The Veil Is Taken Away

Have you ever looked in the mirror and wished you could change what you see, not just the lines on your face or the weariness in your eyes, but something deeper? Perhaps it’s a nagging sin, a quick temper, or a heart that struggles to love as it should. We all crave transformation, a makeover that goes beyond the surface to the very core of who we are. The good news is that God offers exactly that. The Bible tells us that as we follow Him, we begin to look more like Him, morally, spiritually, and even visibly to those around us.

In the Old Testament, Moses experienced this firsthand. After encountering God face-to-face on Mount Sinai, his countenance was so radiant that “the Israelites could not look steadily at [his face] because of its glory” (2 Corinthians 3:7, ESV; see Exodus 34:33-35). But that glory faded, and Moses veiled his face to hide its diminishing light. In the New Testament, however, we find a greater promise. In 2 Corinthians 3:12-18, Paul reveals how we, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, are “being transformed into [Christ’s] image” (v. 18). This transformation isn’t temporary, it’s an ongoing, glorious process that reflects God’s character in us.

In this post, we’ll dive into 2 Corinthians 3:12-18, unpacking its meaning through careful exegesis, exploring key words from the original Greek, and applying its truths to our lives. Using the English Standard Version (ESV), we’ll see how God removes the veils that blind us, sets us free through His Spirit, and changes us into His likeness as we behold His glory.

The Veil of Moses, A Fading Glory

Let’s begin with the historical backdrop. In Exodus 34, Moses met with God on Mount Sinai, receiving the tablets of the Law. When he descended, his face shone with divine glory, so much so that the Israelites were afraid to come near him (Exodus 34:29-30). To ease their fear and conceal the fading radiance, Moses wore a veil (Exodus 34:33-35). Paul picks up this imagery in 2 Corinthians 3:12-13:

“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.” (ESV)

Paul contrasts the old covenant, represented by Moses, with the new covenant in Christ. The old covenant had glory, God’s presence was real, but it was temporary. The Greek word for “veil” here is κάλυμμα (kalymma), meaning a covering or something that conceals. Moses’ kalymma hid the fact that the glory on his face was fading, a symbol of the old covenant’s impermanence. The phrase “what was passing away” points to the Law’s inability to bring lasting righteousness or transformation. It was a shadow, not the substance.

For us, this is a reminder that human efforts, rules, rituals, or moral striving, can not sustain God’s glory in our lives. The Law pointed to holiness but couldn’t make us holy. Like Moses’ fading glow, its brilliance was real but fleeting. Yet Paul’s tone is one of hope. Because we have a greater covenant, rooted in Christ’s finished work, we can speak and live with “great boldness.” The old veil is a relic of the past; something better has come.

The Veil on Hearts: Blindness Removed in Christ

Paul deepens the metaphor in verses 14-16:

“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. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” (ESV)

Here, the veil shifts from Moses’ face to the hearts of those who hear the Law without seeing Christ. Paul says that many of his fellow Jews couldn’t perceive the fading glory of the old covenant because their “minds were blinded.” The Greek word for “blinded” implies a hardening or dullness, a spiritual inability to see the truth. Even today, Paul notes, “when Moses is read”, meaning the Old Testament, a veil persists, obscuring the greater glory of Jesus.

But there’s hope in verse 16: “when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” The Greek word for “taken away” is καταργεῖται (katargeitai), meaning to render inoperative or abolish. This isn’t a gentle lifting; it’s a decisive act of God. In Christ, the barrier is destroyed, and the true glory of God’s plan, foreshadowed in the Law and fulfilled in Jesus, shines through.

This is a powerful call to faith. Without Christ, we’re all veiled, whether by Jewish law, self-righteousness, or worldly distractions. I once knew a man who prided himself on his moral checklist, thinking it earned God’s favor. But checklists don’t transform hearts; only Jesus does. When we turn to Him, repenting, believing, surrendering, the veil is abolished, and we see God as He truly is. This isn’t just for the Jews of Paul’s day; it’s for every one of us. What veils might be clouding your vision today? Turn to the Lord, and watch them fall.

