2 Corinthians 3

Bible Passage: 2 Corinthians 3

(Opening Note: Apologies for the late write-up… And now back to our regularly scheduled programme…)

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…

2 Corinthians 3: 14

In this part of Paul’s 2^nd epistle to the Corinthian church, he mentioned of this “veil” that had once covered the hearts and minds of the people of Israel, for they still followed the practices of the Mosaic Law from the Old Testament. And while the “veil” was still present in some of them whose hearts were hardened, for others, this had been lifted and taken away in Christ.

In my sharing today, I’ve written some brief sharing on two kinds of “veils” (well of course, just my own opinion). Two “veils” that have been lifted from us when Christ came down to earth, died on the cross, resurrected and rose to heaven.

The veil to the new covenant

When Christ was with His disciples, they could not understand a number of the things that their Teacher told them, nor could they reason why He did certain things (e.g. allowed Himself to be caught and crucified, the teachings on the boat after feeding the five thousand), for their hearts were still hardened. But after the Lord had resurrected, risen back to heaven and poured down the promised Holy Spirit upon them, they finally understood. The “veil” had been lifted from their eyes and they could see the salvation grace of God…

But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken…

Luke 18: 34

Christ came to die on the cross for the forgiveness of mankind’s sins. And along with that, He had also nailed the Mosaic Law, under which we have been condemned, to the cross, ushering in a new era of grace for all mankind. And because of this, we have been freed from the law and are now under grace. We can be freed from slaves of sin to become slaves of Christ.

…Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross…

Colossians 2: 14

For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace…

Romans 6: 14

Before we came to know Christ, before He really came into our lives (or rather before we let Him in), we did whatever we wanted to do. We probably could not really understand what the Lord wants of us. We also probably cannot really understand the teachings in the Bible. But after He came into our lives, the veil had been lifted, and we can see clearer what the Lord wills, and what His words in the Bible are trying to teach us…

The veil to communicate with God

In the Old Testament times, from the Mosaic times to the time of Jesus, the people of Israel had the high priest to pray for them, to make offerings for the atonement of sins for them, being like a “middleman” for them.

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom…

Matthew 27: 51

But upon Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, the veil at the temple was torn in half from top to bottom. This was no mere “freak” incident, but it was a sign that the “veil” had been removed so that we can now go direct to the heavenly Father without the need for a physical high priest. This is because now, we have a better High Priest, who is now at the right of God making constant intercessions for us.

But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance… But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation…

Hebrews 9: 7, 11

Therefore, He is able to save them to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercessions for them…

Hebrews 7: 25

Because of our Lord’s great sacrifice on the cross, we can all humbly come before our heavenly Father and kneel down in prayer, making our requests known to Him, without the veil being a separation, for we have been reconciled with God…

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation…

2 Corinthians 5: 18

Let us ask ourselves if we have fully accepted Christ as our true Lord and Saviour and if we have obediently kept His commandments.

Or have we also hardened our hearts, still having a veil lying over our hearts and our minds and blinding us?

May God continue to guide us along our walk of faith…

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