“And lo! the veil of the temple was rent in two parts, from the highest to the lowest”, Matthew 27:51. The curtain or veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:31-33) and its tearing represented the end of the Temple arrangement and its figurative worship. The veil was Jesus’ flesh as explained in Hebrews 10:20, “…the veil, that is to say his flesh.” It symbolized that the great High Priest had obtained our redemption and entered the Most Holy on our behalf. The Jewish sacrifices were no longer needed because of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. (See Hebrews 9 and 10:19-21) Mark’s gospel specified that the curtain was torn from top to bottom symbolizing that it was God who ripped the curtain. Through the Mediator the way of salvation was opened to all mankind; Gentiles as well as Jews.
