The tearing of the temple veil signified that God Himself opened the way into His presence through the finished work of Christ's death.
The veil separated the sanctuary from the Holy of Holies, where God's presence dwelt, and only the high priest could enter once a year on the Day of Atonement. Les Feldick emphasizes that the veil was rent from top to bottom to prove no man had any part in it; it was God's act, making access to the Throne Room of Heaven possible for all who believe.
Matthew 27:51 — This is the scriptural account of the veil being torn in two from top to bottom at the moment of Christ's death, which is the event the question asks about.
Matthew 27:51 records that at the moment of Jesus' death, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. According to Exodus 26:33, the veil divided between the holy place and the most holy. The most holy place contained the ark of the testimony and was the place of God's presence. Hebrews 9:7 confirms that only the high priest entered the second tabernacle alone once every year, with blood. Hebrews 10:19-20 connects this veil to Christ's flesh, teaching that believers may enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus through the veil, that is to say, His flesh.
Les Feldick explains that the veil in the tabernacle and later the temple separated the sanctuary, where priests ministered daily, from the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant and the presence of God dwelt. Only the high priest went behind that veil once a year on the Day of Atonement. When Christ died, the veil was rent from top to bottom. Les stresses that the direction proves no man had anything to do with it; it was an act of God. The veil was so thick and heavy that a team of oxen could not have ripped it apart. In symbolism, the veil spoke of Christ's Body of Flesh. Its tearing meant the way into the presence of God was made possible by His death. As Les puts it, the suffering of the Body of Flesh made it possible for mankind to come into the very Throne Room of Heaven—no longer through the high priest once a year, but boldly. He also notes that the Jews simply sewed the veil back up and continued temple worship into the Acts period. Additionally, Les teaches that everything in the tabernacle, including the veil, was a picture of Christ's finished work—what he calls propitiation. Every part pictured what Christ accomplished on the cross through His shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection, all done on our behalf.
Les emphasizes the direction of the tear. The veil was torn from the top to the bottom, not the bottom to the top, signifying that no man had anything to do with it—it was an act of God. He notes the veil was so thick and heavy that a team of oxen could not have ripped it apart, which makes the supernatural tearing even more significant.
Les explains that the veil was the part in the tabernacle and later the temple that separated the sanctuary, where priests ministered daily, from the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant and the presence of God were. It was a barrier that kept the presence of God from the view of the priests. In symbolism, the veil pictured the very body of Christ. Just as the veil kept priests from entering, Christ's flesh was the way that had to be opened through His death.
Les teaches that because the veil was rent, the way into the very Throne Room of Heaven has been opened. No longer is access limited to the high priest once a year; believers can now come boldly into the Throne Room because of what Christ accomplished. He also points out that the Jews sewed up the veil and continued temple worship, never realizing what God had done.
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And if you could have a community of 100% born-again believers, you'd have a pretty decent place to live. I'm not saying it's perfect. See, that's just like the local church. No church is perfect. And like I said on this program one time, if it was perfect, I'd like to find it, but I wouldn't dare join it because then I'd be no longer perfect.
Access Opened to God's Throne Room
Les says the tearing of the veil, which pictured Christ's Body of Flesh, made it possible for mankind to come into the Throne Room of Heaven, and believers can now come boldly—something the high priest could only do once a year. He also notes the Jews sewed it back up.
The Veil's Function and the Holy of Holies
Les explains that the veil separated the sanctuary from the Holy of Holies, where God's presence dwelled, and that only the high priest went behind it once a year on the Day of Atonement.
Top-to-Bottom Tearing Proves God Did It
Les emphasizes the veil was so heavy that a team of oxen couldn't tear it, and it was ripped from top to bottom—showing it was a miracle of God, not man. The veil symbolized His Body of Flesh, and its tearing opened the way into God's presence.
The Veil as a Picture of Christ's Body
Les says the veil kept the presence of God from the priests and pictured the body of Christ. It was rent from top to bottom, signifying no man had anything to do with it; it was an act of God.
The Tabernacle as a Picture of Finished Work
Les teaches that everything in the tabernacle spoke of Christ, and that on the Day of Atonement, Christ accomplished everything on the cross—His shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection—all done on our behalf.
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Every single aspect of that tabernacle in its composition, the gold and the silver and the stones and all the rest of it, every one of them were a picture of the work of salvation that Christ accomplished at the cross, and I call that whole work propitiation.
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They call it limited atonement, and I can't buy that because the Scripture is so plain that His death potentially was enough for every human being who was ever brought into the scene. Alright, propitiation, what is it? All of this, not counting the tribes, but the outer wall, the court, all the elements in it, from the gold and the silver and all the beautiful materials, to the wood, to the brass,…
Matthew 27:51: And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
This is the direct event being asked about: the temple veil tearing at Christ's death.
Exodus 26:33: And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
This shows the veil's purpose: dividing the holy place from the most holy in the tabernacle.
Hebrews 9:7: But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
This confirms the limitation that only the high priest entered the most holy place once a year.
Hebrews 10:19-20: Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
This connects the veil to Christ's flesh and the believer's boldness to enter God's presence.
Les Feldick explains that the direction of the tear proves it was an act of God. No man could have torn it; the veil was so thick and heavy that even a team of oxen could not have ripped it apart. It was torn from top to bottom to show that God Himself opened the way.
Les teaches that the veil pictured Christ's Body of Flesh. It separated the presence of God from the priests. When Christ died, the veil was torn, indicating that the way into God's presence had been opened through His death.
Les points out that the Jews sewed the veil back up and continued their temple worship, never realizing that God had opened the way through Christ's death. The veil remained in place during the Acts period.
Watch the Teaching: What Does "Saved by Faith" Really Mean? Romans 1:16-17