The tearing of the temple veil signifies that Christ's death opened the way into the presence of God by an act of God Himself.
The veil was the huge curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from the sanctuary, keeping the presence of God from view. At the moment Christ died, it was ripped in two "from the top to the bottom," proving it was an act of God, not man. Les Feldick teaches that the veil pictured Christ's body of flesh, and its tearing signified that the way into God's presence had been opened by His death.
Matthew 27:51 — This verse records the exact moment the temple veil was rent in twain from top to bottom immediately after Christ yielded up the ghost.
Matthew 27:52-53 — These verses show the connection between the rent veil and the graves being opened, with the saints coming out after Christ's resurrection.
According to Matthew 27:50-51, after Jesus cried with a loud voice and yielded up the ghost, "the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent." The same passage reports that "the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many" (Matthew 27:52-53). Scripture emphasizes that the tearing happened at the moment of Christ's death and that the risen saints came out after His resurrection. The account links this supernatural tearing of the veil to the convulsion of the earth and the opening of graves, making it part of the immediate divine response to the crucifixion.
Les Feldick teaches that the veil was the huge curtain in the tabernacle and later the temple that separated the sanctuary from the Holy of Holies. It was so thick and heavy that a team of oxen could not have ripped it apart, yet the account says it was rent in two from top to bottom. He emphasizes that Scripture makes the direction explicit "from the top to the bottom" to prove that men had nothing to do with it; it was totally an act of a miracle-working God. Les also explains that the veil in symbolism spoke of Christ's body of flesh. The suffering of that body made it possible for mankind to come into the very throne room of heaven—not just by way of the high priest once a year, but boldly, because the way had been opened by God's own act. He further notes that the Jews sewed the veil back up and went on with their temple worship, never realizing what had caused the rending, and by the time of Acts the veil was again intact.
Les Feldick points out that the veil was so thick and heavy that a team of oxen could not have ripped it apart, according to an indication from Josephus. The fact that the veil was rent from the top to the bottom, not from the bottom up, proves that no man had anything to do with it; it was entirely an act of God. The direction of the tear shows that the way into God's presence was opened by God Himself, not by human effort.
Les teaches that the veil pictured the very body of Christ. It was the curtain that kept the presence of God from the view of the priests as they practiced their daily ministrations. Only the high priest went behind it once a year, on the Day of Atonement. When the veil was torn, it indicated that the suffering of Christ's body of flesh had opened the way into the throne room of heaven.
According to the Matthew 27 account, the earth quaked and the rocks rent, and the graves were opened. Les emphasizes the order: many bodies of the saints who had died arose and came out of their graves after His resurrection, not while He was still on the cross. He stresses the phrase "after His resurrection" because it is easy to misread the passage as if everything happened at the exact moment of death.
Les says that as soon as the veil was rent, the Jews sewed it back up and went on their way with temple worship, never realizing what had caused the rending. By the time of the Acts period, the veil was again intact, and temple worship continued as though nothing had happened.
The Three Stages of Resurrection — 1 Corinthians 15:22-23 Explained
unload on us all the details of resurrection. Verse 23. Even though all are going to be resurrected up in verse 22, and according to John 5, verse 23 the first word is what? But. And what am I always telling you? One of the biggest words in Scripture, because this one little three lettered word now opens up a whole vista that otherwise we would have never understood.
Veil Rent as God's Act and Graves Opened
Les shows that the veil separated the Holy of Holies from the sanctuary and was rent from top to bottom as an act of God, with the saints coming out of their graves after His resurrection.
From Top to Bottom Proves God Did It
Les explains that the veil was so heavy a team of oxen could not have ripped it, and the direction from top to bottom proves it was a miracle-working God who tore it, opening the way into God's presence.
Christ Yielded Up His Life
Les notes that Christ yielded up the ghost of His own volition, and immediately afterward the veil of the temple was rent in two from top to bottom.
Veil Opened the Throne Room; Jews Sewed It Back
Les teaches that Christ's suffering opened the way into the throne room of heaven, but the Jews sewed the veil back up and continued temple worship without realizing what had happened.
Saints Came Out After His Resurrection
Les emphasizes the phrase "after His resurrection," showing that the bodies of the saints came out of the graves after Christ rose, not while He was still on the cross.
The Veil and the Holy of Holies
Les describes the veil as the part of the tabernacle and temple that separated the sanctuary from the Holy of Holies, where the presence of God was, and where only the high priest went once a year.
The Veil Pictures the Body of Christ
Les states that the veil was rent from top to bottom signifying no man had anything to do with it, and that the veil pictures the very body of Christ.
Matthew 27:50: Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
This is the moment of Christ's death immediately before the temple veil was torn.
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 verse directly records the supernatural tearing of the temple veil.
Matthew 27:52-53: And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
These verses connect the opening of the graves to Christ's resurrection, emphasizing the order after His resurrection.
Exodus 36:35: And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work.
Les references this tabernacle veil as the curtain that separated the Holy of Holies and pictures the body of Christ.
The Bible says it was rent from the top to the bottom. Les Feldick explains that this detail proves it was an act of God, because no man could have torn such a thick, heavy veil from the top.
No. Matthew 27:52-53 says many bodies of the saints arose and came out of the graves after His resurrection. Les emphasizes the phrase "after His resurrection" to show the order in God's plan.
The veil separated the sanctuary from the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant and the presence of God were. Only the high priest would go behind the veil once a year on the Day of Atonement.
Watch the Teaching: The Three Stages of Resurrection — 1 Corinthians 15:22-23 Explained