Did the veil tear before Jesus died or after he died? ~ Cross reference of Luke 23:45 to Psalm 31:6


I try to stay away from inconsistencies between the 4 gospels as it is meaningless to pick on details when there are major issues with the core beliefs. 

Same issue happens here as well. Matthew & Mark make sure the veil is torn only after Jesus is dead to say that Jesus took away the veil that separates us from god. Luke has the veil torn before Jesus is dead and not sure what that means. 

I read up some blogs to see what people are thinking and was amazed to see so many people writing their POV as "defending the lord". If the Greek text is god breathed then why do mere mortals have to defend it?

Either way the good news is that with the veil tearing, we are no more separated from god and we have direct access to him [of course now through Jesus who is our high priest and mediator.]

Let us see what strength the cross reference has to Psalm 31 has to support this event of Jesus dying and the veil tearing into two.

I will also post some details about historical documentation on the torn veil and this is not a small issue when it comes to the way G-d wanted the holy of holies to be separated from humans.


All Images are links to Google Images. Copyright violations not intended.
All Greek Text references are from NIV and Tanakh references are from Chabad.

This post is not intended to offend anyone's faith but for those people who are Seeking the truth of THE ONE TRUE G-D of the universe to who we owe all our love, gratitude & devotion.

My encouragement to you is that you read the whole chapter of Tanakh that the Greek text quotes so you get the context and understand what G-d actually said.


G-d Bless and Seek THE Truth.

Luke 23:45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”[e] When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Psalm 31:6 In Your hand I entrust my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth.
  • This is a Psalm of David [Verse 1] and just the many Psalms he is asking G-d to help him from his enemies.
  • If you see the below verses you will see that it has nothing to do with Jesus.
Psalm 31:2 I took refuge in You, O Lord; let me not be shamed forever; rescue me with Your righteousness. - G-d did not save Jesus but G-d saved David from so many perils.
Psalm 31:3 Incline Your ear to me, quickly rescue me; be a rock of strength to me, a stronghold to save me. - Why does god need to save god?
Psalm 31:4 For You are my Rock and my Stronghold, and for Your name's sake, You shall lead me and guide me. - Why does god need guidance?
Psalm 31:You shall free me from this net which they have hidden for me, for You are my stronghold. - Jesus was not redeemed from the cross. 
Psalm 31:6 In Your hand I entrust my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth. - David is saying that he has been redeemed from his enemies. Jesus was not redeemed from the cross.
Psalm 31:7 I hated those who await worthless vanities, but I hoped for the Lord. - Jesus prayed for his enemies
Psalm 31:9 And you did not deliver me into the hands of an enemy; You have placed my feet in a broad place. - Jesus life ended on the cross.
Psalm 31:15 But I trusted in You, O Lord; I said, "You are my God." - How can a god be a god of another god?
Psalm 31:16 My times are in Your hands; rescue me from the hands of my enemies and from my pursuers. - Jesus died on the cross.
Psalm 31:18 O Lord, let me not be shamed because I called out to You; let the wicked be shamed, let them be silenced to the grave. - Jesus forgave his enemies. David is asking for his enemies to die.
Psalm 31:23 But I said in my haste, "I have been cut off from before Your eyes," but You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried out to You. - David is saying that G-d heard him and saved him. Jesus had to go through with the cross and die.
Psalm 31:24 Love the Lord, all His pious ones. The Lord guards those who believe [in Him] and He pays with a bowstring him who works with haughtiness. - Jesus was not rescued or strengthened with a bowstring.

Some details from Tanakh & historical writings on the veil tearing into two for you to read.

  • The 2nd temple that was standing when Jesus was alive was an upgraded version of the temple that the people during Ezra's time had built. It was called the Herodian temple.
  • Herod tried to make this similar and grander to what Solomon had built [1st Temple]
  • If you read 1 Kings 6:23-32 you will see that Solomon replaced the veil and put doors that separated the Holy from the Holy of Holies. In all possibility the Herodian temple also had doors. There is no mention of any veil.
    • 1 Kings 6:31 And for the entrance of the Sanctuary, he made doors (of) olive-wood; the lintel and side posts (were) of five parts. 32 And two doors of olive-wood, and he carved upon them carvings of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, and he overlaid (them) with gold; and spread the gold upon the cherubim, and upon the palm trees.
  • If you read 2 Kings 18:16 you will see the confirmation that Hezekiah stripped the gold that was on these doors and gave it as tribute to Assyria so they don't attack Judah
    • 2 Kings 18:16 At that time, Hezekiah stripped the doors of the temple of the Lord, and the thresholds which Hezekiah the king of Judah had overlaid, and he gave them to the king of Assyria.
  • According to Josephus JW 5.5.5 - 219, he mentions a single veil before a set of doors which served as the “gate opening into the building” and entrance to the holy of holies. How can the same curtain be a covering for the entrance into the sanctuary and the holy of holies is not clear. 
  • Rabbinic texts record that Titus, who upon his assault of the holy city, “took a sword and slashed the curtain”
  • Vespasian and Titus were known to take possessions that the enemy treasured and place it in their temples. Roman documents say that Titus did not cut the veil but took it with him to Rome and placed it in the “Temple of Peace” (J.W. 7.5.7 §158–62).

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