Conclusion: Matthew's velum scissum – Retrospect and Prospect

Summary

Retrospect

We have seen that from an early time Christians have variously understood the Matthean velum scissum text and looked for solutions to the problems it raises through various avenues and combinations of methods. This has provided an important starting point for the present study, for it allowed us to build upon the helpful work of previous generations of scholars as well as to leave aside those suggestions that now seem less plausible than they may have once seemed. Specifically, I have found the cessation of the veil's function at the velum scissum to be a plausible idea, but incomplete. For although scholars relate numerous presumptions about how the veil functioned (after first presuming which veil is in mind), none have given comprehensive attention to the veil in the source widely recognised to be the origin of subsequent discussion of the Jerusalem temple's curtain configuration, the Pentateuchal tabernacle texts – first to identify which curtain was in view, second to examine the implicit and explicit function(s) of each of the curtains translated καταπέτασμα and third to consider the significance of the cessation of those functions depicted in the Matthean velum scissum pericope. When we do that, we find that scholars have generally been right to see the inner veil as the one in view and to see that this veil served to separate the holy place from the holy of holies.