Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 3:14

"but their minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth, it not being revealed [to them] that it is done away in Christ." — 2 Corinthians 3:14 (ASV)

Moses’ laudable attempt was, however, unsuccessful; instead of recognizing the significance of Moses’ veiled face, the Israelites became dulled in their powers of perception. Paul finds evidence of this spiritual insensitivity in the fact that down to his own day, when the old covenant (or the OT) was read in the synagogue, the ability of the Jews to recognize the impermanence of the Mosaic order was impaired. A “veil” (GK 2820) covers their hearts comparable to the veil that covered Moses’ face. Paul could call it the “same” veil because in both cases a veil prevented vision, or because it was identical to the veil of ignorance about the transitory nature of the Mosaic economy. To Paul, this veil remained unlifted in the case of unbelieving Jews, because only as they came to Christ was the veil set aside.