This resource was created to assist Bible Studies and Discipleship Groups in their reading and study of the Bible. Please send helpful suggestions to [email protected] to improve these questions (and answers).

Select a Reading:

Matthew 27-28

1. In Matthew 27:51, which veil was torn? The one leading into the Holy Place or into the Holy of Holies?

I shared this with a brother on 11/16/2015...

I explored a little on the issue of the veil today. There seems to be some ambiguity both in the Gospels and in Hebrews about which curtain/veil is in view. Traditionally, the curtain separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies has been in view, such that Christians can have direct access to God through Jesus. So we read in Ephesians 3:12: "In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence" and Hebrews 4:16: "Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence." 
 
Now, in Hebrews there is some ambiguity because the Greek hagia, ta hagia, ton hagion have been variously translated as "the holy places" (e.g. ESV) "the Holy Place" (e.g. NASB), and "the Holy of Holies" (e.g. NIV/KJV) by various translators. Which is correct? 
 
Now, in Hebrews 9:3, there is no ambiguity regarding the Holy of Holies as the familiar hagia hagion is used. In this context we find Hebrews 9:7, where the high priest is described as entering into the "inner room" (i.e. the Holy of Holies) with blood (cf. Hebrews 13:11). Now, this is compared to Jesus entering the same place (ta hagia) with His own blood. If Jesus entering with his own blood is parallel to the high priest entering with the blood of animals, then the place Jesus enters is the Holy of Holies. Again, in Hebrews 9:25, the place that the high priest enters annually is the Holy of Holies, not the Holy Place, which is entered daily by the priests. 
 
Then we come to Hebrews 10:19, where believers enter ton hagion by the blood of Jesus. Does Jesus' blood give access to the Holy Place or to the Holy of Holies? Interestingly, in Hebrews 10:20 the "curtain" is symbolically said to be Jesus' body by which we may "draw near to God" (Hebrews 10:22). Does Jesus' body, then, represent the entrance into the Holy Place or the Holy of Holies? I tend to think that the access for believers is into the Holy of Holies, and Jesus' body is symbolized by the curtain that leads into the Holy of Holies.
 
Now, when we come to the texts referring to the curtain of the temple (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45), the above analysis would support understanding this to be the curtain separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, rather than the curtain separating the Holy Place from the Court of Women (cf. Herod's Temple schematic). Jesus is our high priest, but He is also the sacrifice. He intercedes for us before God, but He is also our access to God. Therefore, while He goes into the heavenly Holy of Holies with His own blood to atone for our sins, He has also become the curtain by which we have access to the very Presence of God. 
 
His response....
 
I agree with you the curtain/veil that was torn was the one separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies in Herod’s Temple.

However, I find the switch between “Holy Place,” “Holy of Holies,” and “Holy Places” in Heb. 9 significant (see the attachment). I still need to look at Heb. 10. But it seems simple priests, such as we, are never shown to enter the Holy of Holies, not even in Hebrews. It may be that in accordance with the Old Testament type, only the chief priest, our Lord Jesus Christ, enters the Holy of Holies, and that once for all. If this is true, we may view ourselves as entering the Holy Place, with the light, bread and incense, but not the Holy of Holies, which is still off limits, only for Christ Himself.

Our access to the throne of grace doesn’t necessary refer to the Holy of Holies, though it could. It could also refer to God’s throne room, where Christ sits at the Father’s right hand. Do you think the mercy seat on top of the ark is the same as God’s throne? Keep in mind Jerusalem had both a temple and a palace.
 
My Rejoinder...
 
It appears that the plural of hagion (hagia) may be used in various ways, as "the Holy Place," "the holy places" and "the Most Holy Place". The only clear place for the former is in Hebrews 9:2, where the anarthrous plural, hagia, is used. Only in Hebrews 9:3 is hagion hagia used; however, Hebrews 9:12 and 9:25 seem clearly to be a reference to the Most Holy Place, even though same word for "Holy Place" in 9:2 is used (hagia). Perhaps the article (ta in ta hagia) in 9:12,25 may be significant to differentiate with the one used in 9:2. 
 
Clearly there is no mention of believers going into the Holy of Holies in Hebrews 9 as the emphasis seems to be on Christ's work as our high priest in bringing his own blood once-for-all into the Holy of Holies on behalf of believers. There is no indication that He ever enters again, for this work is done only once. Now, when we come to Hebrews 10, we find this verse:
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19, NKJV).
The NIV also takes this understanding of the term (ta hagia):
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Placeby the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body (Hebrews 10:19-20).
What is interesting is that the context suggests that Jesus' body is "the curtain". Would this curtain, then, be the one separating the Holy Place from the courtyard or the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies?
 
If the NKJV and NIV are correct in seeing the reference to be the Most Holy Place or the Holy of Holies, then it appears that believers do have access to the Holy of Holies, even through Christ, who has become the veil/curtain into the Presence of God. 
 
I know that Jesus is called our high priest, and we are called priests, I'm thinking that we may not want to take the Old Testament and temple model of priesthood too far, as it appears, at least in Hebrews, that it is given more by way of analogy than exact equivalence.
 
His concluding response...
 
You are most likely right, and I appreciate your thorough analysis. It is also amazing to think that our body is a temple that likely includes both the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. There is no doubt we have access to the Creator God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for this correction. Iron sharpens iron.