Perhaps you’ve heard of how Moses covered his shining face with a veil so people couldn’t see the blazing glory emanating from it. And perhaps you’ve also heard of the veil that now lies over people’s hearts that prevents them from being able to see Jesus in the Old Testament Scripture. These well-intentioned lessons might feel personal and impactful, but they have little to do with what the text of Scripture says.
Context matters. If we learn to read the Bible for what it is—and not as a collection of independently assembled inspirational stories—we’ll discover that some of our most familiar passages don’t actually mean what we’ve always assumed.
Yu-cheng Hsiao (2009), Creative Commons
Exodus 34
To set us straight with Exodus 34, we don’t need the context; we just need to observe more carefully:
As he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the Lord had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.
Whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him. (Ex 34:29-35)
Perhaps my experience is atypical, but I have often heard people talk about how Moses used the veil to protect people from seeing the glory radiating from his face. But this is not what Exodus says. It says that he allowed them to see the glory when he spoke the words of Yahweh to them. And then he put the veil over his face until the next time he got a recharge from speaking with the Lord within the tent.
2 Corinthians 3
But some will argue that 2 Cor 3 says that Moses used the veil to hide the glory. And that that’s where we get the idea that the veil is a metaphor for people who can’t see Jesus in the Old Testament. A few verses seem to imply these things:
Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory… (2 Cor 3:7)
But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. (2 Cor 3:14-16)
Here is where we need help from the context.
First, notice the next clause in verse 7: “the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end.” Now this could mean that they could not gaze at the glory, and the glory was coming to an end—two separate thoughts. But look at where he goes next.
Second, notice the nature of the old/new contrasts. Old = condemnation; new = righteousness (2 Cor 3:9). Old = glory that became no glory; new = surpassing glory (2 Cor 3:10). Old = glory of what was being brought to an end; new = glory for what is permanent (2 Cor 3:11). These contrasts are getting at the superior glory of the new covenant. But that glory is superior primarily because it has no end. It is permanent. It will not fade.
Third, notice Paul’s clarification of what the Israelites saw. His point is not that they saw only a veil and not the glorious face of Moses. His point is that they “might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end” (2 Cor 3:13). In other words, Moses’ veil was never about hiding the glory from the people. It was all about hiding the fact that the glory was fading.
And by contrast, what we have in the new covenant is something permanent. Something unsurpassed. Something that will never fade, but will instead transform its subjects “from one degree of glory to another” (2 Cor 3:18).
The Argument
I covered this in my Bible study of Exodus 34:29-35, but the train of thought is worth repeating here.
Paul uses this episode from Exodus to make a profound point about the glory of the New Covenant in Christ (2 Cor 3:1-4:18). If we assume that Moses’ veil was covering the glory itself (when it was actually concealing the fact that the glory was fading), we miss Paul’s point. Paul’s argument:
- The people he ministers to are themselves the proof of Paul’s recommendation from Christ (2 Cor 3:1-3).
- His sufficiency as a minister of the new covenant comes from Christ who makes him sufficient (2 Cor 3:4-6).
- While Moses’ ministry had a blazing, terrifying glory, it was always a fading glory (“the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end” – 2 Cor 3:7-11).
- Therefore, Paul is not like Moses, who tried to conceal the fact that his glory was fading (“Moses…put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end” – 2 Cor 3:12-13).
- Even today, the Jews fail to see the temporary, fading nature of the Old Covenant when it’s read to them (2 Cor 3:14-15).
- But when they turn to Christ, they finally see the Old Covenant for the fading and temporary thing it is. They behold the Lord’s face and become perpetually and increasingly glorious (2 Cor 3:16-18).
- This is why the people, whose reflection of Christ’s glory never fades but always brightens, are themselves the proof of Paul’s qualification for ministering this superior covenant (2 Cor 3:1-3, 4:1-15).
- This gives Paul tremendous courage to persevere when ministry is hard (2 Cor 4:16-18).
Conclusion
The veil conceals the fact that the glory of the old covenant is, and always has been, fading. Only by gazing on the unfading—no, the ever-increasing—glory of Jesus Christ through his Spirit, can the veil be lifted and people finally see the old covenant for what it is (fading).
Context matters.
For more examples of why context matters, click here.
Hi Peter, thanks for your thoughtful analysis, as always. I haven’t heard the particular use of this passage that you address but I quite agree that the context does not support the general application that a veil lies over a person’s heart which prevents them from seeing Christ in the OT. Indeed, the subject of the middle of 2Cor 3 is very much about the superiority of the New Covenant to the Old and the example of Moses’ veil must be read in this context.
