The veil was placed over Moses' face to hide the glory of the fading Law, pointing to the coming, more glorious ministry of the Spirit in grace.
Scripture shows the people were afraid to look at Moses because his face shone, but Paul explains the deeper purpose: the veil kept them from seeing the end of what was being abolished. The Law's glory was temporary, while the Spirit's ministry gives life. Les Feldick reinforces this by contrasting the condemning power of the Law with the life-giving power of grace.
2 Corinthians 3:13 — This verse directly states that Moses put a veil over his face so Israel could not look to the end of that which was abolished.
Exodus 34:33 — This records the moment Moses first put the veil on his face after speaking with the people.
2 Corinthians 3:7 — This verse identifies the Law as the ministration of death whose glory was to be done away, which is what the veil concealed.
In Exodus 34, after Moses had been with the LORD on Mount Sinai, the skin of his face shone. When Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, they were afraid to come near him. Moses therefore put a veil on his face while he spoke to them (Exodus 34:30, 33). The Apostle Paul returns to this event in 2 Corinthians 3. He calls the Law 'the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones' and says it was so glorious that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; yet that glory was to be done away (2 Corinthians 3:7). Paul then explains that Moses 'put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished' (2 Corinthians 3:13). The biblical explanation, then, is twofold: the people could not bear the brightness, and the veil hid the fact that the Law's glory was temporary.
Les teaches the underlying truth behind the veil: the Law was a ministry of condemnation and death. In discussing 2 Corinthians 3, he emphasizes that when Paul speaks of 'the letter,' he is referring to the Law of Moses. Paul's new revelations are not of the law but of the Spirit, for 'the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life' (2 Corinthians 3:6). Les says the Law could do nothing but condemn and had no life-giving power whatsoever. The commandments could not give life; they could only pronounce people guilty. Grace, epitomized by the Word, the Spirit, and the work of the Holy Spirit, gives life (Clip 0). Les also reminds his listeners that the law came 500 years after Abraham and was a severe yoke of bondage that Israel could not bear (Clip 5). This fits the biblical picture of the veil: it covered a glory that was passing away so that the even more glorious ministry of grace could come into view.
The Bible shows two layers. On the surface, the children of Israel were afraid to come near Moses because his face shone, so he covered it with a veil (Exodus 34:30, 33). But Paul later explains the deeper purpose: Moses put a veil over his face so Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which was abolished (2 Corinthians 3:13). The Law's glory was real, but it was temporary. The veil kept the people from seeing that the Law's glory was passing away because a more glorious ministry, the Spirit giving life, was coming.
Les consistently trumpets the difference between law and grace. He says that when Paul speaks of 'the letter,' he is referring to the Law of Moses, and Paul's new revelations are not of the law but of the Spirit. 'The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.' Les explains that the Law had no life-giving power whatsoever and could only condemn, while grace, through the work of the Holy Spirit, gives life. He also points out that the law came 500 years after Abraham and was a severe yoke of bondage that Israel could not bear.
In related lessons, Les teaches that the veil in the tabernacle was a picture of the very body of Christ. It kept even the priests from any approach to the Holy God, and only the high priest could go behind it once a year. The veil was rent from top to bottom at Christ's death, signifying that no man had anything to do with it; it was God's own act. This opened the way into the very throne room of heaven, although the Jews sewed the veil back up and continued with their temple worship.
Law and Grace Contrast
Les explains that 'the letter' is the Law of Moses, which condemns and kills, while the Spirit gives life under grace.
What the Day of Atonement Really Pictured — Finally Explained
And the word in the Hebrew is kaphar, K-A-P-H-A-R, which meant to cover. And I think it's unfortunate, but we're going to have to stick with it because it's the term that we've all become acquainted with, and I think that even the theologians who know better of doing just what I'm doing, they'll keep on using it rather than upset any apple carts, but it is really a misnomer.
Veil Pictures Christ's Body
Les teaches that the tabernacle veil pictured the very body of Christ and kept the presence of God from the priests.
Veil Separated the Priests from God
Les says the veil kept all but the high priest from approaching God, and only the high priest went behind it once a year.
Temple Veil Torn from Top to Bottom
Les teaches that God tore the temple veil from top to bottom to open the way into the throne room, but the Jews sewed it back up.
The Law Was a Yoke of Bondage
Les teaches that the law came 500 years after Abraham and was a severe yoke of bondage that Israel could not bear.
The Veil in the Tabernacle's Layout
Les explains the tabernacle veil separated the sanctuary from the Holy of Holies, where the high priest alone entered once a year.
Why God Separated Israel: The Meaning of the Blood on the Doorposts
And he said, Take heed thyself, you'll see my face no more. For in that day that thou seest my face thou shalt die. And it's almost enough to bring a smile to your face, Moses' response. Moses knew, because—see, God had told Moses way at the very beginning that the last plague was going to be super special, and this, of course, would be the plague of taking the life of everything that was first bo…
Exodus 34:30: And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.
This shows why a veil was needed immediately after Moses came down from Mount Sinai.
Exodus 34:33: And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.
This records the actual act of Moses putting the veil on his face.
2 Corinthians 3:6: Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Paul's contrast between the letter (the Law) and the Spirit is the backdrop Les uses to explain the temporary glory of the Law.
2 Corinthians 3:7: But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
This identifies the Law as a ministry of death whose fading glory was hidden by the veil.
2 Corinthians 3:13: And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
Paul explicitly explains that the veil kept Israel from seeing the end of what was being abolished.
Exodus says the skin of Moses' face shone and the people were afraid to come near him. Paul later explains the deeper purpose: Moses covered his face so Israel could not look to the end of what was being abolished, because the Law's glory was fading away.
No. The Law had real glory. But it was a ministry of death written and engraven in stones, and that glory was to be done away. Les teaches that the Law had no life-giving power; it could only condemn. Grace through the Spirit gives life and is more glorious.
Les teaches that 'the letter' refers to the Law of Moses. He says the Law could do nothing but condemn, while the Spirit gives life, and Paul's new revelations are not of the law but of the Spirit.
Les teaches that the tabernacle veil depicted the body of Christ and kept priests from approaching God. When Christ died, that veil was torn from top to bottom by God's own act, showing that the way into the throne room had been opened.
Watch the Teaching: What the Veil on Moses' Face Really Meant (Most Miss This)