March 11th, 2026 Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

OUT WITH THE OLD IN WITH THE NEW

Matthew 27:51 “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” 

There was a lot of drama that surrounded Jesus’ death. The earth quaked! The sky, though it was day time, was dark as night. The curtain that separated the Holy of Holies in the temple from the people split in two.   

It is this last occurrence that today’s devotional verse focuses upon. The earthquake that occurred certainly shook up the people. The darkness had to be frightening. The curtain tearing from top to bottom had to be upsetting and frightening in its own right. Any self-respecting Jew knew it was forbidden for them to ever enter into the Holy of Holies. That was reserved for a specially designated priest and even that could not happen every day.   

Obviously, the curtain tearing opened up that once restricted area for all to see. What was the significance of this happening? “It signified the end of the separation between God and humanity, the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrificial system, and the inauguration of the New Covenant. This event marks the end of the temple as the central place of worship and highlights the priesthood of all believers, who now have direct access to God through Jesus Christ. The tearing of the veil assures believers of the completeness of Jesus’ atoning work and encourages them to approach God with confidence. It underscores the unity of all believers, both Jews and Gentiles, in Christ and the new era of worship inspirit and truth. This event continues to inspire and shape Christian worship, prayer, and theology, emphasizing the open and direct relationship with God made possible through Jesus’ sacrificial death.”   (Got Questions.org) 

Prayer: O Christ, Thou Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy upon me. Amen. 

O perfect life of love!
 All, all, is finished now,
All that he left His throne above
To do for us below. 

No work is left undone
Of all the Father willed;
His toil, His sorrows, one by one,
The Scriptures have fulfilled. 

No pain that we can share
But He has felt its smart;  
All forms of human grief and care
Have pierced that tender heart. 

And on His thorn-crowned head
And on His sinless soul  
Our sins in all their guilt were laid
That He might make us whole. 

In perfect love He dies;
For me He dies, for me.  
O All-atoning Sacrifice,
I cling by faith to Thee. 

In ev’ry time of need,
Before the judgment throne,  
Thy work, O Lamb of God, I’ll plead,
They merits, not mine own. 

Yet work, O Lord, in me
As Thou for me hast wrought;  
And let my love the answer be
To grace Thy love has brought.  

O Perfect Life of Life // LSB 452

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