The Tabernacle Curtains: God's Holy Space
When God instructed Moses to build the tabernacle, curtains played a central role in creating a sacred space for worship. In Exodus 26, we find detailed instructions for the tabernacle's construction, where fine linen curtains formed the walls of the tent sanctuary. These weren't merely functional—they represented a boundary between the holy and the common, teaching Israel that approaching God required reverence and preparation.
Perhaps most significant was the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. This curtain, described in Exodus 26:31-33, was embroidered with cherubim and dyed in blue, purple, and scarlet. Only the high priest could pass behind this veil, and only once yearly on the Day of Atonement. The curtain symbolized humanity's separation from God due to sin—a barrier that seemed impenetrable. Yet this very curtain held profound theological meaning for believers, reminding us that access to God's presence was restricted until Christ's redemptive work made a way.
The Veil Torn: Christ's Victory
The most breathtaking moment involving a curtain occurs in the Gospels. When Jesus died on the cross, Matthew 27:50-51 tells us that "the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom." This wasn't a small tear—it was a supernatural event that happened at the exact moment of Christ's death. The veil that had separated sinful humanity from God's holy presence was torn, symbolizing that the way to God was now open to all believers through Jesus Christ.
The writer of Hebrews understood this profound significance. In Hebrews 10:19-20, we're told that through Jesus' blood, we have "confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body." The curtain, once a barrier, had become a door. Jesus' flesh became the means by which we access God's presence. This transforms the curtain from a symbol of separation into a symbol of Christ's bridge between heaven and earth.
Application: Access and Reverence Today
What does this mean for us as Canadian believers living centuries after these events? First, we can approach God with gratitude and confidence. Unlike the Israelites who needed a high priest to intercede for them, we have direct access through Christ. We can pray boldly, knowing that Jesus has made us acceptable before the Father. This is the privilege of the gospel—the barriers are gone.
Yet we must never let this access breed carelessness. The torn curtain reminds us that God took our sin seriously enough to require the death of His Son. When we pray, when we worship, when we gather for corporate worship, we do so with reverent hearts, remembering both the cost of our access and the holiness of the God we approach. The curtain's removal invites us not to irreverence, but to grateful, humble worship of the King who loved us enough to tear down every barrier between us and His heart.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence 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 and with the full assurance that faith brings. (Hebrews 10:19-22)