THE VEIL HIDES THE GLORY

But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.

Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor. 3:7-18

We have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord. 2 Corinthians 4:2-5

Here we have the Apostle Paul writing to the Corinthian assembly. Much of this second letter to the Corinthians was devoted to defending his Apostleship against the “Judaizers” …converted Jews who, to a great extent, were still “operating” under the law and insisted Gentile converts do the same. Since Paul boldly denounced them, they greatly criticized and tried to impugned him and his Apostleship saying he was not with Jesus…had never been a disciple, therefore he had no real “message.”

But I want to focus on this passage in chapters three and four about the veil and the two covenants.

In chapter 3 verse 3, Paul says… clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart… to validate his office. He is saying “Clearly you are Christ’s because of us” (Paul and his fellow ministers…Titus, Sosthenes, Appolos, etc.)

Imagine…Paul says to the very carnal Christians at Corinth, “Clearly” you are of Christ. Wow, I could go off on that for a while, but they were believers. And it was Paul who had preached the Gospel to them, which he asserts was given to him by the Lord Jesus Himself specifically for the Gentiles. He tells them, “God has made us ministers of the New Covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Cor. 3:6. The word “letter” is a “paulinism” for the LAW. The law kills! What does Paul mean by that?

Well, the answer to that is in the contrast of his statement (and also elsewhere in the Bible) “We are ministers of THE NEW COVENANT” …Life - of the SPIRIT. The Old Covenant was the administration of DEATH… the LAW. Man was born into condemnation of death as the penalty for sin. All the law could do was show us our sin and our INABILITY to do anything about our condemnation… which SHOULD HAVE turned man to God for mercy. The remedy was in faith toward God as a REDEEMER. The GLORY of the Old Covenant was the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the Law. It was perfect! As Jesus showed. But man was unable to keep the Law. But, of course, all that was veiled, as we learn as we study. Some received it… most did not.

Moses was a “type” of Christ/Redeemer. The Glory was on his countenance… in his appearance. So much so, and because it was the Glory of God which no man could look upon, Moses had to veil himself. Moses led his people out of captivity… out of slavery. Moses was the first Jew called out of Egypt. His life’s parallels with Christ are numerous. There was a veil between Moses’ glory and the children of Israel.

As Paul says, “to this day the veil remains” between the children of Israel and the reading of the Old Testament… and especially the veil remains as to the Glory of Jesus Christ. The New Covenant offers FREEDOM from sin and death. It is the ministry and administration of LIFE (eternal)… the law can no longer condemn a born-again believer because WE HAVE ALREADY DIED IN CHRIST and have risen a new creation (the Spirit gives Life), albeit… still in the flesh.

The Jewish Temple veil, separated the inner sanctuary, called the Holy of Holies (God’s dwelling), from the rest of the temple, the Holy Place. The veil was wall to wall, and ceiling to ceiling… 20 cubits by 20 cubits by 20 cubits (1 cubit=18 inches)…very thick and very heavy. Only the high priest could enter after purifying himself and then only once per year (Yom Kippur). When Christ died on the cross, the veil was ripped …from top to bottom, signifying an act of God whereby we could now enter in through Christ, our High Priest. The veil is taken away in Christ.

The Veil Hides the Glory.

When one comes to Christ, the veil is removed. We then can see, as in a mirror, the Truth, the Life, the working of God in our lives; we see the Glory of the Lord. The Word says, “we see as in a mirror” the same image from glory to glory.

We see our transformation into the same image as the Lord.

There is so much from the rest of the Word that comes to bear here… we see by revelation, we see because we have the mind of Christ, we see with hearts of understanding, we see by faith, we see because we abide in Christ, we see because we are in communion with the Father, we see because we have the Light.

We see if we repent of our sins; if we confess our sins, and if we remain in the holiness of the Spirit.

So the veil in the Temple was ripped from top to bottom… a significant, supernatural occurrence which declared that ANYONE could now go in through Christ and fellowship with God. Note in scripture that there were signs all around them when Jesus died… it became pitch black dark AT HIGH NOON for three hours; there was an earthquake; tombs were opened; rocks were split apart; many bodies of the saints who had “fallen asleep” were raised and came out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Signs that proved even to the Roman centurions… “Surely this was the Son of God.” Matt. 27:54

But what did the Jews do? They sewed the veil back up! Unbelievable! Do not some in the world today do just that. They are exposed to the Light, and they veil their eyes again.

But the flesh too is a veil.

Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it is not yet manifest what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

The new man, the new creation-born again-child of God is like Christ in righteousness. The Glory of the new man is in the Glory of Christ. But we are still in the flesh… we are veiled in the flesh. We cannot be known for who we are (children of God) because we cannot be seen for what we are (a new creation in Christ).

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

The world does not know us (as children of God), because it did not know Him (as the Son of God) because the flesh veils the inner man. However, the works of God are clearly seen, which is how we proclaim Him… through good works. 

Jesus said, “If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.” John 10:37-38

Put off the flesh and walk in the Spirit so that we may do those good deeds which are irreproachable… righteous and blameless.

Conduct yourselves with such honor among the nations that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us. 1 Peter 2:12

Let us UNVEIL ourselves.

And not just our good deeds, but…

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse of it proclaims the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1