The Temple Veil Torn in Two

The Temple Veil Torn in Two

2006035

Topic # 2109 temple

Introduction

A. Death of the Son of God seems fitly surrounded by miracles.

1. Mt. 27:50-54

2. There could now be no doubt that the one they hung on that cross was the Son of God, the Promised One, the Messiah.

B. During lifetime of Jesus, temple in Jerusalem was center of Jewish religious life.

1. Not actually Solomon’s temple – long destroyed by Babylonians 587 B.C.

2. Herod rebuilt temple in years preceding Jesus’ birth.

a) Construction of entire complex took 84 yrs to complete. 20 B.C. to 64 A.D.

b) Actual temple facility constructed in 18 months. (Said that not one cloud in the sky during construction. Crews went unhampered by weather…)

c) This was the place where animal sacrifices carried out.

d) Worship according to Law of Moses carried out faithfully.

C. Heb. 9:1-9; Ex. 16:31 – in the temple was a veil which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.

1. H of H symbolized the way to God’s presence.

a) It was always closed except once/yr – when the High Priest entered with the blood of atonement for the sins of the people.

b) Ex. 30:10; Heb. 9:7 – High priest entered into God’s presence for all of Israel to make atonement of their sins. See Lev. 16.

2. No one was permitted to go inside this area, ever, under penalty of death.

3. This veil was the line of separation that kept people out of this most holy place.

I. About the Veil

A. Ex. 26:31-33 – veil was to be made of fine twisted linen

1. Made of blue, purple, and scarlet material.

2. colors appear 3 times in Ex. 26

a) 26:1 – tabernacle curtains

b) 26:31 – veil of temple

c) 26:36 – screen for the doorway of temple.

B. Num. 4:5 – each time the tabernacle moved – veil used to cover the Ark of the Covenant.

C. By time of Solomon, Israel moved out of tabernacle into temple.

1. Temple designed after the tabernacle.

2. Solomon’s temple destroyed in587 by Babylon.

3. Beginning in 20 B.C., Herod began to rebuild the temple complex.

a) Inside: 60 ft ceilings. Same basic design as Solomon’s temple.

b) Veil would have covered the holy place from the holy of holies.

c) A substantial fabric – piece of lasting tapestry

d) Able to endure a great strain.

4. Josephus:

a) 4 in thick

b) Horses tied side to side could not pull veil apart.

D. Its being torn in two is a miracle.

1. Not ripped by overuse.

2. not ripped/torn by the earthquake in 26:51

3. happened at the exact moment of Jesus’ death

a) Need to guard against the tendency to explain bible miracles away.

b) Need to let God’s word speak for itself.

II. Thru Jesus, the wall of separation between God & man was removed.

A. Under OL, no man allowed in Holy of Holies – e/exception of H.P., who entered once/yr & not w/o blood.

1. Attempt to enter at any other time/reason = death.

2. No one allowed to stand in the presence of God.

3. Even the holy place was only for the priests.

4. Under the OL – the place of God’s people was one of distance. No invitation to come to God.

B. Ex. 19:12 – at very first institution of law – command given not to go near.

1. Spirit of old law was one of reverent distance.

2. Ex. 20:28 - the people stood afar off.

C. Thru Jesus – all of this ended!

1. Precept to keep back is done away & we are invited to come to God.

2. Mt. 11:28-30; Heb. 10:22; Js. 4:8; Rev. 3:20 – this is the spirit of the gospel.

5. We need to be thankful for that!

6. We can draw near with full assurance

7. The veil has been rent – access is free!

8. We can come boldly to the throne of grace!

III. Removal of the veil signified the removal of separating sin.

A. Sin is the great divider between God and man.

1. Makes God walk contrary to us – because we walk contrary to Him.

2. A holy God cannot have fellowship w/unholy creatures.

a) Veil signified separation b/t holy & unholy. No crossing of this line.

B. But thru Jesus – sin has been put away because of His sacrifice.

1. Jesus died to make atonement for the entire world.

2. We can be cleansed by His blood.

a) Heb. 10:16-17

b) Heb. 10:18-22 – we can enter presence of God because of the atoning blood of Jesus.

c) Able to approach in confidence & not fear.

