II Corinthians 3:13 “And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.”
The Apostle Paul writes of Three Vails; one that was over Moses’ face, one over the mind, and one over the heart. A “vail” hides or obscures that which is behind it or that which is before it. “Moses … put a vail over his face” because the glory of the Lord was upon him with such intensity that “the skin of his face shone; and they [Israel] were afraid to come nigh him” (Exodus 34:30). So, “till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face” (Exodus 34:33); that is, “speaking with them” about the Commandments of God. As time went on, Israel began to worship the Commandments, the Law, more than God. They so revered the Law that they began to expand it, adding their own laws and claiming that they came from God. These laws allowed the leadership to fulfill their lust for power and glory by exacting dominating control over the people and to judge their righteousness by their obedience to their laws. They were so filled with their lust for power that there was a “vail” over their hearts and their minds so that they could not see that the Old Testament Law Service was actually a practical-prophecy that the Messiah would come and fulfill the Law and do for them what they could not do for themselves under the Law. They were so consumed (blinded, vailed) with their lusts for power and personal glory that their minds could not perceive the truth that Jesus Christ is indeed the Messiah, and neither could their hearts feel the love of Christ and His Gospel. That same “vail” was still upon them in the days of the Apostle Paul. And, sadly, this “vail” is still upon the minds and hearts of those who impose any theological works system to obtain Eternal Salvation. Those who live under such works systems seem pleased with it because it gives them a sense of control over their Eternal Life and allows them to tout their own righteousness (Romans 10:3). “Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.” (II Corinthians 3:16); that is, when their hearts “turn” from their lusts for power and authority and glory, “the vail shall be taken away” so that they can perceive and love and rejoice in the “liberty” (II Corinthians 3:17) that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Most are so enthralled with their legalism that only the Lord Himself can “turn” them! Let us, like Paul, pray for them (Romans 10:1).