However, I must disagree with you on one point: you state “But that glory is superior primarily because it has no end.” However, in the context of 2Cor 3, Paul has already stated three times a different contrast, the contrast between the dead and the living: “you are… written not with ink but with the Spirit” (v3), “not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts (v3)”, “servants of a new covenant–not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (v6). He has already started his argument for the superiority of the new over the old. Now he piles on to the argument by reasoning that the Old, even though it was a ministry of death, and even though it was fading, still had glory, so much so that the sons of Israel could not endure it! The problem was not that the glory of Moses’ face was fading, but that it was shining too intensely! This is clear in both Ex. 34:30 and 2Cor 3:7. They could not look at it because of “the glory of his face, fading as it was.” In the context of the superiority of the NC over OC on the basis that it brings life vs. death, I think Paul is saying “they could not look at it for its glory EVEN THOUGH it was fading.” This makes the OC more glorious, which in turn makes the NC even MORE glorious, and I think that is exactly the intent of the argument. In addition, the idea that the glory was so strong they couldn’t bear it is consistent with the function of the law which Moses read: it was the ministry of death. It exposed all who heard it as sinners in the presence of a holy God. The light of His commandments, just like the light of Moses’ face, reminded them that they were dead men in the presence of such a holy God, such that they could not bear it. As you astutely observe (and I had never seen before), Moses removed the veil when reading the commandments to them, and I think this is highly significant: the commandments spoke of man’s sinfulness while the light spoke of God’s holiness. The perfect contrast was such that they felt themselves to be dead men and could not bear it.
So first I argue that in the context, Paul’s reference to the transitory nature of the Old is strengthening his preexisting argument that the New is superior because it brings life vs. death (and later righteousness vs. condemnation). The Old WAS glorious, even though it brought death and was fading, so much so that no one could look at Moses face. How much more so the New, which both gives life and endures!
If you accept this much, then 2Cor 3:13 as you’ve interpreted it seems to be in contradiction to what Paul has already said. How can it be true that “they could not look intently… because of the glory of his face” and yet he wore the veil so that they wouldn’t see that the glory was fading? Is the problem too much glory or that the glory is fading? In addition, Ex 34 doesn’t say that Moses’ face ever faded and was recharged, although I think it’s possible. 2Cor 3:7 “fading as it was” is an unclear antecedent (at least in English) that could refer to Moses’ face, or to the ministry of death. At any rate, I think the key to the apparent conflict in 2Cor 3:13 may be in the Greek: “the end” or “the outcome” in 3:13 is teleos. It can mean termination and/OR “aim or purpose,” as it does in 1Tim 1:5: “the goal (teleos) of our instruction is love from a pure heart…” So Moses wore the veil to prevent them from seeing the full aim or purpose of the Mosaic law, which itself was fading, that purpose being twofold: 1) to condemn them and 2) drive them to Christ as the remedy. As Christ had not yet come, to see that powerful combination of man’s sinfulness and God’s holiness reflected in Moses’ face would have been to leave them hopeless. Moses in mercy, therefore, used the veil, just as God mercifully shielded all the Israelites from His presence by way of a mediator (Moses and the Levites) and the temple veil. The light was dulled, but also they were dull of heart and rejected the conclusion about themselves. Moses humored them with a veil much as Christ veiled his speech by speaking in parables “so that they would not hear”! And it is indeed that veil which still lies on the heart of the Jews of whom he is writing. They used the commandment to justify themselves rather than condemn themselves, and likewise rejected the remedy, the Lord Jesus Christ who is the end (teleos!) of the law for righteousness to all who believe (Rom 10:4). But when a (Jewish) person comes to Christ (v16), this law-veil is removed. And we who believe have no veil (v18) but behold Christ Himself and are being transformed into His image.
At any rate, thanks for helping me get more clarity on this passage. Even though we would outline Paul’s argument slightly differently, I think we are very much agreed that 3:16 is quite specific to the context.
People of the most high God . I’m here to tell you that the Holy Spirit is true, don’t lie.Moses face was covered because the people was afraid of the Glory of the Lord, so his face was Vail,Paul is giving us a true message that When we get Jessie us our being will change to a glorious presence that he is in you and you are in him. Been there done it. Live holy so you’ll be covered.by the Spirit of the Lord, don’t be ashame of him and who he is I need you .Amen
The veil of the church was turned when Christmas was crucified on the cross no more do we need to have a earthly priest to make an intercession for us Jesus did it for us. He is the most high God he and the Father is one. He did it because no man was good enough to do it sinful flesh.corrupt and evil hearted. I love my Lord and Savior Thank you for dieing and resurrected for me.Amen
Thank you for this!!
