Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

27:51 curtain of the temple. The curtain between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place was an elaborately woven fabric of 72 twisted plaits of 24 threads each. It was 60 feet (18 m) high and 30 feet (9.1 m) wide. No one was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place behind the curtain except the high priest, and he only once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Heb. 9:2-7). Torn in two signifies the removal of the separation between God and the people. An extended commentary on this event, and the heavenly reality that it symbolized, is found in Heb. 9:11-10:22; see especially Heb. 9:12, 24; 10:19-20. earth shook. Palestine sits on a major seismic rift, so earthquakes were not uncommon, but the splitting of rocks and opening of tombs (Matt. 27:52) make this a major testimony to the meaning of Jesus' resurrection.

27:52-53 saints who had fallen asleep. Probably pious OT figures and godly intertestamental Jews, reembodied to witness to the new order of things that was now in the process of dawning. This shows that the resurrection of people who died looking forward to the Messiah depends on Christ's actual death and resurrection, just as does the future resurrection of Jesus' disciples today. coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city. Matthew apparently jumps ahead here (treating materials topically, as he often does) and begins to speak of events that would happen after the resurrection. The wording suggests that these saints were not merely brought back to life (like Lazarus; John 11:44) but were "raised" (Matt. 27:52) with new, resurrection bodies, a foretaste of what would happen to all believers at Christ's return. No other historical information about this event has been found, but it is natural to suppose that if they had resurrection bodies, they would not have died again. They may have been taken up to heaven at or after Jesus' ascension (Acts 1:1-11).

27:54 The centurion and his guards were accustomed to seeing crucifixions, but these cataclysmic events, coupled with the extraordinary self-control, purity, and love shown by Jesus in his death, made the centurion realize that Jesus was the Son of God.

27:55-56 These women accompanied Jesus as his disciples (see Mark 15:41; Luke 8:1-3; 23:49), witnessed the crucifixion, and will be the first witnesses to his resurrection.

27:57-60 Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin who did not consent to the actions against Jesus (Luke 23:50-51). His high standing within the Jewish community gave him access to Pilate. The location of Arimathea is uncertain--perhaps Ramathaim in the hill country of Ephraim, 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Jerusalem. asked for the body of Jesus. Jewish custom dictated that crucified bodies should be taken down before evening, especially before the Sabbath, which began at sundown on Friday. new tomb. A rectangular chamber cut into rock. It was accessed through a low entry room and blocked with a stone that could be rolled back and forth, mainly to protect the body from wild animals (see illustration of The Tomb of Jesus). The use of a rich man's tomb fulfills Isa. 53:9.

27:61 the other Mary (cf. 28:1). Most likely the mother of Joses (cf. Mark 15:40, 47; he was probably the same person as "Joseph," Matt. 27:56).

27:62 The next day, . . . after the day of Preparation is the Sabbath.

27:65-66 guard. This was the same Roman military guard assigned to oversee temple security.