The Veil
Last time, in our examination of the Tabernacle as described in Hebrews 9, we began to the Holy of Holies or the Holiest of All. This area was hidden away from inquisitive eyes by the outer fence, the thick, four layered coverings of the tabernacle itself and then the curtain that divided the holy of holies from the holy place so that even the priests could not see what was inside this most secret place. Today we are going to have a first look at this curtain or veil, but we’ll probably look at it again later as this chapter and the next have lots to say about its significance.
Hebrews 8 & 9 make much of this veil and its symbolism and we shall, DV, return to it again. It is summed up in v 8 By these things the Holy Spirit means us to understand that the way to the holy place was not yet open, that is, so long as the first tent and all that it stands for still exist. [JB Phillips]
The Holy Spirit designed the Tabernacle and the rules and rituals associated with it to teach us about our relationship with God. The veil showed that the way to the holy place was not yet open. The word “veil,” in Hebrew means a screen, divider or separator that hides. It separated the priests from a holy God. Whoever entered into the Holy of Holies was entering the presence of God and only the High-Priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies and then only once a year on the Day of Atonement after meticulous preparations. Anyone else, or the high-priest on any other day, would die.
But it was never God’s desire to distance Himself from mankind. He created us to enjoy fellowship with Him, but this was interrupted by Adam and Eve’s sin. After this the cherubim (God’s security service?) barred their way back to Eden. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. Gen 3:24
It is surely significant, therefore, that the veil, separating off the Holy of Holies, was embroidered with pictures of cherubim. You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim. Ex 26:31 Further the atonement cover was also overshadowed by Cherubim. 5 above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Was this to indicate that those coming to God could only approach on His terms? Doing otherwise was certainly a recipe for disaster!
It is still the same today. We can only come into God’s presence on God’s terms. Many try to scale the fence and tunnel under the coverings, but they cannot succeed. Some even convince themselves that the barriers don’t exist and try to walk straight into the HoH! Why not try try this approach out with a wall first – it is just mind over matter. Convince yourself that you can walk through the wall and then just walk forwards with your eyes firmly shut. You will find that if you don’t mind bumps and bruises it won’t matter. On the other hand you could just try using the door. Most people find this rather more effective!
That is why Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6
The OT sacrifices partially covered the sins of the people and priests and permitted limited access by the high-priest – once a year on the Day of Atonement, as we shall see another time, but these sacrifices could never permanently deal with their sin.
9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience.
Chapter 10 takes up the same theme, but makes it even plainer. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Jesus is the fulfilment of those symbols.
12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
How different this is to the OT sacrifices. They were poor imitations of what God would do in Christ when, in the fullness of time, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law Gal 4:4.
The wonderful significance of Jesus death on the Cross was shown when the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom Mt 27:51 – see also Mk 15:38 and Lk 23:45. As the veil was torn, the Holy of Holies was exposed showing that through Jesus and His sacrifice God’s presence was now accessible to all at any time. What a fright that must have given the priests in the temple at the time it happened! They must have feared for their lives, even though the Ark would not have been there.
We don’t know if this veil was a curtain, like that in the Tabernacle, or strong wooden doors – perhaps 30’ high, as in Solomon’s temple 1Ki 6:31-33. Either way it would have been no mean feat to tear such a veil, especially from the top to the bottom. If the priests had torn it, they would have started at the bottom. God started at the top, showing us that the initiative in opening up the way into His presence came from Him and not from us.
24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us
As the Jewish High-Priest went into the HoH and stood with the blood of the sacrifices before the Ark and Shekinah glory of God, so Christ appears in heaven itself before His Father. There Christ represents us as our Great High-Priest and our salvation is secured 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood and this purchases our eternal redemption.
Who could better represent us before His Father. Who else could take our poor prayers and present to His Father and obtain the blessings we need.
10:19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High-Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
The Atonement Cover / The mercy-seat
Beyond the veil, inside the HoH, was the Ark of the Covenant. As we saw last time it was the most important part of the tabernacle, indeed the rest was built to house it. We considered its construction and contents last time. Now I want us to consider its cover.
Ex. 25:17 “Then make the Ark’s cover––the place of atonement––from pure gold. It must be 45 inches long and 27 inches wide. 18 Then make two cherubim from hammered gold, and place them on the two ends of the atonement cover. 19 Mould the cherubim on each end of the atonement cover, making it all of one piece of gold. 20 The cherubim will face each other and look down on the atonement cover. With their wings spread above it, they will protect it. 21 … Then put the atonement cover on top of the Ark. 22 I will meet with you there and talk to you from above the atonement cover between the gold cherubim that hover over the Ark of the Covenant. From there I will give you my commands for the people of Israel. [NLT]
This cover was made of gold and is known as the atonement cover or mercy seat. At either end of this was a golden cherub with outstretched wings, meeting in the centre, overshadowing and, as it were, protecting God’s throne and holiness from sinful men – as with the cherubim embroidered on the veil.
Here they are described as the cherubim of glory v5 because the glory of God, known as the Shekinah, appeared between them, as we saw last time. It is interesting to note that it was neither around the tablets of the law, nor at the alter of sacrifice or incense, but above the atonement cover of the Ark.
This cover hid the tablets of the law, the pot of manna and Aaron’s staff, the evidence of the people’s failure and sin, from the presence of a Holy God. Taken with the blood shed in the sacrifices it allowed God to show love, mercy and grace to His people, when they deserved only His judgement.
Jesus the atonement cover
We are left in no doubt about the significance of this cover. Paul tells us in Rom 3:
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
The Greek word translated as propitiation is ’hilasterion’ and is the word used for the atonement cover or mercy seat in Hebrews. This means that Jesus Christ is the atonement cover. Its root f means to cover, cancel, appease, or cleanse. The atonement cover protected Israel from the judgment of God represented by the Cherubim. Because of the blood that was sprinkled on the mercy seat, man’s sin and guilt were covered and the curse of the law had no effect.
Jesus met the demands of law by His perfect life and death. He is both the atonement cover and the blood of sacrifice sprinkled on it. His righteousness fulfilled the holy law, but He also stands between us and it, so protecting us from the judgement that we deserved. Our own righteousness would be a poor covering, too narrow, too short, rather grubby and full of holes. But covered in Christ’s righteousness 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Rom 8
This is why we must come to God through Christ and His perfect sacrifice, seeking His mercy. We must be like the tax collector that Jesus described:
Lk 18:13 "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, `God, be merciful to me a sinner!’
Not the self-righteous Pharisee
11 "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men––extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 ‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’
What was Jesus’ conclusion?
14 "I tell you, this man (the tax collector) went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
The tabernacle’s atonement cover foreshadowed the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you know, with total certainty, that He forever stands between you, a sinner, and a holy God? Just as the sins of Israel were covered only by the sprinkling of the blood on the mercy seat, so also the blood of Christ is the only way in which your sin can be forgiven forever. Indeed, the sacrifice of Christ is infinitely more effective – more on this later, DV.
