Ask Michael: Why Were the Tombs Opened and the Dead Came Out?

0:00Hello and welcome to Evidence for Faith at your host Michael Lane back with another Ask Michael question. The question today is why were the tombs opened and the dead came out? Now this is in reference to the book of Matthew and having to do with the crucifixion of Jesus. So let me just dive right into this. You see recently a question was submitted. Why is Matthew the only gospel that records the tombs opening and people coming out at the crucifixion of Jesus? Interesting question and one to be honest I can't remember ever hearing expounded upon in a sermon. Let's examine this and see what this miracle is about and why it's only found in Matthew's gospel and what does it actually mean? First some seem to think that this miracle didn't take place at all because it's not mentioned in Mark, Luke and John. Well it did take place and it fits Matthew's gospel perfectly. You see the four gospels are not biographies. Let me repeat that the four

1:06gospels are not biographies. This is very important to understand. Instead their prophetic answers to who the Messiah is for aspects for portraits of the Messiah. Each gospel is unique in painting a portrait of the character of Jesus. Matthew paints them as a king fulfilling the Jewish prophecies of the Old Testament. Mark paints the servant Messiah to a Roman audience. Luke paints a portrait of a unique God-man Messiah to the Greeks and other Gentiles. John paints a portrait of the Messiah to an audience who is in need of seeing Jesus truly as God. In John's gospel, in fact, there's only seven miracles and there's no parables. Thus these four gospels are not biographies. They don't all carry the same exact accounts. Now, second point,

2:09Matthew utilizes the Old Testament prophecies to prove to the Jews that Jesus is the one and the only Messiah. He explains this using more prophecies than the other three gospels combined. This gives us a clue. The miracles in Matthew are pointing to fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. With this information, let's examine the text now that is in question. It's Matthew chapter 27 verses 51 through 53 and it reads, the English standard, a word-for-word translation, and behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom and the earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs were also opened and many bodies of the saints would fall in the sleep of race and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection. They went into the holy city and appeared to many. Now notice, in the text that after an earthquake, the tombs were open but the saints didn't come out yet. An earthquake could easily explain the opening of these

3:15rock-hued tombs, the stones being that have been placed there by rolling them opening up. Yet, it is in verse 53 that we read that the saints came out of the tomb after Jesus's resurrection. Now this is very important. The righteous dead, because they're called saints, the righteous dead came out after the resurrection of Jesus not before. Jesus was resurrected first. Now, Paul writes about this to the Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians 1520, he writes, what in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. He also wrote to the Colossians in Colossians 118. He is the beginning, the first born from the dead. Jesus is the first of those who are raised to walk in the newness of light and that's Romans 811. Third point. With this knowledge, we can look at the Old Testament for what prophecies were fulfilled

4:16by Jesus being raised first and then afterwards the saints were raised. Two separate prophecies, probably there are more, are incorporated in this description of the death and resurrection of Jesus. In Ezekiel chapter 36, we see it being described as a new covenant, a new testament is coming, is being foretold. Then you get to chapter 37, the very next one, we see life coming back into these dead bones, these dead people, and they're brought back to life, these who were following God to follow Him. Look at verses 13 and 14 of Ezekiel 37, excuse me, 37 carefully and by the way, this is all one paragraph here that's in the middle of a paragraph. So as you shall know that I am the Lord when I open your graves and raise you from your graves on my people, I will put my spirit within you and you shall live and I will place you in your land. Then you shall know that I am the

5:19Lord. I have spoken, I will do it, declares the Lord. Isn't it interesting where it talks about Him putting the spirit into the people, sort of reminiscent of when we become Christians, God puts His Holy Spirit inside of us. Again in Ezekiel we read about the dead rising and singing for joy afterwards, celebrating. That's Ezekiel chapter 26 verse 19, your dead shall live, their bodies shall rise, you who dwell in the dust awake and sing for joy. For your your do is a do of light and the earth will give birth to the dead. So they went in to Jerusalem and as it says there they go into the Holy City and appeared to many. Thus we see that the saints of old who had tied before Jesus, arose certain ones, God selected certain ones to do this obviously, but they arose after His glorious resurrection and gave praise to God in Jerusalem, a foretaste of what is in store for

6:20all who were born again and have the spirit of God in dwelling them. Well thanks for joining me for this lesson today. I hope you have learned something out of this that strengthens your faith. And if you have questions feel free to comment and ask your questions until we meet again my friends. Take care and may God bless.