2 Corinthians 3:12-15 - We are very bold

3:12,13

Moses wore a veil to hide his glory, and this was a fading glory. The glory of the gospel is eternal, and Paul has no intentions of hiding it. Instead he is bold about displaying its glory. But the glory is very different from what one might expect. It is a glory that boasts in our weaknesses, as Paul has already done, and will do throughout the letter.

We should also note the key distinction between the temporal glory of the Law and the eternal glory of the gospel.

3:14,15

So if this is the case with the Law and the gospel, why do the Jews still hold to the Law and react against it? Why stick with the inferior object? It is because their minds are veiled, they cannot see. It is only in Christ that we can see the truth. We should also note that it speaks of their minds being hardened. Someone might say that if their minds are hardened then it is not their fault that they cannot see the truth. Why should God hold them responsible? But whenever someone's mins or heart is hardened it is as a result or consequence of sin. So they are still responsible. 

We see this holding on to an inferior way of life when a superior way is on offer in our society. It is seen most clearly in issues of family life and sexuality. The Biblical picture of male and female, husband and wife, is so clearly better than the world's mess, yet society is blind. This means we cannot make progress by human means alone, by reason alone. We need the Holy Spirit to set people free.