Exo 26:1-6 | KingComments | STEP | God begins the description of the building itself with what covers the sanctuary. Of this covering, He first mentions what is most hidden from the eye of the person who looks at it from the outside. Only the priests can see the colored curtains in the light of the lampstand when they are in the sanctuary. The lower, most disguised curtain has four elements: “Fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet”. 1. The “fine twisted linen” speaks of a powerful service in cleanliness and purity. We see this in the life of the Lord Jesus. The Gospel according to Mark represents Him as the true Servant. 2. The “blue” reminds us that He is Man from heaven. Thus we see Him in the Gospel according to John. 3. The “purple” shows Him in His glory as the Son of Man. We meet Him like this in the Gospel according to Luke. 4. The “scarlet” shows Him in His earthly glory as Messiah. That is how the gospel according to Matthew describes him. Cherubs must be made on the curtains. Cherubs are angelic figures who, as it were, ensure that the service in God’s sanctuary takes place in a way that suits God’s holiness. In reality, these angels ensure that God’s law is fulfilled and also carry out the judgment of God (cf. ). There are ten curtains. They have to be made into two large coverings by attaching two times five curtains to each other. The number five indicates responsibility. We have five fingers on each hand and five toes on each foot. The number ten indicates a double responsibility. We have a responsibility to God and we have a responsibility to those around us. The law consists of ten commandments, with commandments regulating the relationship to God and commandments regulating the relationship to men. In everything the Lord Jesus has answered perfectly to the will of God. He has made his hands and feet completely available for doing God’s will. This should also be the hallmark of our lives as believers. For we read that after we are baptized, we are clothed with Jesus Christ ( ), which must be visible ( ). The fact that five curtains are closely connected does not mean that there is no close connection between the two coverings of five curtains each. The whole of ten curtains remains. Both large coverings are namely provided with a row of fifty (= five times ten) blue purple loops These loops “shall be opposite each other”. The loops are connected with golden clasps, “so that the tabernacle will be a unit”. Here we see that this beautiful covering is called “the tabernacle”. This is the very dwelling place of God. It is a beautiful illustration of Christ and the church that came into being through His work on the cross. What we find represented in the perfect composition of the curtains is a symbolic representation of what Paul says in Ephesians 2: “Christ Jesus Himself being the corner [stone], in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord” ( ). The clasps and the loops that connect the curtains have sometimes been compared to the greetings that are made. Greetings that are send and given from one church to another or from one believer to another are a practical expression of the connection that exists between local churches and between believers. We find these greetings at the end of several letters in the New Testament.

‏ Exodus 26:1-6

Curtains of Fine Linen

God begins the description of the building itself with what covers the sanctuary. Of this covering, He first mentions what is most hidden from the eye of the person who looks at it from the outside. Only the priests can see the colored curtains in the light of the lampstand when they are in the sanctuary. The lower, most disguised curtain has four elements: “Fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet”.

1. The “fine twisted linen” speaks of a powerful service in cleanliness and purity. We see this in the life of the Lord Jesus. The Gospel according to Mark represents Him as the true Servant.

2. The “blue” reminds us that He is Man from heaven. Thus we see Him in the Gospel according to John.

3. The “purple” shows Him in His glory as the Son of Man. We meet Him like this in the Gospel according to Luke.

4. The “scarlet” shows Him in His earthly glory as Messiah. That is how the gospel according to Matthew describes him.

Cherubs must be made on the curtains. Cherubs are angelic figures who, as it were, ensure that the service in God’s sanctuary takes place in a way that suits God’s holiness. In reality, these angels ensure that God’s law is fulfilled and also carry out the judgment of God (cf. Gen 3:24).

There are ten curtains. They have to be made into two large coverings by attaching two times five curtains to each other. The number five indicates responsibility. We have five fingers on each hand and five toes on each foot. The number ten indicates a double responsibility. We have a responsibility to God and we have a responsibility to those around us. The law consists of ten commandments, with commandments regulating the relationship to God and commandments regulating the relationship to men.

In everything the Lord Jesus has answered perfectly to the will of God. He has made his hands and feet completely available for doing God’s will. This should also be the hallmark of our lives as believers. For we read that after we are baptized, we are clothed with Jesus Christ (Gal 3:27), which must be visible (Rom 13:14).

The fact that five curtains are closely connected does not mean that there is no close connection between the two coverings of five curtains each. The whole of ten curtains remains. Both large coverings are namely provided with a row of fifty (= five times ten) blue purple loops These loops “shall be opposite each other”. The loops are connected with golden clasps, “so that the tabernacle will be a unit”.

Here we see that this beautiful covering is called “the tabernacle”. This is the very dwelling place of God. It is a beautiful illustration of Christ and the church that came into being through His work on the cross. What we find represented in the perfect composition of the curtains is a symbolic representation of what Paul says in Ephesians 2: “Christ Jesus Himself being the corner [stone], in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord” (Eph 2:20b-21).

The clasps and the loops that connect the curtains have sometimes been compared to the greetings that are made. Greetings that are send and given from one church to another or from one believer to another are a practical expression of the connection that exists between local churches and between believers. We find these greetings at the end of several letters in the New Testament.