17th May 2026
The Torn
Curtain
The gospel accounts has recorded a certain event that happened during the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ, an event we sometimes just gloss over without giving much thought.
Let me read it to you:
Matthew 27:50~51
“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 and
the rocks split.”
Mark 15:37~38
“With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to
bottom.”
Luke 23:44~45
“It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over
the whole land until the ninth hour,
For the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.”
This was one of the most profound, yet frequently overlooked events of the crucifixion. Oftentimes we fail to appreciate the significance of this event.
The Jewish temple was a holy place, set apart for worship and sacrifices to God.
The temple was separated into 3 areas:-
The Outer Court,
The Holy Place, and
The Most Holy Place (sometimes also called the Holy of
Holies).
The Outer Court was where people brought their sacrifices and offerings.
The Holy Place had three articles of furniture in it :
·
The Golden Lampstand, which was to be kept
burning continuously, giving light to the Holy Place. This place was only accessible to the priests
who carried out their daily duties.
·
The Table of Showbread (or the Bread of
Presence), where the bread was baked fresh every week.
·
The Altar of Incense, where special incense was
to be burned each morning and evening as an offering to the Lord.
The Most Holy Place was the innermost part of the temple, where God’s presence dwelt above the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:22).
Now, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place was separated by a curtain, separating the presence of a holy God from sinful men.
And
only the High Priest could enter through the curtain into the Most Holy Place
to offer sacrifices and atonement for the sins of the people (and for himself),
and
only once a year,
on
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
Anyone
else who entered the Most Holy Place, other than the High Priest, would be
struck down by God (Leviticus 16:2).
No matter who or what status we are, sinful mankind is separated from God’s holy presence.
“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)
When Jesus died on the cross, the three Gospels reported that this temple curtain that separated the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place was torn in two, from top to bottom!
What is the significance of this seemingly insignificant event?
After
all, it is just a torn curtain, right?
Some of you may even have torn curtains at home..?
If someone wants to split a hanging curtain into two, you just have to make a cut at the bottom and pull from both sides, so that the cut spreads straight upward…
but
in the case of the temple curtain, it splitted from top to bottom!
According to ancient Jewish literature, this curtain was about 60’0” high (6 storeys?) and 4” thick (a hand’s breadth)! It was a very heavy curtain!
It is humanly impossible to rip this heavy curtain in two from 60’0” above the ground right down to the bottom!
Only God Himself could have supernaturally caused the curtain to be torn in this manner!
That is why Hebrews 10:19~20 says,
“Therefore,
brothers (& sisters), since we have confidence (boldness) to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of
Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his
body, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart with full assurance of
faith….”
The torn curtain symbolized that the way to God was now open to all through the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the blood of animal sacrifices was no longer needed.
Because the curtain is now torn apart, we can now enter into the very presence of God in prayer and praise at any time, through our Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ.
That is why we do not have a priest in front of the church to lead us in worship, this morning.
We
are a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9)
We
are all priests unto God. We do not need
another “priest” to approach God on our behalf.
So, let us never forget that this privilege was purchased for us at a tremendous cost - the shedding of blood of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, that makes it now possible for us to enter into the Most Holy Place!
Let us remind ourselves that we are coming before a holy God, and approaching Him is a privilege, not something casual.
As
we bring our sacrifices of praise to Him, fruit of our lips that proclaims His
Name,
may
our minds be renewed through His Word
and
our hearts be transformed through His Spirit.
May we stand O Lord in this Holy Place
May we worship you and behold your face
May we be transformed by your Word and your
Spirit
And behold the Day of the Lord.
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