Mark 15:38
Mark 15:38 in Multiple Translations
And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
And the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom.
And the curtain of the Temple was parted in two from end to end.
The Temple veil was ripped in two from top to bottom.
And the vaile of the Temple was rent in twaine, from the toppe to the bottome.
and the veil of the sanctuary was rent in two, from top to bottom,
The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.
And the vail of the temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom.
And the veil of the temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom.
At that moment the heavy thick curtain that closed off the most holy place in the Temple split into two pieces from top to bottom. That showed that ordinary people could now go into the presence of God.
Over in Jerusalem, in God’s ceremony house, there was a big curtain that blocked off God’s special place. At the same time that Jesus died, that curtain just ripped right down the middle from the top to the bottom, into 2 bits.
Berean Amplified Bible — Mark 15:38
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Mark 15:38 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Greek Word Reference — Mark 15:38
Study Notes — Mark 15:38
- Context
- Cross References
- Mark 15:38 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Mark 15:38
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Mark 15:38
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Mark 15:38
- Trapp's Commentary on Mark 15:38
- Ellicott's Commentary on Mark 15:38
- Cambridge Bible on Mark 15:38
- Whedon's Commentary on Mark 15:38
- Sermons on Mark 15:38
Context — The Death of Jesus
38And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
39When the centurion standing there in front of Jesus saw how He had breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” 40And there were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hebrews 10:19–23 | Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. |
| 2 | Luke 23:45 | The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. |
| 3 | Hebrews 9:3–12 | Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties. But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. By this arrangement the Holy Spirit was showing that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper. They consist only in food and drink and special washings—external regulations imposed until the time of reform. But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption. |
| 4 | Matthew 27:51–53 | At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people. |
| 5 | Leviticus 16:2–19 | And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat. This is how Aaron is to enter the Holy Place: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He is to wear the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments. He must tie a linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are holy garments, and he must bathe himself with water before he wears them. And he shall take from the congregation of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering. Aaron is to present the bull for his sin offering and make atonement for himself and his household. Then he shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. After Aaron casts lots for the two goats, one for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat, he shall present the goat chosen by lot for the LORD and sacrifice it as a sin offering. But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement by sending it into the wilderness as the scapegoat. When Aaron presents the bull for his sin offering and makes atonement for himself and his household, he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering. Then he must take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense, and take them inside the veil. He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the cloud of incense will cover the mercy seat above the Testimony, so that he will not die. And he is to take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the east side of the mercy seat; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the mercy seat. Aaron shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and bring its blood behind the veil, and with its blood he must do as he did with the bull’s blood: He is to sprinkle it against the mercy seat and in front of it. So he shall make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the impurities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to do the same for the Tent of Meeting which abides among them, because it is surrounded by their impurities. No one may be in the Tent of Meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he leaves, after he has made atonement for himself, his household, and the whole assembly of Israel. Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement for it. He is to take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar. He is to sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites. |
| 6 | Exodus 26:31–34 | Make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it. Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood, overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. And hang the veil from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the veil. So the veil will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Put the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place. |
| 7 | Hebrews 4:14–16 | Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. |
| 8 | Hebrews 6:19 | We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, |
| 9 | 2 Chronicles 3:8–14 | Then he made the Most Holy Place; its length corresponded to the width of the temple—twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. And he overlaid the inside with six hundred talents of fine gold. The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He also overlaid the upper area with gold. In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of sculptured work, and he overlaid them with gold. The total wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long and touched the wall of the temple, and its other wing was five cubits long and touched the wing of the other cherub. The wing of the second cherub also measured five cubits and touched the wall of the temple, while its other wing measured five cubits and touched the wing of the first cherub. So the total wingspan of these cherubim was twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, facing the main room. He made the veil of blue, purple, and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim woven into it. |
| 10 | Exodus 40:20–21 | Moses took the Testimony and placed it in the ark, attaching the poles to the ark; and he set the mercy seat atop the ark. Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle, put up the veil for the screen, and shielded off the ark of the Testimony, just as the LORD had commanded him. |
Mark 15:38 Summary
The veil in the temple was a thick curtain that separated the people from God's presence. When Jesus died on the cross, this veil was torn in two from top to bottom, showing that the barrier between God and humanity was removed. This means that we can now come to God directly through Jesus, as stated in Romans 5:2 and Ephesians 3:12. Through Jesus' sacrifice, we have been given access to God's presence and can approach Him with confidence and reverence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the veil in the temple being torn in two?
The veil represented a physical barrier between God and humanity, and its tearing symbolizes the removal of this barrier through Jesus' sacrifice, as foretold in Hebrews 10:19-20, allowing believers to have direct access to God.
Why was the veil torn from top to bottom?
The tearing of the veil from top to bottom signifies that it was a divine act, as it would have been impossible for humans to tear it from top to bottom, emphasizing God's initiative in removing the barrier between Himself and humanity, as seen in Matthew 27:51 and Luke 23:45.
What does this event mean for our relationship with God?
The tearing of the veil represents a new era in human relationship with God, where believers can now approach Him directly through Jesus Christ, as stated in Ephesians 2:18 and 3:12, no longer needing the mediation of the temple or its priests.
How does this event relate to Jesus' death on the cross?
The tearing of the veil is a direct result of Jesus' death on the cross, as it signifies the completion of His sacrifice and the removal of the barrier between God and humanity, as Jesus said in John 19:30, 'It is finished,' indicating the fulfillment of God's plan for salvation.
Reflection Questions
- What does the tearing of the veil mean to me personally, and how can I apply this truth to my daily life?
- In what ways can I, like the centurion in Mark 15:39, acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God and surrender my life to Him?
- How can I, through prayer and meditation, deepen my understanding of the significance of the veil being torn in two and its implications for my relationship with God?
- What are some ways I can, like the women in Mark 15:40, faithfully watch and wait for Jesus' presence in my life, even in times of uncertainty or hardship?
Gill's Exposition on Mark 15:38
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Mark 15:38
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Mark 15:38
Trapp's Commentary on Mark 15:38
Ellicott's Commentary on Mark 15:38
Cambridge Bible on Mark 15:38
Whedon's Commentary on Mark 15:38
Sermons on Mark 15:38
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Need for Brokenness by Chip Brogden | Chip Brogden preaches about the importance of brokenness in the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ. He emphasizes the need for believers to be humble, broken, and willing to surren |
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(Hebrews) 1-Overview-1 by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher begins by discussing the book of Revelation and its portrayal of the end times. He expresses sorrow over the degradation and perversion in society, emp |
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Boldness to Enter God's Presence by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of understanding God's delight in our deliverance in order to experience true joy and peace. He uses the parable of the prodi |
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End of Service - Repentance by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker shares his personal experience of surrendering his life completely to God. He acknowledges that there were areas in his life where he thought he had giv |
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(Hebrews - Part 25): The Holy of Holies by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the speaker expresses his commitment to preaching about God and the Holy Trinity. He emphasizes that God reveals Himself through nature and the scriptures, using va |
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Intercession in Prayer by Paris Reidhead | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of intercession and prayer in the mission of spreading the word of God. The key message is that the responsibility to pray for |
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How to Apply the Blood by Derek Prince | This sermon delves into the profound significance of the blood of Jesus shed on the cross, emphasizing the various provisions and effects of His sacrifice. It covers themes of rede |






