Author's Note: All previous volumes of this series are here. The first 56 volumes are compiled into the book "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible." "Part Two," featuring volumes 57-113, was published in December 2022.
Thanks for joining us for a topic I believe does not receive enough attention or contemplation. Last week in Vol. 228, when I briefly discussed the torn curtain, I felt a calling to write a deeper study about its universal meaning. So here we go!
The last time I wrote a Bible study about Jesus and the torn temple curtain was Vol. 2 posted on Feb. 2, 2020. (There must be some significance to all those number twos. If you are a numerologist, please comment or email.)
Recorded in three of the four gospels, this miraculous tearing was perfectly timed as Jesus took his last breath on the cross. Since the temple’s video recording cameras had yet to be invented, we can only imagine the high priests screaming about the end of the world or that God was about to appear. (They would have been correct about the latter.) The high priests knew only the Power of God could have torn the heavy curtain from top to bottom since it was approximately 60 feet high and four inches thick.
The Book of Exodus described the curtain (conceived by God, the interior designer) as a magnificent textile crafted by a “skilled worker.” The Lord Almighty was also the general contractor who provided Moses with precise instructions for hardware installation and placement when He said:
“Make a curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it by a skilled worker. Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the covenant law behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place” (Exodus 26:31-33).
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The “Most Holy Place,” also known as the “Holy of Holies,” was the inner room of the Jerusalem temple’s tabernacle. Preserved within that sacred space was the Ark of the Covenant, which, when opened, displayed a sample of manna, Aaron’s rod, and the Ten Commandments — two of God’s miracles and the law described in Exodus.
God’s presence dwelled in the Holy of Holies. Once a year, on Yom Kippur, a high priest was allowed to enter that place of honor and glory to ask for forgiveness of sins on behalf of the Israelites. As a sacrifice before God, the priest sprinkled animal blood on the lid of the Ark of the Covenant, which was called the Mercy Seat.
Now that you understand how holy the Holy of Holies was, fast forward approximately 1500 years to when Christ was crucified. Let’s review the three gospel accounts describing the events surrounding the tearing of the curtain:
“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split” (Matthew 27:50-51).
“With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Mark 15: 37-38).
“It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last” (Luke 23:44-46).
Christ, the sacrificial Lamb of God, shed his blood on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. After doing so, animal blood and animal sacrifice were not needed.
What does it mean to you that after Christ died, the curtain separating God from Man was torn in two? Hebrews 6 states that Jesus went “behind the curtain” and “he entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
(Hebrews 6:19-20). (See Vols. 227 & 228 about Melchizedek and Jesus.) Here is my understanding of the meaning of the torn curtain.
Upon his death and subsequent resurrection, Jesus Christ was with God; He is God. But Jesus is also available to have a relationship with you. That sounds trite but true and reassuring. Jesus walked the earth. He was betrayed. He felt pain and suffering. He understands you. There are no barriers between you and Jesus, except for the “curtains” you construct. Nothing can separate you from Jesus. Here is what St. Paul wrote about that truth:
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8: 39-39).
No separation means you can talk to Jesus like a friend. You can walk with Him, praise Him, and show your love for Him by engaging in God-centered actions in His name. You can also be angry with Him if you are suffering through life’s trials. Jesus understands suffering because of what He did for you on the cross. His love for you is beyond human understanding. If we are so privileged, we will spend our eternal life with Him. Only then, when we are “home,” will we understand how much He loved us when we walked the earth.
If you are troubled, pray in Jesus's name. If you don’t know Him, invite Him into your life, chat, ask him questions, and grow your relationship with Him through prayer. You can check out the popular Hallow prayer app. It features Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in the hit series “The Chosen” and many other well-known prayer leaders.
Remember that upon His death on the cross, the temple curtain separating God and Man was torn. That means you are free to have a relationship with Him because Jesus is there for everyone. Amen!
Myra Kahn Adams is a conservative political and religious writer with numerous national credits. Her book, "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible," reprints the first 56 volumes of this popular study. "Part 2,” with the same title, reprints Vols. 57-113. Order it here.
Myra is also the Executive Director of the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit, dedicated to building a permanent Shroud of Turin exhibit in Washington, D.C. The National Shroud of Turin Exhibit recently hosted a four-day exhibit with a VIP guest at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, IN. Contact: <MyraAdams01@gmail.com>
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