The veil over the face

In today’s passage, Paul explains why his fellow Israelites do not accept Jesus as the Messiah. (1) Moses put a veil over his face to hide from the people the fact that the glory of the Old Covenant would eventually fade away. In the same way, the people of Israel also have a veil over their hearts. (2) The veil over the hearts of the Israelites is a “spiritual veil.” The Old Testament points to Christ, but because the Israelites have a spiritual veil, they are unable to understand that fact. (3) The same veil still lies over the hearts of those who hear the Law of Moses read in the Jewish synagogues. “To this day” refers to the time when Paul wrote this letter. However, this situation has not changed even now, in the twenty-first century. (4) The people of Israel, as a nation, still have their hearts closed to Christ (this does not deny that there are individual Israelites who believe in Jesus as the Messiah).

The Lord is the Spirit

Then how is the veil over the hearts of the Israelites removed? (1) Paul has Exodus 34:34 in mind. It says, “But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take off the veil until he came out.” (2) Just as Moses removed the veil from his face when he turned to the Lord (Yahweh), so also when the Israelites turn to the Lord (Christ), the spiritual veil is removed. The spiritual veil is the stubbornness of seeking to be saved by the Law. (3) This veil is removed by the Spirit of Christ. Verse 17 says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” This verse is extremely important. It teaches the deity of the Holy Spirit. It also teaches us the secret of putting the teachings of the Law into practice without being bound by the Law. The Holy Spirit is the One who gives us life and sets us free. Those who look to the Lord Christ behold the Lord with unveiled faces and, reflecting the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image as the Lord.