Question about Matt 27:50-54

[Imblessed]

50And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. 51And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook and the rocks were split. 52The tombs were opened, 53and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, "Truly this was the Son of God"


some questions:

1)why is this only mentioned in Matthew?

2) it say in v.53 that the saints were raised and coming out of their tombs "after the resurrection" they went to the holy city---so these particular verses are covering the time after Jesus' ressurection, right?


3) the centurion then, is witnessing things not only at the death(the earthquake etc) but also the ressurected bodies--and this is what causes him fear?

The passages are covering a time frame of 3 days or so, right?

Are there any good resources for an explanation of these verses?

These passages have been bothering me for a while......

I hope I got my questions across ok, because I really wasn't sure how to phrase it....

 

[Imblessed]

Ok,I'm bumping this before it gets lost....

am I not asking the right questions?

Or is the topic too scary?

Or are you just not interested?

I'm really curious what your views are, seeing as I value everyone's opinon on SR VERY much...

I guess I could just google it, but who knows what I'll find!

Please, help me out here!


windi

 

[CCWoody]

I just saw it, Windi. Have to get back to you.

 

[McWilliams]

Hey there Windi, I found exegesis here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/index.php?action=getCommentaryText&cid=1&source=1&seq=i.47.27.5

Lots there to ponder and know you'll get some great feedback on this soon! Great thread!

 

[JJB]

Hi Imblessed,

Here's what my footnotes say concerning verse 52: "The resurrection of the 'many........saints', although mentioned here to show connection with the rending of the veil occurred after Jesus' resurrection. This resurrection was a partial symbolic fulfillment of Dan 12:2. There is no way of knowing who these people were, or whether they died again or were translated directly to heaven."

Daniel 12:2
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

 

[Imblessed]

Hey there Windi, I found exegesis here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/index.php?action=getCommentaryText&cid=1&source=1&seq=i.47.27.5

Lots there to ponder and know you'll get some great feedback on this soon! Great thread!

thanks McWilliams!

It seems that the writers of this commentary view the appearance of "some" of the saints as a type of "proof" given to the pagans/gentiles as to Jesus ressurection...if I'm reading that right....

it's a good commentary, but still doesn't really dig into what I'm looking for.....maybe nothing will, maybe I'm being silly....

I really feel like I'm missing something important when I read these passages, that if I could just figure it out, a big "piece of the puzzle" would fit into place......(WHAT piece, I don't know!!! )

maybe it's nothing, but i keep coming back to it again and again......

 

[Imblessed]

Hi Imblessed,

Here's what my footnotes say concerning verse 52: "The resurrection of the 'many........saints', although mentioned here to show connection with the rending of the veil occurred after Jesus' resurrection. This resurrection was a partial symbolic fulfillment of Dan 12:2. There is no way of knowing who these people were, or whether they died again or were translated directly to heaven."

Daniel 12:2
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

regarding this:

Daniel 12:1 Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. 2Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.


interesting....makes it sound as if Michael is Jesus, if you take the arising of the saints to be a partial fullfillment of Daniel 12:2......at least that's what connection I'm making...


Just so everyone knows, I'm a partial preterist...believing that most of Matthew 24 has come to pass with the destruction of Jeruselem in 70AD. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with anything...but i"m throwing it out anyway....

 

[Imblessed]

I just saw it, Windi. Have to get back to you.

great! looking forward to it.....I almost PM'd ya to get you to look at the thread.....

 

[McWilliams]

Yes, its wonderful to get questions that cause us to dig deep! I've been into Matthew Henry this morning seeing what he has to offer! Takes some time!