From Matthew 27:51-54 / The Torn Curtain

Note first: What a double miracle is given to us in this account.

And when I refer to a double miracle, I am not referring to the physical miracle of the veil being torn.

As for the physical veil, there were actually 2 veils in the Temple. One, separated the courtyard from the sanctuary – where the table of shewbread, the altar of incense and the 7 branched candlestick were. Only the priests could enter here, none of the lay people. And it would have been remarkable, and visible to all if this were the curtain torn.

The second curtain was that which separated the sanctuary – or holy place” – from the Holy of Holies – where the Ark of the Covenant resided. Only the High Priest, and that, only once a year could go behind this veil. And He could do that only on the Day of Atonement. If anyone else were to go in there, they would be killed instantly. We know from the Old Testament that the garment the High Priest wore for that special occasion had a series of bells sewn into its bottom fringe. The idea was that as long as those bells were tinkling, those outside knew the Priest was still alive and walking and that the Atonement sacrifice had been accepted. Some say in addition that there was a cord around one of the High Priest’s ankles, so that if he did die in there, his body could be retrieved by pulling him out with this cord. Whether this part is true or not I do not know.

While some debate just which veil Matthew is referring to here, the writer to the Hebrews seems to put the arguments to rest. See: Hebrews 4:16; 6:19–20; 9:11–28 and especially Heb. 10:19-22 – “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

Here then is the double miracle. That God the Father, upon the death of Jesus, tore that inner curtain from top to bottom, so that Christ could enter in for us – and make the way for us to enter in too – AND, so that the glory of God always veiled behind that curtain could now spill out into the world.

Sin has been met. A full atonement has been made. The glory of God goes out into all the world through the preaching of the Gospel, and everyone who hears and believes is invited to come and be reconciled fully to the Father without fear!

Glory!

And I would be remiss if I tried to couch all of this in better words than those already penned by J. C. Ryle: “The rending of the veil proclaimed the termination and passing away of the ceremonial law. It was a sign that the old dispensation of sacrifices and ordinances was no longer needed. Its work was done. Its occupation was gone, from the moment that Christ died. There was no more need of an earthly high priest, and a mercy seat, and a sprinkling of blood, and an offering up of incense, and a day of atonement. The true High Priest had at length appeared. The true Lamb of God had been slain. The true mercy seat was at length revealed. The figures and shadows were no longer wanted. May we all remember this! To set up an altar, and a sacrifice, and a priesthood now, is to light a candle at noon-day.

That rending of the veil proclaimed the opening of the way of salvation to all mankind. The way into the presence of God was unknown to the Gentile, and only seen dimly by the Jew, until Christ died. But Christ having now offered up a perfect sacrifice, and obtained eternal redemption, the darkness and mystery were to pass away. All were to be invited now to draw near to God with boldness, and approach Him with confidence, by faith in Jesus. A door was thrown open, and a way of life set before the whole world. May we all remember this! From the time that Jesus died, the way of peace was never meant to be shrouded in mystery. There was to be no reserve. The Gospel was the revelation of a mystery, which had been hid from ages and generations. To clothe religion now with mystery, is to mistake the grand characteristic of Christianity.

Let us turn from the story of the crucifixion, every time we read it, with hearts full of praise. Let us praise God for the confidence it gives us, as to the ground of our hope of pardon. Our sins may be many and great, but the payment made by our Great Substitute far outweighs them all.—Let us praise God for the view it gives us of the love of our Father in heaven. He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, will surely with Him give us all things.—Not least, let us praise God for the view it gives us of the sympathy of Jesus with all His believing people. He can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He knows what suffering is. He is just the Saviour that an infirm body, with a weak heart, in an evil world, requires.¹

¹ Ryle, J. C. 1860. Expository Thoughts on Matthew. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.

Hallelujah!

Note second: We are never to build much on areas of Scripture that are unique and ill-defined.

It is of particular interest, that this event is not more widely entertained – either in Jesus’ day or ours. Even the most ancient commentators give it very little attention. That the Holy Spirit left but very scant details indicates to us that the spectacular nature of it is not to become a curious diversion. Yet, in our day, how many are diverted by what appear to be little more than parlour tricks by the religious charlatans that plague Christianity in the United States especially.

Here then s a great lesson – no matter how spectacular, no matter how supernatural and stupendous – when we are talking about the death of Jesus The Christ – it barely warrants attention. We are back to the Mount of Transfiguration: Listen to HIM!

A number of commentators note that the problem with our inserted punctuation (not in the original) most likely leads to a misreading. It probably should read that upon the earthquake, many tombs broke open. Then, upon Jesus’ resurrection, some saints were raised too and entered the City as proof of the supernatural work of Christ’s resurrection.

In any event, we are not given leave to speculate beyond what is written – and to stand in awe of the miracle.

Let us be content to accept that Jesus’ death and resurrection are so full of cosmic importance, that it has rippling effects we cannot even begin to fully take in and understand. It is a true wonder. Let us then just bow before the spectacle of it all – and give God our sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving.

Christ has died. Salvation has come. Let us believe – and praise Him.