2 corinthians 3:15 - But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.
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What does "2 corinthians 3:15" mean?
This verse, 2 Corinthians 3:15, is part of Paul's larger argument about the difference between the Old Covenant (represented by Moses and the Law) and the New Covenant (represented by Christ). Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"But to this day...": This emphasizes the present state of affairs. Paul is talking about his contemporary Jewish community.
"...when Moses is read...": This refers to the public reading of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible, traditionally attributed to Moses) in synagogues. It represents the entire Old Testament and the Law of Moses.
"...a veil lies on their heart.": This is the core of the verse. The "veil" is metaphorical and represents:
Spiritual Blindness/Lack of Understanding: They hear the words of Moses, but they don't grasp their true meaning and purpose. They read the Law as a system of rules and rituals for earning salvation, rather than recognizing its prophetic pointing toward Christ and its revelation of humanity's sin and need for a savior.
Rejection of Christ: The veil prevents them from seeing how the Old Testament foreshadows and points to Jesus as the Messiah. They are unable to connect the Law to its fulfillment in Christ.
Hardened Hearts: The veil suggests an unwillingness to accept the truth. It's not just a lack of intellectual understanding, but a deeper resistance to acknowledging Jesus as the promised Messiah. Their hearts are closed to the message of the Gospel.
In summary, the verse means that when Jewish people read the Old Testament without the lens of faith in Christ, they are unable to fully understand its meaning and purpose. A spiritual barrier prevents them from seeing how the Old Testament anticipates and points to Jesus as the Messiah. They read the Law without grasping its deeper significance in relation to Christ and the New Covenant.
Context within 2 Corinthians 3:
It's crucial to understand this verse within the broader context of 2 Corinthians 3. Paul argues that the New Covenant, established through Christ, is superior to the Old Covenant. The Old Covenant, while holy and good, brought condemnation and death (3:6-9). The New Covenant, however, brings righteousness and life through the Holy Spirit (3:6).
The "veil" is linked to the glory that Moses' face radiated after receiving the Law on Mount Sinai (3:7). This glory was fading, and Moses had to wear a veil to conceal it from the people. Paul uses this as an analogy:
The fading glory of the Old Covenant is reflected in the way Jewish people read the Old Testament without understanding.
The veil on Moses' face symbolizes the veil on their hearts, preventing them from seeing the full truth.
However, Paul goes on to say in verse 16 that the veil can be removed: "But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed." This emphasizes that faith in Christ is the key to understanding the Old Testament and experiencing the transformative power of the New Covenant.
2 corinthians 3:15 - But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.
What does "2 corinthians 3:15" mean?
This verse, 2 Corinthians 3:15, is part of Paul's larger argument about the difference between the Old Covenant (represented by Moses and the Law) and the New Covenant (represented by Christ). Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"But to this day...": This emphasizes the present state of affairs. Paul is talking about his contemporary Jewish community.
"...when Moses is read...": This refers to the public reading of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible, traditionally attributed to Moses) in synagogues. It represents the entire Old Testament and the Law of Moses.
"...a veil lies on their heart.": This is the core of the verse. The "veil" is metaphorical and represents:
Spiritual Blindness/Lack of Understanding: They hear the words of Moses, but they don't grasp their true meaning and purpose. They read the Law as a system of rules and rituals for earning salvation, rather than recognizing its prophetic pointing toward Christ and its revelation of humanity's sin and need for a savior.
Rejection of Christ: The veil prevents them from seeing how the Old Testament foreshadows and points to Jesus as the Messiah. They are unable to connect the Law to its fulfillment in Christ.
Hardened Hearts: The veil suggests an unwillingness to accept the truth. It's not just a lack of intellectual understanding, but a deeper resistance to acknowledging Jesus as the promised Messiah. Their hearts are closed to the message of the Gospel.
In summary, the verse means that when Jewish people read the Old Testament without the lens of faith in Christ, they are unable to fully understand its meaning and purpose. A spiritual barrier prevents them from seeing how the Old Testament anticipates and points to Jesus as the Messiah. They read the Law without grasping its deeper significance in relation to Christ and the New Covenant.
Context within 2 Corinthians 3:
It's crucial to understand this verse within the broader context of 2 Corinthians 3. Paul argues that the New Covenant, established through Christ, is superior to the Old Covenant. The Old Covenant, while holy and good, brought condemnation and death (3:6-9). The New Covenant, however, brings righteousness and life through the Holy Spirit (3:6).
The "veil" is linked to the glory that Moses' face radiated after receiving the Law on Mount Sinai (3:7). This glory was fading, and Moses had to wear a veil to conceal it from the people. Paul uses this as an analogy:
The fading glory of the Old Covenant is reflected in the way Jewish people read the Old Testament without understanding.
The veil on Moses' face symbolizes the veil on their hearts, preventing them from seeing the full truth.
However, Paul goes on to say in verse 16 that the veil can be removed: "But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed." This emphasizes that faith in Christ is the key to understanding the Old Testament and experiencing the transformative power of the New Covenant.