Ordinances Against Us?
The Apostolic Letter to Gentiles
The Law of Yahweh & of Moses
The Veil Over Their Minds
Yoke Our Fathers/Unable to Bear
Yahshua: The End of the Law
Yahshua was not a Lawgiver
How to Count to Pentecost
Yahweh's Passover
Yahshua is Coming
Love the Heavenly Father
Salvation & the Sacred Names
The Creator/What is His Name?
The Father's Name
The Importance of the Name
Read & Restore Sacred Names
What is the Messiah's Name?
John 5:18
The Sabbath
Clothing for Men and Women
Feet Washing
Is This Your Ancestor?
Speaking in Tongues
The Plan of Salvation
The Soul of Man
When does the Day Begin?
Wine in the Bible
What Body are the Dead Raised?
Women
Yahweh's Dietary Laws
THE VEIL OVER THEIR MINDS
2 Corinthians 3
Voy Wilks
1/29/88
The veil spread over the minds of Israel in Paul's day was their inability to recognize and accept Yahshua as the Messiah. There is today a veil over the minds of people, and that is, they do not accept Yahweh's everlasting law. Jews in Paul's day accepted the law, but not the Messiah. Today, Gentiles accept the Messiah, but not the law.
"For the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life" (2 Cor. 3:6). The law is referred to as the "ministration of death" (2 Cor. 3: 6, 7). In writing about the law Paul tells us the law brings wrath (Rom. 5:9), and death (Rom. 7:8 - 11). But he explains that it is not really the law (the ten commandments) which brings death, but sin which is in man; the breaking of the commandments (Rom. 7:13). At first Paul felt he was in good shape, but then he learned of the commandment which says, "You shall not covet" (Rom. 7:7). It was then Paul realized he was a "dead man" (Rom. 7:11). Why? Because the law says, "The soul that sinneth it shall die" (Ezek. 18:4). Has t his law been changed - canceled? Not at all. Paul says to us today, "For the wages of sin is death, ..." (Rom. 6:23).
The great Apostle Paul acknowledges that the ten commandments (therefore all the law) is good, holy, spiritual, and just (Rom. 7:12-16). It is Paul (and all mankind) who is the reverse (Rom. 7:16-23). What can we do about this? The answer is Yahshua the Messiah (Rom. 7:24-25). Once we accept Yahshua, Paul says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Messiah Yahshua ..." He has set us free from sin, and its final outcome, death: death - for breaking Yahweh's law (Rom. 8:1-4). Yahshua has not abolished the law. Instead, he has abolished the death penalty for breaking the law - if there is repentance.
So we see that the "letter of the law" brings death (2 Cor. 3:6, 7). Thou shalt not kill, covet, lie, commit adultery, etc. We have all done some, or all of these. The penalty? Death! That is, if we do not rely on the great sacrifice of Yahshua (Rom. 7:24, 25; 8:1-4, Jn. 3:16). The ministration of death (under Moses) was glorious. The ministration of life (under Yahshua) is more glorious. The first could not (actually) remove sins, but the ministration of life can. Paul and others were ministers of and for this new covenant, which is a hope (2 Cor. 3:12). The law was not done away.
Someone may ask, "What about verse 11? Something was done away, and something else remains. What are these?" The shining of Moses' face was done away after a time. It gradually faded. What remains, even today, is the glory of Yahshua the Messiah. For a description of his glorious appearance please see Rev. 1:12-18. Moses died, but Yahshua is ever living (Rev. 1:18).
A veil is still over the minds and hearts of the Israelites, but one day this will be lifted and they will see and understand that Yahshua is indeed the Messiah. Scripture says, "Nevertheless, when it [Israel] shall turn to Yahshua, the veil shall be taken away" (2 Cor. 3:16; Rom. 11:12, 26).
