In Matthew 27 What Is The Significance Of The Temple Veil Being Torn At Jesus Death?
The Tearing of the Temple Veil at Jesus’ Death: A Bible Study on Matthew 27
In Matthew 27:51, we read a remarkable event that occurred at the very moment of Jesus’ death:
And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake; and the rocks were rent. - Matthew 27:51 ASV
This dramatic tearing of the temple veil is loaded with theological significance. Let’s explore its meaning, background, and implications for our faith.
Background: The Temple Veil
The temple in Jerusalem was the center of Jewish worship, containing two main sections: the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies). The veil, or curtain, separated these two areas (Exodus 26:33). Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and only once a year, on the Day of Atonement, to offer a sacrifice for the people’s sins (Leviticus 16:2).
The veil symbolized the separation between a holy God and sinful humanity. God’s presence was behind the veil, inaccessible to all except the high priest.
The Veil Torn: God’s Divine Act
When Jesus died, the temple veil was torn from top to bottom. This detail is crucial—it was not torn by human hands, but by God Himself. The timing, immediately following Jesus’ last breath (Matthew 27:50), shows the direct connection between Christ’s sacrifice and this supernatural event.
Significance of the Tearing of the Veil
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Access to God is Now Open
Through the death of Jesus, the barrier between God and humanity is removed. All who trust in Christ have direct access to God, not through priests or sacrifices, but through faith in Jesus’ finished work.
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh. - Hebrews 10:19-20 ASV
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The End of the Old Covenant Sacrificial System
The tearing of the veil signals the fulfillment and conclusion of the Old Testament sacrificial system. Jesus is the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice for sin.
But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come... entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption. - Hebrews 9:11-12 ASV
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God’s Presence Is Now with His People
With the veil removed, God’s presence is no longer confined to a building or a specific location. Believers themselves become the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? - 1 Corinthians 3:16 ASV
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
All of Scripture points to Christ, and the torn veil highlights this truth. The separation caused by sin is overcome by Jesus’ atoning death. The way to the Father is now open to all who believe in Him.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me. - John 14:6 ASV
Application: Living in the Light of the Open Way
The torn veil invites us to draw near to God with confidence, knowing that Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient. It calls us to worship, prayer, and fellowship with God, not based on ritual, but on relationship through Jesus.
Conclusion
The tearing of the temple veil at Jesus’ death is a powerful sign of the new covenant, the end of the old system, and the beginning of direct access to God for all believers. It demonstrates the depth of God’s love and the sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice for our salvation.