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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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11. Torn Curtain: What Is Opened—and What Must Be Understood?

God’s Image • Torn Curtain Study

We began with the curtain torn at Jesus’ death. Following the surrounding passages brought us into darkness, mourning, garments, resurrection, recognition, and approach to God.

Each detail contributes to the examination. None should disappear beneath a familiar explanation.

Preserving What the Accounts Describe

Matthew records darkness, Jesus yielding his spirit, the curtain tearing from top to bottom, and tombs opening. He places the emergence of the raised holy ones after Jesus’ resurrection. The account does not announce that every person has automatically entered God’s presence. Read Matthew 27:45–54.

We compared the tearing with garments torn in grief and the darkness with mourning described in Amos. These remain comparisons through which to examine the event; Matthew does not explicitly call the curtain’s tearing an act of mourning. Read Genesis 37:29–35 and Amos 8:9–10.

John preserves another distinction: Jesus’ tunic was not torn. Later, the cloth that had covered his head lay separately from the other linen wrappings. Tearing, preserving, and placing separately are different actions. Our examination of Head and body must retain what John actually records. Read John 19:23–24 and John 20:5–9.

Access Does Not Erase Relationship

The sanctuary’s Holy Place and Most Holy Place had distinct arrangements for entry. Hebrews follows those details into Christ’s priesthood and the approach provided through him. Read Hebrews 9:1–14.

Hebrews 10 expressly gives believers confidence to enter through Jesus’ blood. It also names the great priest over God’s house and calls those approaching to faith, cleansing, perseverance, and love.

Those drawing near do not thereby become the priest through whom they approach. Access is real; it does not make every role interchangeable. Read Hebrews 10:19–25.

Ephesians describes the work accomplished in Christ before describing the household still being built. Christ makes the two one, creates one new man in himself, and reconciles through the cross. Verse 18 then identifies access through him, in one Spirit, to the Father. Verses 21–22 describe the sanctuary growing and the readers being built together into God’s dwelling. The accomplished union and the household’s continuing formation must both remain visible. Our study traces this distinction through Christ as Head and the wider household participating in what has been accomplished through him. Receiving access does not make every participant the Head or give everyone the same role. Read Ephesians 2:14–22.

Mystery, Revelation, and Recognition

Paul connects God’s hidden wisdom with the rulers’ failure to understand the one they crucified. He then describes God revealing through the Spirit what He has freely given. Visible presence and spiritual understanding were not identical. Read 1 Corinthians 2:7–13.

The mystery also concerns Christ within believers and the union of Christ and the church. Ephesians connects revelation with others coming to understand through what Paul communicates. Hiddenness, disclosure, and participation belong together. Read Colossians 1:26–27, Ephesians 5:25–32, and Ephesians 3:3–6.

Returning to Commandment 10

This brings us back to what we desire and claim.

Laban’s deception placed Leah where Jacob had expected Rachel. Leah’s longing for love does not establish that the deception originated with her. That distinction cautions us against assigning the same intention to everyone involved in a mistaken claim. Read Genesis 29:18–35.

For our own examination, however, recognition brings a question:

Have I been taught to desire something—and am I unwilling to let it go even after learning that it is not mine to keep?

We now return to Commandment 10: Do Not Covet, examining the difference between receiving what God gives and claiming another’s place.

Threads to Follow

  • Desire and belonging: Return to the house, wife, and possessions named in Exodus 20:17.

  • Union and distinct roles: Revisit the Bridegroom and Bride Study.

  • Understanding and response: Examine what we believe, seek the Father’s direction, and remain willing to receive correction.

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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