3:13 veil over his face. See Exodus 34:29-35. The “veil” on Moses’ face, like the “veil of the temple” (Matthew 27:51), kept the people from such direct contact with the impeccable holiness of God’s glory which it would otherwise have consumed them, yet both Moses and the glory in the temple mediated to them the knowledge of God’s will. Now that the “veil is done away in Christ” (II Corinthians 3:14; see also Hebrews 10:20), however, the Israelites (as well as others) still stand condemned by the Law as long as they reject Christ, and so still cannot understand what they read in the Scriptures.

3:14 minds were blinded. See II Corinthians 4:3-4. Ultimately, the blindness of mind which fails to comprehend the gospel is the work of Satan.

3:14 old testament. This is the only verse in the Bible where the “old testament” is referred to by that name. The phrase “new testament” (or “new covenant,” which is the same Greek phrase) is mentioned nine times—first in Matthew 26:28, last in Hebrews 12:24.