“Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:1-2)
The glory of the Mosaic Law was transitory; it was only for a time. No one could ever keep that Law, as good and holy as it was, at least not perfectly as demanded by the Lord God. The problem with the Israelites from Moses through the last of the kings was that most of the chosen people did not even want to obey it. But by the time of Christ and Paul, the Jews had presumed to think that they actually could keep it. They veiled the Law and the of God by twisting His Word around so that it would say what they wanted it to say thus making it much easier to follow it and easier to control others.
Unfortunately many people today place a veil over their hearts, depriving themselves of fellowship with the Lord. Many choose to ignore or redefine the Word of God for, like the ancient Jews, the glory of the Word reveals evil actions and desires, things which most do not want to see or change.
However, as Martin Luther taught, our hearts must be captive to the Word of God. We must subject all things, all relationships, all ideas to the authority of the scriptures. As we submit to the authority of Scripture we can then behold God’s glory without the veil. Then as Moses was transformed into the reflection of God’s glory, so too will we be transformed. As we have fellowship with God, as we study His word in the fellowship of the saints, as we worship together we grow closer to the Lord and He enables us to act in the way that conforms to His will. We become people who turn from sin and immorality, who love others, who do good for them, who act with mercy and compassion towards those who are needy and sinful. We become a people who manifest righteousness. We become a people who are being transformed into the image of Jesus with ever-increasing glory.