Hmmm, I wrote this after a long trip. Upon rereading my previous comment, I’m still not sure I understand the exact sense in which Moses did not want them to see “the end” of what was passing away. Perhaps there is another reason why they could not gaze at his face because of it’s glory, and at the same time he did not want them to see the temporal end of that glory. So again, thanks for the prompt to think on this further.
Brother David, have you mourned like the old prophets…?
Ezk1,2,3,4,chapters speaks about vision while mourning. I did this at the age of 33ys. I’ve never been the same. God bless you I wanted to know the Lord and I began to seek him none stop one day it was told to me and I waited 7 years for the change, helping the homeless people and children of the Lord. I didn’t even realize the time passed.when it happen I went thru a fire to get to where I am today, I’ll never let go.
Remember Moses wanted to see the Glory of the Lord, he was placed in the cliff of the rocks and the hand of God was over his face he was only allowed to see his back and from only this present he began to have the scan a glory of the Lord come upon him .see once you have been touched by the hand of God his Glory comes upon you.Grreat! Love it. I don’t want to have Power I just love what he is in me. Love God Bless you.
A day later, I’m still thinking about this. Have you heard the saying, “The NT is in the OT concealed. The OT is in the NT revealed.”? It’s almost as if Moses’s veil was a symbol of the Old Covenant itself: the OC veiled the glory yet to come. I think you hint at this in your prior post on Ex 34.
Regarding the connection between between 2Cor 3:12-13, Paul speaks of his boldness in contrast to Moses. Do you think Paul is suggesting that Moses veiled his face’s fading glory because he was timid and therefore felt it necessary to keep up the image, whereas Paul speaks boldly because his glory (Christ) is not fading? Regardless of the subtle difference in how I understand Paul’s prior argument, those 2 verses now convince me that “Moses’ veil was never about hiding the glory from the people. It was all about hiding the fact that the glory was fading.” That is a really fascinating observation, thanks.
David, Thank you for your thoughtful and extensive engagement with this post! Your comments have stimulated me to think about this further.
I would agree with your summary of Paul’s argument (your first comment, third paragraph). His larger argument is to make the contrast between the ministry of death (old covenant) and the ministry of life (new covenant). And one piece of evidence for that argument is the transitory nature of the old covenant.
However, we need also to notice that Paul’s intention is not merely to give us a theology of the old and new covenants. Within the letter of 2 Corinthians, his chief aim is to *defend his own apostolic ministry* to the Corinthians against the “superapostles” who have defamed him. So even the death/life contrast in old/new covenants is not so much about the covenants themselves, but about the respective *messengers* of each covenant. The people themselves (the fruit of Paul’s ministry) are his proof of Christ’s approval on his ministry, because he is a messenger of a ministry of life, not a messenger of a ministry of death.
So the contrasts with Moses are given in this vein. Yes, they were afraid of the glory of Moses’ face, which was only a reflectedglory. But at the same time, Moses was timid, knowing his glory was on borrowed time. And the new covenant’s glory is far superior. Instead of fading, it transforms constantly from one degree of glory to another. And instead of being a mere reflection, it involves a beholding of the very glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart” (2 Cor 4:1).
Why would men try to change the meaning of All the things the Lord used to get his Point out especially thru the Holy Ghost that never lies, David if you want to know how to asked the Lord to give it to you. Don’t be afraid to asked him just know he is there.here.every .where. Most of all seek yet first the kingdom of righteousness ( which is the Lord ) and All these things will be added unto you, he knows what you are in need of.
Et the wisdom, know him, ask you shall receive, make sure you want the realness of God, it’s very hard,Believe Me.
I take Moses as parallel to Jesus. God working through Moses as He chose Him to redeem the Israelites slavery from Eqypt and not only that a few Gentiles he had mercy allowing them to cross the Red Sea. The Glory of the Lord working through Moses was for them to repent and see the Lord for who he is working through Moses just like Jesus working through us. I see a veil being over his face to hide the Glory fading from Moses because God was sending Jesus in Moses’ place. Jesus gave us his Glory to shine out of us when His spirit is in us. Many blessings!
Spot on.