The Curtain

When Jesus died on the cross, Matthew 27:50 where it says 'And Jesus cried out again in a loud voice and yielded up His spirit.' verse 51, 'And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.'

Now you may be thinking, okay, a curtain tore. What's up with that? Why is that important? These at least were my thoughts at one time.

You must know the history of this curtain to really understand the significance of the tearing.

In the Jewish temple, there were sections where only certain people could go. The outermost section, anybody and everybody could enter. The middle chamber was only open to priests, but then there was the inner chamber. This was the most Holy place, kept from the outside world by a curtain. No one could go in this chamber except on a certain day, the Day of Atonement. This is where one priest would go and ask for the forgiveness of all the people's sins. The priest had to follow every rule, every step when he entered this chamber. Before he walked in, he had to make an offering for his own sins, signifying that he too was sinful.

Now, there we see the curtain mentioned in the text. The curtain preventing anyone but that priest on that day to have access to God.

Look at Hebrews 10:19-20 "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,"

There is the curtain. What this is talking about is how we no longer are prevented from having a personal relationship with God. Back then, the only people that could talk to God were the priests. But when Jesus died for us on the cross, becoming the ultimate sacrifice, He broke that wall, or curtain, preventing us from access to a relationship with God.

Notice how the curtain tore. 'top to bottom' according to the text. The path from Heaven to earth was opened. Jesus opened that path, that line of communication, with His death on the cross. Now, in a way, we are priests. We can have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

That is why a curtain tearing is mentioned in the Bible.

"Psalms 103:11-12 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His stedfast love toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us."