For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious. Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:10-14)1
Paul said, “We have great boldness of speech.” “Boldness of speech” literally means “freedom of speech, unreservedness of utterance, to speak without ambiguity, plainly, without figures of speech.””2 What Paul is saying here is that when the veil is lifted, we can see Jesus not only today, but also throughout the Old Testament scriptures. The types and shadows of Jesus are unveiled to us!
“Until this day” the veil is covering the eyes of those who see the Old Testament with Old Covenant lenses. In that context, what is the veil? It’s the condemnation that comes from the law that says they don’t measure up to the standard, and they are deserving of punishment and a cursed life. Even to this day, people’s minds are blinded because of the veil. They don’t see Jesus in His glory and love and grace! Yet, the veil was torn from top to bottom when our Lord was crucified! The veil is taken away in Christ!!
So who is putting the veil over people’s eyes today? If we skip down a few verses to the next chapter of 2 Corinthians, we can read in context who is blinding the minds of people.
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
Satan, the god of this age, is the one who blinds the minds of the unbelieving. People are perishing from unbelief, depression, bondages, disease, loss of spiritual vision, and broken relationships because the Gospel is being veiled to them. Why is the devil blinding their minds? Because he’s so afraid that the “light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ” will shine on people and set them free!
Jesus is so beautiful, so attractive, so loving, so kind, so compassionate that if the real Jesus is presented to the world, people will run to Him!
(from pages 194-195 of Unveiling Jesus)
Want more from Tricia Gunn? Check out excerpts from the Unveiling Jesus 20-part series!
Unveiling Jesus, by Tricia Gunn, is a verse by verse study of the pure gospel of grace. It’s an amazing journey of love, identity, and freedom in Christ.
Shop Unveiling Jesus Products
Unveiling Jesus Book
Unveiling Jesus 20-Part Series
Original Unveiling Jesus, 10-part series
1All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
2G3954 (parrēsia), Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, website: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G3954&t=KJV, accessed on 6-2-14″
