Matthew 27:52

Matthew 27:52

And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints arose,

a. NLT: and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead.

b. NIV: and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.

c. YLT: and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who have fallen asleep, arose,

d. Amplified Bible: The tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep in death were raised [to life];

e. A.S. Worrell Translation: and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;

1. “And the graves were opened…”

a. And [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. the graves [3419 * mnemeion] [Strong: a remembrance, i.e. cenotaph (place of interment):--grave, sepulchre, tomb.]

c. were opened [455 * anoigo] [Strong: (to open); to open up (literally or figuratively, in various applications):--open.]

1). Matthew 27:52 is an interesting passage because it is actually two different events and it is important that we identify both. The first event, the opening of the graves, occurred at the death of Christ.

a). Matthew 27:50-52 “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

27:52 And the graves were opened…”

2). The only thing that happened at the earthquake concerning Matthew 27:52 is the graves were opened. Most Jewish graves at that time were above ground. They were basically rock boxes with a sealed rock lid. When the earthquake occurred it loosened the lids and opened the graves. The bodies of the dead saints within them did not come out until the resurrection of Christ three days later. This will be explained in the next part of the verse.

2. “…and many bodies of the saints arose,”

a. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. many [4183 * polus; including the forms from the alternate pollos] [Strong:  (singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely:--abundant, + altogether, common, + far (passed, spent), (+ be of a) great (age, deal, -ly, while), long, many, much, oft(-en (-times)), plenteous, sore, straitly.]

c. bodies [4983 * soma][Strong: the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively:--bodily, body, slave.][Thayer: the body both of men or animals, a dead body or corpse, the living body, of animals.]

d. of the saints [40 * hagios] [Strong: sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):--(most) holy (one, thing), saint.]

e. arose [1453 * egeiro] [Strong:  probably akin to the base of 58 (through the idea of collecting one's faculties); to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e. rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively, from obscurity, inactivity, ruins, nonexistence):--awake, lift (up), raise (again, up), rear up, (a-)rise (again, up), stand, take up.]

1). The second event in Matthew 27:52, the resurrection of the saints, took place at the resurrection of Christ. The graves were opened when Christ Jesus died, but the resurrection of the Old Testament saints did not occur until Jesus rose from the dead. Speaking Scripturally, it is not possible that the saints would rise before Jesus rose from the dead. It was the power of the resurrection that caused their physical bodies to come alive, not his death.

a). John 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

2). Commentary: Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown: And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose--These sleeping saints (see on 1 Thessalonians 4:14) were Old Testament believers, who--according to the usual punctuation in our version--were quickened into resurrection life at the moment of their Lord's death, but lay in their graves till His resurrection, when they came forth. But it is far more natural, as we think, and consonant with other Scriptures, to understand that only the graves were opened, probably by the earthquake, at our Lord's death, and this only in preparation for the subsequent exit of those who slept in them, when the Spirit of life should enter into them from their risen Lord, and along with Him they should come forth, trophies of His victory over the grave. Thus, in the opening of the graves at the moment of the Redeemer's expiring, there was a glorious symbolical proclamation that the death which had just taken place had "swallowed up death in victory"; and whereas the saints that slept in them were awakened only by their risen Lord, to accompany Him out of the tomb, it was fitting that "the Prince of Life . . . should be the First that should rise from the dead" (Acts 26:23; 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23; Colossians 1:18; Revelation 1:5).

3). There is an Old Testament prophecy concerning the resurrection that applies to this event.

a). Isaiah 26:19 “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they rise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.”

b). We see here an Old Covenant prophetic utterance from Isaiah that prophesies the event of Matthew 27:52, 53. The power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead was so overwhelming, that it brought back to life Old Covenant saints that had previously died, probably recent deaths.

4). But that is not the end of it. Isaiah 26:19 says, “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they rise…” There are some New Testament passages that fit in here.

a). Ephesians 1:19, 20 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

5). The same power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead was given to us to enable us to live an overcoming life in Christ.

a). Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

b). Ephesians 2:4-6 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

c). The reference in Isaiah 26:19 says “…together with my dead body shall they rise…” We have been raised together with Christ to a place of authority, far above all devils and demons. Halleluiah!