think that the Old Testament has nothing to offer us, that it is outdated. This stance is not only odd but contrary to everything the New Testament teaches! Throughout the pages we see references to Old Testament concepts or even direct quotes. Not to mention that some moments in New Testament history lose their significance without the full Old Testament understanding and context revealing the beauty behind the scenes.
Matthew 27:50-52 is one such scene which needs the Old Testament so the entire message can be received and understood.
You are to hang this curtain under the clasps and bring the ark of the testimony in there behind the curtain. The curtain will make a division for you between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. You are to put the atonement lid on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place. You are to put the table outside the curtain and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle, opposite the table, and you are to place the table on the north side. Exodus 26:33-35
New English Translation
Here in Exodus we find the creation and purpose of the very curtain that was torn at Jesus’ death. This curtain was used for separation. What did it separate?
But only the high priest enters once a year into the inner tent, and not without blood that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit is making clear that the way into the Holy Place had not yet appeared as long as the old tabernacle was standing. Hebrews 9:7-8
New English Translation
We learn that only the High Priest was able to enter the Most Holy place in the New Testament book of Hebrews. So, ordinary people like you and me weren’t allowed in. That naturally causes us to wonder what was inside that we couldn’t see, right? Well, the Most Holy place was where God dwelled, where His presence was. The reason that He limited access to that place was because anyone who entered His presence in an unholy manner would die. Basically, He loved His people so much that He made sure that only a High Priest who was equipped with rules and regulations for properly purifying himself before entering God’s presence would be allowed to come into His presence.
The veil separated the people from God’s presence to protect them.
Now that we understand the significance of the veil, what does that mean for us now? We read in Matthew that the very curtain that kept us from entering God’s presence was destroyed. No longer did we need barred from entering God’s presence. But why?
In Old Testament times, the High Priest had to make animal sacrifices to purify himself and the people from their sins. These were how God had made a temporary way for them to be forgiven and made right with Him. However, God made a new covenant through Jesus that would no longer offer a temporary fix. Jesus became the new and final priest devoid of sin. But, Jesus was also the final sacrifice that He offered. Rather than a temporary fix via a lamb, Jesus sacrificed Himself as the most perfect substitution for death.
See, when a lamb was sacrificed, that lamb was dying on behalf of the one who sinned. Substitution. That’s what it was always about. Rather than a person being killed for their sins as they deserved, God showed mercy and accepted the lamb instead. Killing a lamb offered nothing permanent, though, so God in His great love and mercy provided the ultimate and lasting sacrifice of Jesus so that we no longer have to worry of whether we have made all the right sacrifices at just the right time. Because Jesus made that final sacrifice, we are all able to accept His help and be cleansed before God, meaning the curtain separating us from God is no longer needed.
Prior to this, since only the High Priest was able to enter God’s presence, only the High Priest could personally know and have a relationship with God. The wonderful thing is, since now we can enter God’s presence, we can have a personal relationship with God. We don’t need a go-between!
Everything comes down to this: God wants a personal relationship with you. He wants you to want Him in your life. He has wisdom, guidance, and life-giving advice He has been waiting to offer you. But, if you don’t repent, which is realizing you are far from God and actively moving back toward Him through changing how you live, then you’re not able to have that kind of relationship with Him.
Sadly, a lot of people think that salvation is a moment where a person says, “Jesus died, I believe in God, punch the heaven ticket.” However, salvation was never a moment. Salvation is a lifestyle. If you look the same as you did before you claimed salvation, then you’re not saved. Salvation is transformation as you learn new things about God and how He wants you to live, it is actively listening to God and obeying Him. Not only will you look different than you did before salvation began, but you will continually be changing and growing! If you constantly look the same in how you live, then you’re not saved.
There is also a false theology going around called “once saved, always saved.” Essentially, this lie teaches that no matter what you do or how you live, if you said you were saved at some point, then you are ok and will go to heaven. However, knowing that salvation is a lifestyle not a moment proves that this is not true. We even learn in Hebrews that living like that brings intense judgment and anger from God.
For if we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins is left for us, but only a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that will consume God’s enemies. Hebrews 10:26-27
New English Translation
Basically, once you know you’re supposed to live differently to honor God, you have no excuse for your behavior and therefore have forfeited mercy! There is mercy for ignorance but not for defiance. It’s like with your parents, if you didn’t know something was wrong, they have mercy and redirect you. However, if you knew something was wrong because they told you, they punish you and will often feel extremely hurt by your disobedience.
So, with all that we just learned in mind, are you living salvation or have you been deceived into a false sense of security? I want to challenge you to do some intense self-evaluation. I’d rather you be uncomfortable now and get right with God over comfortable now and eternally separated from God. God made sure you had the chance to be in His presence, walking and living with Him, don’t throw that away for the easy way. Now is the time to be saved!