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Begin wherever your curiosity leads. The studies will be here when you’re ready. When I shared my first Matthew study on Facebook today, I mentioned that I planned to post daily, though I might not share every post on Facebook. As I continue setting up this blog, I’ve realized that what matters most to me is making my past studies available for anyone who wants to explore them. For now, I’ll be adding posts to my heart’s content as I work through those studies. Some days that may mean one post; other days it may mean several. I’ll continue reading through and preparing each one before sharing it. There is no need to keep up with everything as it appears. This blog is becoming a place you can browse at your own pace—begin with a book, a question, or a study that interests you, and follow from there. The Bible Books page gathers studies by book, while Study Threads helps connect topics that travel through more than one book. The labels on individual posts also bring related material to...
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10. Torn Curtain: Drawing Near Through Christ

God’s Image • Torn Curtain Study

Our examination now reaches Hebrews, where the curtain is explicitly connected with Christ’s flesh. The passage identifies a way of approach and describes the heart of those drawing near.

The Priest, the Offering, and God

Hebrews 9 recalls the sanctuary’s arrangement, including the curtain, the ark, and the cherubim associated with Glory. The priests entered the first section, while the high priest entered the second with blood.

The chapter then describes Christ entering through his own blood. He offers himself through the eternal Spirit to God, and his blood cleanses the conscience for service to the living God.

Notice the relationships: Christ offers himself; the Spirit is named in that offering; God is the one to whom he offers himself. The passage preserves these details while describing the benefit received by others. Read Hebrews 9:1–14.

Later, Christ’s entrance is identified with heaven itself, where he appears before God on behalf of others. The earthly sanctuary and the heavenly reality are connected without being made identical. Read Hebrews 9:23–28.

Through the Curtain

Hebrews 10 describes the approach:

“by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh”

— Hebrews 10:20, LSB

The surrounding verses name Jesus’ blood, his priesthood over God’s house, a sincere heart, faith, cleansing of the conscience, and washing.

The invitation to draw near comes with these details. We should preserve them when comparing Hebrews with Matthew’s account of the torn curtain. Hebrews expressly teaches entrance through Christ; it does not say that every person has automatically entered. Read Hebrews 10:19–22.

The Door and the One Entering

Jesus uses another image when speaking about entry:

“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved”

— John 10:9, LSB, excerpt

He contrasts entry through the door with climbing in another way. He also describes the sheep hearing, recognizing, and following the shepherd’s voice.

These details bring together the appointed entrance, the voice, and the response. The shepherd leads; the sheep follow. A claim of belonging must be examined alongside that relationship. Read John 10:1–11.

Drawing Near and Continuing Faithfully

Hebrews continues by calling its readers to hold firmly to hope, encourage one another, and stir one another toward love and good deeds. It also warns against deliberate persistence in sin after receiving knowledge of the truth, including contempt for the Son, the covenant blood, and the Spirit of grace. Read Hebrews 10:23–29.

Approach and response therefore belong together. Receiving instruction brings responsibility for how we live.

Questions to Consider

  • Have I assumed that an opening means I have already entered?

  • Am I following the shepherd’s voice or relying upon a claim of belonging?

  • Does my response to correction reflect the sincere heart described in Hebrews?

  • Am I encouraging love and faithful conduct in others?

Threads to Follow

  • The study’s conclusion: Bring tearing, mourning, covering, recognition, and approach together.

  • Commandment 10: Return to the difference between receiving what God gives and claiming what belongs to another.

The books were opened…

🌿Studies by Maria Emilia ~ 🗺️Continue exploring: Visit Bible Books to find studies organized by book of the Bible, along with related studies and links.

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