29 Now when Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two stones in his hand, he was not conscious that his face was shining because of his talk with God. 30 But when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, and the shining of his face, they would not come near him for fear. 31 Then Moses sent for them; and Aaron, with the chiefs of the people, came to him; and Moses had talk with them. 32 And later, all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them all the orders which the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai. 33 And at the end of his talk with them, Moses put a veil over his face. 34 But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to have talk with him, he took off the veil till he came out. And whenever he came out he said to the children of Israel what he had been ordered to say; 35 And the children of Israel saw that the face of Moses was shining: so Moses put the veil over his face again till he went to the Lord.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 34:29-35
Commentary on Exodus 34:28-35
(Read Exodus 34:28-35)
Near and spiritual communion with God improves the graces of a renewed and holy character. Serious godliness puts a lustre upon a man's countenance, such as commands esteem and affection. The vail which Moses put on, marked the obscurity of that dispensation, compared with the gospel dispensation of the New Testament. It was also an emblem of the natural vail on the hearts of men respecting spiritual things. Also the vail that was and is upon the nation of Israel, which can only be taken away by the Spirit of the Lord showing to them Christ, as the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. Fear and unbelief would put the vail before us, they would hinder our free approach to the mercy-seat above. We should spread our wants, temporal and spiritual, fully before our heavenly Father; we should tell him our hinderances, struggles, trails, and temptations; we should acknowledge our offences.