3. Our forgiveness is so complete that nothing now divides the reconciled sinner from his God.

C. What a blessing to have had the veil ripped away!

D. Note: these blessings are only for believers.

1. Those who refuse Jesus refuse the only way of access to God.

2. God is not approachable, except through the rending of the veil by Jesus’ death.

E. Under OL, there was only one way to enter the holy of holies – by going to the side of the veil. There was no other.

1. No other way today to come into fellowship with God – except through the rent veil – even the death of Jesus.

a) Come through Jesus & come freely.

b) Refuse to come this way – there hangs between you & God an impassable veil.

c) w/o Jesus – we are w/o God & w/o hope – John 8:24

F. Lk. 23:45 – ASV – ripped down the middle.

1. Not ripped down a corner. Not a little, insignificant tear.

2. From top to bottom. Complete.

3. There is an entrance made for the greatest of sinners.

a) The worst of sinners may find ample passage to God through Jesus.

b) There is no hindrance to the fullest, freest access to God.

c) We can approach w/boldness – knowing He will forgive us.

IV. We have no fear of death in the most holy place.

A. Tradition says that the Jews would fasten a rope to the high priests foot that they might pull out his body in case he died before the Lord.

1. Little doubt that the high priest must have dreaded the solemn Day of Atonement when he had to pass into the silent and secluded holy of holies to make atonement for the people.

2. But we can not die in the holy place now – because of Jesus – Heb. 10:22.

B. Our boldness arises from the perfection of Jesus’ sacrifice. Heb. 10:14.

1. We are accepted because He is accepted.

2. Heb. 10:15-18 – our sins have been fully forgiven. We are no longer odious to God.

C. We have a right to dwell near God, because through Jesus we have been made priests in the service of God. (Rev. 1:6, 5:10)

1. We enter God’s presence on holy business and have no fear of being intruders.

a) Burglar may enter a house – but not w/boldness. Afraid of being caught.

b) Might enter a stranger’s house w/o an invitation – but not feel bold in doing so.

2. We do not enter the holiest as housebreakers, nor as strangers w/o an invitation.

a) We respond to God in obedience.

b) When we respond to God – we are at home w/God.

c) We have been called to live w/God – to whom we have been reconciled.

D. The Christian should never approach God w/dread – but w/exceeding joy!

1. We should delight in Him; approaching him w/full confidence and assurance that we are His and He loves us and will see to our spiritual needs!

Conclusion:

A. Thank God for the death of Jesus Christ.

B. Let us praise Him for the full access we now have to approach the father for our most important needs – those which are spiritual.

