Why did the temple veil tear from top to bottom?
The veil tore from top to bottom to prove no human hand caused it; it was a miracle-working act of God. The veil pictured Christ’s flesh, and its rending showed that His death opened the way into God’s presence, which was otherwise entered only once yearly.
Les teaches that the temple veil separated the sanctuary where priests ministered daily from the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant, God’s presence, and the Shekinah Glory were. Only Aaron the High Priest entered behind the veil once a year on the Day of Atonement. The veil in Solomon’s temple was so thick and heavy that Josephus indicates a team of oxen could not have ripped it, yet Scripture says it was torn in two from top to bottom. Les explains the top-to-bottom direction proves men had nothing to do with it; it was totally an act of a miracle-working God. The rending showed the way into God’s presence was made possible by His death, because the veil symbolized His body of flesh.
More Questions
What did the tearing of the temple veil indicate or mean?
The tearing of the temple veil indicated that Christ's death had made the way into God's presence possible.