What was the meaning or purpose of the veil being torn?

Question

Matthew 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

Answer 1

In a sense, the veil was symbolic of Christ, Himself. Christ is the only way to the Father. (John 14:6) This is symbolized in the fact that the High Priest had to enter the Holy of Holies through the veil. Now Christ is our more superior High Priest, and as believers in the finished work of Jesus we partake of His better priesthood. We can now enter the Holy of Holies by Him. Hebrews 10:19-20 says that the faithful enter into the sanctuary by the “blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the veil, that is, through his flesh.”

Answer 2

It's symbolic of Jesus' atoning sacrifice bridging the gap between humanity and God. The veil or curtain in the Temple separated all people (the Hebrews) except for the High Priest (who could enter into this inner sanctuary only once a year) from the place where God was.

Answer 3

In the old testament, the only way to go into the presence of God was to go into the Holy of Holies. The priest had to make sure he had no sins to confess, wash himself and be purified before going in there. Once inside, he would ask God to forgive the sins of the people. It was done once a year. When Jesus died on the cross, He became the payment for our sins. The Holy of Holies was no longer needed. Because of Jesus, we can go before our God without using a priest. That is why the veil tore from the top to the bottom. God did that. By the way, the Veil was quite thick. this was no flimsy curtain. We can now go into the presence of God using Jesus as our intercessor. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

In the Temple, the veil separated the Holy of Holies from the congregation; only the high priest ever went in beyond the veil (and tradition has it that even HE had a rope tied around his leg so that he could be pulled out if God struck him dead!). In the sundering of the veil that is described in Matthew, Christians believe that the necessity of having a priest to allow them to interact with God was abolished.

Answer 5

Before, the only people allowed in the temple were the priests but now the way to God is open to all and the veil was torn from the top to the bottom to show that it was not man who tore it but God.

Answer 6

At the moment Jesus dies, the huge curtain that divides the Holy from the Most Holy in God’s temple is rent in two, from top to bottom. Apparently this beautifully ornamented curtain is some 60 feet high and very heavy! The astonishing miracle not only manifests God’s wrath against the killers of His Son but signifies that the way into the Most Holy, heaven itself, is now made possible by Jesus’ death.

Answer 7

This the sanctuary being cleansed as told in Daniel 8. Jesus prophesied this in Matthew 24:29-31. Jesus also said destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. Jesus built a temple for His Father, a place for inwhich he would dwell, a temple built without hands. A spiritual church that us born of God the Father belong.

Answer 8

It represented the doing away of the law. Notice it was rent from top to bottom symbolizing a work of God, because the veil was so high up that no man could reach it.

Answer 9

The veil was used to separate man from God. Only the high priest could enter after an extensive ritual of sacrifice and cleansing. However, after Christ's finished work, He broke the wall of separation. As Paul made very clear in Ephesians 2:13-15

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace.

Answer 10

The veil was made to keep God separate from Man. Only the high priest could enter in and then only once a year. With Jesus' death, He took that veil away so that any of us can enter into the presence of God though Jesus.