The Theology of the Temple Curtain: How Jesus Changed Everything

The Temple Curtain in the Old Testament

The temple curtain physically divided the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, embodying the sacred distance between God and humanity.

Exodus 26:31-33 describes the curtain as a barrier woven with blue, purple, and scarlet thread, shielding the Most Holy Place where God’s presence dwelled. Only the high priest could pass through it annually on the Day of Atonement, underscoring the restricted access to divine holiness. This separation reflected the gravity of sin and the need for ritual purity to approach God.

Hebrews 9:3-5 later interprets the curtain as a symbol of the rigorous requirements for accessing God’s presence, with the ark of the covenant behind it representing the ultimate stakes of holiness. Its intricate design and function emphasized that God’s holiness demanded both reverence and a system of atonement.

The Curtain Torn in Matthew 27:51

The tearing of the temple curtain at Jesus’ death significantly changed divine access.

Matthew 27:51 records: 'At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split...'. This dramatic act symbolized the removal of the barrier between God and humanity, a reversal of the Old Testament curtain’s function. In the OT, the curtain restricted access to the Holy of Holies (Exodus 26:31-33), but here it was violently torn by divine agency, signaling that Jesus’ sacrifice had fulfilled the law’s requirements (Hebrews 10:19-20). The tearing’s origin - 'from top to bottom' - emphasizes God’s initiative in opening access, not human effort.

This event fulfilled OT patterns by transforming the annual Day of Atonement ritual into a permanent reality through Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice.

The torn curtain thus becomes a visual proclamation that believers now approach God directly through Jesus, reshaping the meaning of holiness and access for the New Covenant community.

The Curtain's Meaning for Believers Today

The torn curtain redefines Christian worship by opening a direct path to God through Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 4:16 invites believers to approach God’s throne with confidence, trusting in the access secured by Christ’s sacrifice. This radical shift underscores God’s grace: where the Old Testament curtain enforced distance, the New Covenant offers intimacy. The curtain’s removal teaches that God’s character is not defined by exclusion but by reconciliation, as Jesus bridges the gap between divine holiness and human need. For believers, this means worship is no longer confined to rituals or intermediaries but flows from a restored relationship rooted in Christ’s finished work.

Going Deeper

Exploring related symbols like the mercy seat and the veil in Revelation enriches our understanding of the curtain’s theological role.

The mercy seat (Exodus 25:22), where God communed with Moses, and the symbolic veil in Revelation 11:19 - describing heaven opened - echo themes of divine access and revelation. These symbols, like the temple curtain, reflect how God’s holiness and grace intersect, inviting believers to consider how Jesus’ sacrifice permanently dismantles barriers between humanity and God (Hebrews 10:19-20).