What Exodus 26:31-35 really means: Holy Presence, Holy Access

The Veil and the Sacred Space: Setting Apart God's Presence

This law about the veil comes in the middle of God's detailed instructions for building the tabernacle, a portable sanctuary where He would live among His people after rescuing them from Egypt.

The veil separated the Holy Place, where priests served daily, from the Most Holy Place, where God's presence dwelled above the ark of the testimony. Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement, as described in Leviticus 16:2, when he would go in to make atonement for his own sins and the sins of the people. This setup showed that access to God was limited and required sacrifice, pointing to the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God.

Hebrews 9:3-5 later reflects on this design, explaining that the outer room had the lampstand and table, the inner room had the ark and mercy seat, and the veil stood between - symbolizing that the way into God’s presence was not yet open. That veil, rich with color and meaning, was more than fabric. It was a daily reminder that God is near yet set apart.

The Symbolism of the Veil: Colors, Cherubim, and the Throne of God

The rich materials and imagery of the veil were beautiful and carried deep meaning about who God is and how He chose to dwell with His people.

The blue, purple, and scarlet yarns were expensive and rare, pointing to royalty, holiness, and sacrifice. Purple was the color of kings, blue reminded Israel of the sky and God’s heavenly throne, and scarlet may have symbolized life or atonement through blood. These colors together showed that the tabernacle was a royal palace where the King of the universe lived among His people, not merely a tent. This same imagery appears later in Solomon’s temple, where cherubim were carved into the walls and doors, as described in 1 Kings 6:29-32: 'He carved all the walls of the house around with carved engravings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, inside and outside.'

The cherubim woven into the veil were not mere decoration. In the Bible, cherubim guard the holiness of God. After Adam and Eve sinned, God placed cherubim with a flaming sword at the entrance to Eden to guard the way to the tree of life (Genesis 3:24). Now in the tabernacle, the cherubim were on the veil that guarded the Most Holy Place, where God’s presence dwelled above the mercy seat. This shows that access to God is protected and must be approached His way, not ours.

The pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold and resting on silver bases also carried meaning. Gold spoke of divine glory, silver of redemption - each base made from the half-shekel temple tax paid by every Israelite (Exodus 30:13-15), showing that access to God required a price. This system was unique among ancient nations, where temples often served kings or local gods, but Israel’s tabernacle centered on one holy God who set rules for how He could be approached.

The veil was a woven picture of heaven's throne room, where God rules in holiness and glory.

This design points forward to a day when the veil would be torn in two, as it was when Jesus died on the cross (Matthew 27:51), opening the way for all who trust in Him to enter God’s presence freely. The old barrier is gone, but the truth remains: we come not by our own merit, but through the sacrifice God provided.

The Veil Torn: How Jesus Changes Access to God

This detailed law about the veil wasn’t meant to be followed forever, but to point forward to the day when Jesus would fulfill its meaning and open a new way to God.

When Jesus died on the cross, Matthew 27:51 records: 'And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.' This was a dramatic event. It was God’s declaration that the old barrier between humanity and His presence had been removed. The veil that once kept people out now lay torn, showing that through Jesus’ sacrifice, we can approach God directly.

The book of Hebrews explains this clearly: we no longer need priests or rituals because 'we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh' (Hebrews 10:19-20). So no, Christians don’t follow this law literally - because Jesus has fulfilled it, not by destroying it, but by becoming the reality it pointed to.

From Veil to Victory: The Unfolding Story of Access to God

The veil in Exodus was a barrier, but in Christ, that barrier is removed, launching a new era in how humanity relates to God.

Hebrews 10:19-22 says, 'Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.' This is the fulfillment of the old system: no more distance, no more fear - only access through Jesus.

The story doesn’t stop there. Revelation 21:3 takes us to the final chapter: '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.”' No tabernacle, no veil, no separation - just God with us, fully and forever. This is the goal toward which the whole Bible moves. The same God who once dwelled behind a curtain now promises to live among His people without any barrier at all. The journey from Exodus to Revelation is the story of redemption restoring what was lost in Eden.

The torn veil is not the end of the story - it’s the beginning of a new reality where we draw near with boldness, not fear.

So what does this mean for us today? It means we don’t approach God with hesitation or ritual, but with confidence, knowing Jesus has opened the way. It means our worship isn’t confined to a building or a holy day, but happens every time we draw near in faith. It means we live with awe - because we’ve been brought close to a holy God - and with joy - because that closeness is secure. The timeless heart of this law is this: God desires to dwell with His people, but only on His terms, and now those terms are met in Christ.

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