Matthew Henry Commentary Exodus 34:28-35

"And he was there with Jehovah forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of the testimony in Moses` hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses knew not that the skin of his face shone by reason of his speaking with him. And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him. And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses spake to them. And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that Jehovah had spoken with him in mount Sinai. And when Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. But when Moses went in before Jehovah to speak with him, he took the veil off, until he came out; and he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded. And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses` face shone: and Moses put the veil upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him." — Exodus 34:28-35 (ASV)

Near and spiritual communion with God improves the graces of a renewed and holy character. Serious godliness puts a luster on a person's countenance, commanding esteem and affection.

The veil Moses put on marked the obscurity of that dispensation when compared with the gospel dispensation of the New Testament. It was also an emblem of the natural veil on human hearts regarding spiritual things. Furthermore, the veil that was and is on the nation of Israel can only be taken away by the Spirit of the Lord revealing Christ to them as the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Fear and unbelief would place that veil before us; they would hinder our free approach to the mercy seat above. We should spread our wants, both temporal and spiritual, fully before our heavenly Father. We should tell him our hindrances, struggles, trials, and temptations; we should acknowledge our offenses.