2 Corinthians 3: 6-18

[Hanseng]

Somewhat of a difficult pas sage The passage refers to 2 administrations, one of tables of stone and death and another of Spirit and life. The puzzling part is the reference to the vail that covered the face of Moses.

"And not as Moses, [which] put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end <5056> of that which is abolished:" ( verse 3:13). 

As I sought understanding, not from commentaries but from the Holy Spirit, it occurred to me that the expression "to the end" is used in the sense of conclusion. Moses covered his face to indicate that Israel would not be able to see that the ministration of death under the Decalogue concluded with the ministration of life in Christ. He goes on to say that their is still a veil over their unbelieving hearts, i.e., they are blinded, just as Moses was blinded by the veil covering his face [and eyes].

Paul makes a similar statement in Romans 10.  He says Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. The purpose of the law, all laws, was to bring us to Christ. As John said, The law came from Moses but grace and truth comes from Jesus.    

1 Peter 1:19 is an excellent illustration of how this word is used in 2 Corinthians 3:13 "Receiving the end <5056> of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls."

Come now, let us reason together.