The Beauty of the Torn Curtain

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

(Matthew 27:51)

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The sun’s light could not be seen that day, as darkness covered the earth that morning. Jesus, hanging on a cross, gained the strength needed to keep breathing, the weight of every exhale accompanied by intense pain and agony. 

Finally, he cried out, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Lk 23:46). And with that, Scripture states that He took His last breath.

With that, the curtain of the temple was torn in two. The Pharisees must have been shocked that the entrance to the beloved dwelling place was torn.

There were two distinct curtains within the temple. One separated the courtyard from the Holy Place (acting as a door for the temple). The other was placed inside the temple, separating the Most Holy Place from the rest of the structure. In this room, Yahweh would descend, His very presence dwelling within that temple.

The building of the temple was a very detailed, elaborate process. The clear guidelines for making the curtains are recorded in Exodus 26 for the tent tabernacle, but the instructions in later buildings also included a curtain. There was fine attention to the colors to be used, the size of the curtains, and the detailed embroidery—the colors of blue, purple, and scarlet yarns composed this piece of art.

How is it that something so beautiful was ultimately made to be torn?

It needed to be ripped to make way for something far more wonderful.

The Most Holy Place was the area that His presence would dwell. Yet, during His earthly ministry, Jesus prophesied that a day would come when the place or location of worship would not be a concern, but rather there would be worship where the believers are, as the Holy Spirit dwells within their hearts. He states:

“But the hour is coming, and is now here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him” (John 4:23).

Because of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, the tearing of the temple represented that now, God’s dwelling place will be among His people. There will be freedom to worship, to encounter the presence of God in the heart, in reverence, and in love.

Often it appears that in the circumstances we find ourselves in, it can be easy to question what is truly happening. The earth right now is full of uncertainty. And we are cast into a world where there is significant pain.

The truth is we have a God who knows what He is doing, even when we do not understand it right away.

He has created the earth in its beauty, but it is a temporary dwelling place. One day, as Christians, our eternal hope of heaven will be here. The earth will be made new, and God’s dwelling place will be among His people.

Scripture states:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,  and God himself will be with them as their God.He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

(Rev. 21:1-4)

These words from the Bible are trustworthy and true (Rev. 22:6). Until then, let us cling to the hope we have, for He who has promised is faithful.

God knew what He was doing when He tore the temple curtain in two on that dark day, as the power of God’s love was being poured out upon the cross to make a way for us to be reconciled to Him.  

Even in the darkness of these times, God has a plan. He still unites His people to true, authentic worship for the only living God. And one day, the earth will be made new.

Until then, we can “cast all our anxieties on him, because he cares for us” (1 Pet. 5:7)

There is still beauty to behold and still work to be done. The harvest is plenty, and the workers are few.

Blessings,