The Torn Veil & Temple Destruction
Imagine watching a wall that had stood for generations suddenly rip apart without a human hand touching it. At the exact moment Jesus died on the cross, the massive veil inside the Temple was torn from top to bottom. This tear was more than a dramatic event. It was a message from heaven: the sacrifice had been accepted, the wall had been removed, and the way into God’s presence was now open.
Matthew records, “Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:50–51). For centuries, this veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where only the high priest could enter once a year with blood for atonement. After the veil was torn, what happened next? Did the priests recognize what God was declaring, or did they try to repair the veil and continue as though nothing had changed?
The ripping of the veil was not merely a historical incident; it was God's announcement to the world. First, this incident declared that Jesus is the final and sufficient sacrifice. The blood of bulls and goats could never fully remove sin, but Christ offered Himself once for all. Second, it declared that access to God is no longer reserved for one man, one day a year, behind a veil. Through Jesus Christ, believers may come boldly to the throne of grace. Third, it declared that the old covenant temple system had reached its fulfillment. Yet some find change hard to accept because our human nature tends to resist changes to our natural routine. For this reason alone, I believe the leadership tried to mend the veil to maintain the status quo of ongoing sacrifices for the people. And for the next 40 years of trying to restore this system, another devastating event occurred. The Roman forces under Titus Flavius Vespasianus, the son of Emperor Vespasian, destroyed the Temple and seized Jerusalem in 70 AD. Yes, Herod the Great's magnificent temple was demolished.
The torn veil was the first sermon; the fallen Temple echoed that sermon. At Calvary, God showed that access to His presence no longer depended on a curtain, a priestly line, repeated animal sacrifices, or a building made with human hands. In 70 A.D., the physical center of that old sacrificial order ended.
The 70 A.D. destruction does not mean that the cross was incomplete until the Temple fell. The cross was the decisive work; the destruction of the Temple witnessed what Christ had already fulfilled. The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus entered the true holy place once for all by His own blood, securing eternal redemption. And being made perfect, he (Jesus) became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him (Hebrews 5:9). Therefore, when the Temple fell, believers did not lose their access to God because they had received something greater than an earthly sanctuary: a crucified, risen, and reigning High Priest who brings His people near to the Father.
What does this mean for Believers today?
As believers, we should not depend on buildings or monuments to reach God. Buildings can provide comfortable places to gather and worship, but God cares more about His people than the building. Because the veil was torn and the Temple was destroyed, everyone can approach God without a physical structure or human mediator. This relationship begins by believing in the finished work of Jesus. Remember, we do not bring our own righteousness to a building; we come to clothe ourselves in His righteousness. We do not need another sacrifice; we rest in the Lamb who was slain. We do not worship according to ritual alone; we worship in spirit and in truth, with hearts cleansed by grace.
The torn veil and the temple destroyed in 70 A.D. still speak to us today. These two events remind us to come near. Do not remain in guilt when Christ has made atonement. Do not live behind a veil of shame when the Son has opened the way. Do not rebuild barriers that God has torn down. The cross was not only where Jesus died; it was where access was granted, mercy was poured out, and the presence of God was opened to all who believe.