C. Indeed the death of Jesus Christ was the most significant event that has ever happened.

1. Have you taken advantage of it?

2. I N V I T A T I O N



The Temple Veil Torn in Two 2006035 Topic # 2109 temple Introduction A. Death of the Son of God seems fitly surrounded by miracles. 1. Mt. 27:50-54 2. There could now be no doubt that the one they hung on that cross was the Son of God, the Promised One, the Messiah. B. During lifetime of Jesus, temple in Jerusalem was center of Jewish religious life. 1. Not actually Solomon’s temple – long destroyed by Babylonians 587 B.C. 2. Herod rebuilt temple in years preceding Jesus’ birth. a) Construction of entire complex took 84 yrs to complete. 20 B.C. to 64 A.D. b) Actual temple facility constructed in 18 months. (Said that not one cloud in the sky during construction. Crews went unhampered by weather…) c) This was the place where animal sacrifices carried out. d) Worship according to Law of Moses carried out faithfully. C. Heb. 9:1-9; Ex. 16:31 – in the temple was a veil which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. 1. H of H symbolized the way to God’s presence. a) It was always closed except once/yr – when the High Priest entered with the blood of atonement for the sins of the people. b) Ex. 30:10; Heb. 9:7 – High priest entered into God’s presence for all of Israel to make atonement of their sins. See Lev. 16. 2. No one was permitted to go inside this area, ever, under penalty of death. 3. This veil was the line of separation that kept people out of this most holy place. I. About the Veil A. Ex. 26:31-33 – veil was to be made of fine twisted linen 1. Made of blue, purple, and scarlet material. 2. colors appear 3 times in Ex. 26 a) 26:1 – tabernacle curtains b) 26:31 – veil of temple c) 26:36 – screen for the doorway of temple. B. Num. 4:5 – each time the tabernacle moved – veil used to cover the Ark of the Covenant. C. By time of Solomon, Israel moved out of tabernacle into temple. 1. Temple designed after the tabernacle. 2. Solomon’s temple destroyed in587 by Babylon. 3. Beginning in 20 B.C., Herod began to rebuild the temple complex. a) Inside: 60 ft ceilings. Same basic design as Solomon’s temple. b) Veil would have covered the holy place from the holy of holies. c) A substantial fabric – piece of lasting tapestry d) Able to endure a great strain. 4. Josephus: a) 4 in thick b) Horses tied side to side could not pull veil apart. D. Its being torn in two is a miracle. 1. Not ripped by overuse. 2. not ripped/torn by the earthquake in 26:51 3. happened at the exact moment of Jesus’ death a) Need to guard against the tendency to explain bible miracles away. b) Need to let God’s word speak for itself. II. Thru Jesus, the wall of separation between God & man was removed. A. Under OL, no man allowed in Holy of Holies – e/exception of H.P., who entered once/yr & not w/o blood. 1. Attempt to enter at any other time/reason = death. 2. No one allowed to stand in the presence of God. 3. Even the holy place was only for the priests. 4. Under the OL – the place of God’s people was one of distance. No invitation to come to God. B. Ex. 19:12 – at very first institution of law – command given not to go near. 1. Spirit of old law was one of reverent distance. 2. Ex. 20:28 - the people stood afar off. C. Thru Jesus – all of this ended! 1. Precept to keep back is done away & we are invited to come to God. 2. Mt. 11:28-30; Heb. 10:22; Js. 4:8; Rev. 3:20 – this is the spirit of the gospel. 5. We need to be thankful for that! 6. We can draw near with full assurance 7. The veil has been rent – access is free! 8. We can come boldly to the throne of grace! III. Removal of the veil signified the removal of separating sin. A. Sin is the great divider between God and man. 1. Makes God walk contrary to us – because we walk contrary to Him. 2. A holy God cannot have fellowship w/unholy creatures. a) Veil signified separation b/t holy & unholy. No crossing of this line. B. But thru Jesus – sin has been put away because of His sacrifice. 1. Jesus died to make atonement for the entire world. 2. We can be cleansed by His blood. a) Heb. 10:16-17 b) Heb. 10:18-22 – we can enter presence of God because of the atoning blood of Jesus. c) Able to approach in confidence & not fear. 3. Our forgiveness is so complete that nothing now divides the reconciled sinner from his God. C. What a blessing to have had the veil ripped away! D. Note: these blessings are only for believers. 1. Those who refuse Jesus refuse the only way of access to God. 2. God is not approachable, except through the rending of the veil by Jesus’ death. E. Under OL, there was only one way to enter the holy of holies – by going to the side of the veil. There was no other. 1. No other way today to come into fellowship with God – except through the rent veil – even the death of Jesus. a) Come through Jesus & come freely. b) Refuse to come this way – there hangs between you & God an impassable veil. c) w/o Jesus – we are w/o God & w/o hope – John 8:24 F. Lk. 23:45 – ASV – ripped down the middle. 1. Not ripped down a corner. Not a little, insignificant tear. 2. From top to bottom. Complete. 3. There is an entrance made for the greatest of sinners. a) The worst of sinners may find ample passage to God through Jesus. b) There is no hindrance to the fullest, freest access to God. c) We can approach w/boldness – knowing He will forgive us. IV. We have no fear of death in the most holy place. A. Tradition says that the Jews would fasten a rope to the high priests foot that they might pull out his body in case he died before the Lord. 1. Little doubt that the high priest must have dreaded the solemn Day of Atonement when he had to pass into the silent and secluded holy of holies to make atonement for the people. 2. But we can not die in the holy place now – because of Jesus – Heb. 10:22. B. Our boldness arises from the perfection of Jesus’ sacrifice. Heb. 10:14. 1. We are accepted because He is accepted. 2. Heb. 10:15-18 – our sins have been fully forgiven. We are no longer odious to God. C. We have a right to dwell near God, because through Jesus we have been made priests in the service of God. (Rev. 1:6, 5:10) 1. We enter God’s presence on holy business and have no fear of being intruders. a) Burglar may enter a house – but not w/boldness. Afraid of being caught. b) Might enter a stranger’s house w/o an invitation – but not feel bold in doing so. 2. We do not enter the holiest as housebreakers, nor as strangers w/o an invitation. a) We respond to God in obedience. b) When we respond to God – we are at home w/God. c) We have been called to live w/God – to whom we have been reconciled. D. The Christian should never approach God w/dread – but w/exceeding joy! 1. We should delight in Him; approaching him w/full confidence and assurance that we are His and He loves us and will see to our spiritual needs! Conclusion: A. Thank God for the death of Jesus Christ. B. Let us praise Him for the full access we now have to approach the father for our most important needs – those which are spiritual. C. Indeed the death of Jesus Christ was the most significant event that has ever happened. 1. Have you taken advantage of it? 2. I N V I T A T I O N