verses 12-18: “Having therefore such a hope we use great boldness in our speech, and are not as Moses, who used to put a veil over his face that the sons of Israel might not look intently at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a man turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”
Several thoughts here….
Israel held the Law in such high esteem, that they thought it would guarantee salvation (according to Bible footnotes and the Holman concordance). They were so blinded (veiled) that they couldn’t see that Jesus Christ, in all His glory, was the only way.
In verse 18, “beholding as in a mirror”; I think of the reference in 1 Corinthians 13 to “a mirror dimly”. This is not a dim imperfect reflection we see. “With unveiled face” we can see the glory of the Lord, because as Christians we “are being transformed” into the likeness of Christ (when we let Jesus have His perfect work in us).
I remember seeing my wife at our wedding for the first time during the ceremony. She had the veil over her face, and she looked beautiful. But I could not wait to see her without that veil, and truly behold her smiling lovely countenance on this, our wedding day! We didn’t want our vision hindered by even that thin veil. I wanted to see her and she wanted to see me!
Ever looked into a perfectly still, clear body of water, such as a pond or a lake? Your reflection almost was lifelike, right? Now what happened when you disturbed the water; the reflection was warped or distorted altogether, right? So it is with our Christian walk…do not disturb the reflection of God’s glory you behold in the mirror, by sinning or “doing things your way”. Continue to focus on letting Jesus have His perfect work in you, and continue to change you into the likeness of His glory.
Have a blessed day, and safe Independence Day holiday!