Liberty Through the Spirit - the Freedom to Approach God

Verse 17 introduces a liberating truth:

“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (ESV)

Paul declares, “The Lord is the Spirit,” affirming the Holy Spirit’s deity, He is God, just as Jesus and the Father are God. This connects to Moses’ experience: when he entered God’s presence, he removed the veil (Exodus 34:34). Now, through the new covenant, the Spirit dwells in us, granting constant access to God’s presence.

The Greek word for “liberty” is ἐλευθερία (eleutheria), meaning freedom or release. This isn’t license to sin but freedom from the bondage of the Law, sin, and death. Under the old covenant, people approached God with fear, separated by veils and priests. But the Spirit tears down those barriers, giving us bold, unshackled access to the Father through Christ (Hebrews 4:16). As Matthew Poole once wrote, this liberty frees us “from the yoke of the law, from sin, death, hell,” and especially “from that blindness and hardness which is upon men’s hearts” until the Spirit works.

For believers, this is life-changing. We don’t cower like the Israelites before Moses’ veiled face. We run to God, unhindered, because the Spirit lives in us. Think of it: the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is remaking you (Romans 8:11). That’s not just freedom, it’s power.

Transformation Into God’s Image

The climax comes in verse 18:

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (ESV)

This verse is the heart of our transformation. “We all, with unveiled face” means every believer, not just Moses or the apostles, has this privilege. The veil is gone, and we can “behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord.” The Greek word κατοπτριζόμενοι (katoptrizomenoi) means to look into a mirror or reflect. In ancient times, mirrors were polished metal, offering a dim, imperfect reflection (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:12). We don’t see God’s glory fully yet, but we see enough to change us.

The key action is “are being transformed,” from the Greek μεταμορφούμεθα (metamorphoumetha), think “metamorphosis.” This is no superficial tweak; it’s a profound, ongoing change into “the same image”, Christ’s likeness. The phrase “from glory to glory” suggests progression, a journey of growing holiness. And who does this? The Spirit of the Lord. It’s not our effort but His power at work.

Here’s the evangelical heartbeat: as we behold Jesus, through Scripture, prayer, and worship, we become like Him. It’s not about earning God’s favor; it’s about gazing at His beauty and letting the Spirit reshape us. I’ve seen this in my own life. Years ago, I struggled with bitterness, but as I soaked in God’s Word and sought His face, that hardness melted into grace, not overnight, but “from glory to glory.”

Living the Transformation

So how do we live this out? Here are some practical ways to behold God’s glory and let the Spirit transform us:

Spend Time in God’s Word
The Bible is our mirror, reflecting Christ’s glory. Study it deeply, don’t just skim. Meditate on passages like John 1 or Colossians 1, where Jesus’ majesty shines.

Pray with Expectation
Prayer isn’t a duty; it’s a meeting with God. Ask the Spirit to unveil your heart and show you Jesus. Be still and listen.

Worship Wholeheartedly
Whether in church or alone, worship draws us into God’s presence. Sing, praise, and adore Him, let His glory fill your vision.

Remove the Veils
What distracts you from God? Sin, busyness, doubt? Confess it, turn to the Lord, and let Him abolish those barriers.

Reflect Christ to Others
Transformation isn’t private. As God changes you, your love, patience, and joy become visible to your “fellow travelers in this journey of life.”

John Stott once said, “The Christian life is a process of gazing and growing.” It’s not instant perfection but a daily choice to behold Him.

A Call to Behold and Be Changed

In 2 Corinthians 3:12-18, Paul paints a stunning picture. The veil of Moses hid a fading glory, a shadow of the old covenant. The veil on hearts blinds us until we turn to Christ, who removes it forever. The Spirit brings liberty, freeing us to approach God boldly. And as we behold His glory, we are transformed into His image, step by glorious step.

This is God’s promise: follow Him, and you’ll look more like Him. Not because you’re strong, but because His Spirit is. So turn to the Lord today. Let the veil fall. Gaze at His glory. And watch as He makes you over, heart, mind, and soul, into the image of His Son. The journey starts now, and it’s more beautiful than you can imagine.