The Veil Was Torn—So Why Do We Keep Trying to Sew It Back Up?

When Jesus breathed His last on the cross, something earth-shattering happened—literally and spiritually. Luke 23:45 tells us, “And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.” In that moment, the massive veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple—measuring roughly 30 feet wide and 60 feet tall—was torn from top to bottom. This wasn’t a symbolic gesture. It was a heavenly declaration that access to God was now open to all through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

But what’s always intrigued me is what happened next—or rather, what didn’t happen.

The temple system continued.

For almost 40 more years, the priests kept doing what they had always done. Sacrifices. Rituals. Incense. Routine. Business as usual.

The temple was finally destroyed in A.D. 70, just as Jesus had prophesied in Matthew 24:2: “Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” But between the tearing of the veil and the toppling of the stones, there were four decades of spiritual blindness. Four decades of ignoring the spiritual reality that everything had changed.

Ignoring the Torn Curtain

While Scripture doesn’t specifically say what the temple leaders did with the torn curtain, it’s not hard to imagine. If they were willing to bribe the guards to lie about the resurrection (Matthew 28:11–15), it makes sense that they would’ve repaired the curtain as quickly and quietly as possible. For a temple system built on control and ritual, admitting that the veil was torn by divine hands would be admitting their own irrelevance.

So they patched it up. Pretended like nothing happened. Kept the sacrifices going. Kept the priests in place. Kept the show running.

How often do we do the same?

Access Ignored

Hebrews 10:19–20 says, “Therefore, brothers, 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)…”

We have access. Direct access. Not through a priest. Not through more sacrifice. Not through a system.

Yet so many of us live like the curtain is still intact. We try to rely on someone else’s anointing or someone else’s closeness to God, as if they have a VIP pass we could never afford. We put pastors, prophets, and “super Christians” on pedestals and think, “Well, they can hear from God, but I’m just trying to get by.”

No—if you are in Christ, you are a son or daughter of the Most High God. You are royalty. You are a priest. You are the temple.

A Temple Without Presence

It’s worth noting that the second temple—rebuilt after Solomon’s was destroyed—was more a political move than a spiritual one. Herod the Great, not exactly a God-fearing man, built and expanded it largely as a PR stunt to win over the Jewish people. He fused Roman architecture with religious tradition, creating something grand on the outside but hollow within.

And here’s the kicker: there was no ark of the covenant in this second temple. The ark, which once symbolized the manifest presence of God, had long disappeared. They built a temple without God’s presence. They were more interested in religious appearance than spiritual power.

Sound familiar?

If a third temple is ever built—and there’s increasing buzz about that possibility—it will also be built without the manifest presence of God. Why? Because God doesn’t dwell in temples made by human hands anymore. “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)

We are His temple. Individually. Corporately. He resides in us, not behind a curtain in a man-made building.

A Form of Godliness, But No Power

2 Timothy 3:5 warns us about those who have “the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” It’s a sobering thought. It’s possible to go to church, lead worship, preach sermons, or even pray daily, yet still live as if we don’t truly believe we have access to God.

What about you?

• Are you holding onto routines or religious habits that look good but lack God’s presence?
• Is your spiritual life more performance than power?
• Are your church services planned down to the minute with no room for the Holy Spirit to interrupt?
• Are you desperate for revival, but unwilling to embrace the daily disciplines and sacrifices that invite revival?

Revival doesn’t happen by accident. It won’t be produced through wishful thinking, slick branding, or great programming. It comes when God’s people recognize their access, step into it boldly, and live like the veil is truly gone.

Are You Living in a Fantasy?

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: if we ignore the spiritual reality of what Jesus accomplished on the cross, we are living in a fantasy world. A religious illusion. We’re going through the motions like those temple priests who repaired the veil and carried on like nothing happened.

We miss the Holy Spirit’s leading. We ignore His prompting. We cling to control and comfort, rather than surrender and sacrifice.

Jesus didn’t die so we could keep playing church. He died to destroy the works of darkness and give us access to the Father. That’s not metaphorical. That’s spiritual reality.

The Invitation Today

So here’s the challenge:

• What religious routine do you need to give up today?
• What idol in your life or church needs to be laid down and destroyed?
• What does it look like for you to truly live like the curtain is torn?

You can replace the routine with relationship. You can replace the show with surrender. You can stop settling for visiting God and start dwelling with Him.

Let the veil stay torn. Stop pretending you need to earn access. You already have it.

Come boldly.

Tim Ferrara
Discerning Dad
discerning-dad.com