2 Corinthians 3:12-18 - The Christians privilege

Paul had been comparing the Old Covenant with the New. He had established that the glory of the New is greater than that of the Old. With that, he turned his focus especially to the veil that covered Moses’ face recorded in Exodus 34:39-35. Based on the Exodus account, we are told that Moses always wore a veil. The only times he did not wear the veil was when he was talking to God in the tent of meeting. When he came out from talking to God to convey to the Israelites what God had just said, Moses wore the veil for the sake of the Israelites. Why? It’s because his face would be shinning with the glory of God that the Israelites would be afraid to come near to him. But here in verse 13, Paul explained it in a different way. He said that Moses wore it so that the Israelites, the people of God, could not see the glory of God fading away gradually after he had come out from speaking to God.   

 

In verse 14 we see Paul now applying the veil that covered Moses’ face to the veil covering the minds of the Jews. Their minds were veiled in the sense that they had failed to read the Old Covenant correctly. They failed to see Christ in it and accept Him. And since they could not accept the Christ he shared with them, their minds remained veiled when they read the Old Covenant. Hence their hearts were hardened. But Christians are different and Paul will tell us why in verses 16-18.

When one turns to the Lord, the veil covering one’s mind would be removed. Verse 17 presents us with some intricacy. The first Lord obviously refers to Christ Jesus and the Spirit refers to God. For in the Old Testament, God is frequently referred to as “The Spirit of God or the Spirit of the Lord.” What Paul implies here is this: Christ Jesus is God. And in Him there is freedom. This freedom is not suggesting that one has the liberty to do whatever he pleases. It is referring to the freedom from the Old Covenant. For the justification of the believers is in Christ and not in keeping the Law of the Old Covenant. Paul equates the work of Christ in our lives as that of God through His Spirit.

 

Since Christians have liberty in Christ, Paul burst forth in praise in verse 18. As believers we have hope, freedom and boldness to come before God without hindrance to behold His indescribable glory. Why? God is at work in our lives. He is now not hidden from us due to any veil over our faces or hearts. He is recognized whenever we read the Scriptures or hear him being preached.  And when we behold Him we are being changed and transformed from glory to glory.

 

What a privilege! What a hope! Now that we know Christ, let’s come frequently before Him and delightfully enjoy His presence. In beholding Him we shall be changed and transformed till we become like Christ. Let’s us make reflecting His Christ and His glory our goal in life!