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Explanation for:
Matthew
27
:
52
And the graves were opened: and many bodies of the saints that had slept arose,
10
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"And lo, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from the top to the bottom. This act exposed all the hidden truths of the law, revealing them to the Gentiles. The Gospel, which we have frequently referenced, recounts that the temple's massive barrier was split apart. Josephus Flavius further notes that the celestial beings who once dwelled near the temple proclaimed, “Let us leave this dwelling.” The earth trembled; stones were scattered; and graves were opened. The meaning of these tremendous signs is clear: they were fulfilled to manifest the crucifixion of our Lord in both heaven and earth, along with all creation. It seems to me that the earthquake and other occurrences symbolize the faithful, who initially resembled the graves of the deceased but subsequently abandoned their former transgressions, softened their hardened hearts, and recognized Him as their Redeemer. Many bodies of the holy ones were raised and emerged from their graves after His resurrection; they entered the holy city and appeared to numerous individuals. Just as Lazarus was brought back to life, so too were many of the saints, demonstrating the Resurrection of the Lord (See Jn. 11:1-44). However, although the tombs were opened, the dead did not rise until after the Lord's resurrection, establishing Him as the firstborn from the dead. The holy city where the resurrected ones manifested is understood either as the heavenly Jerusalem or the earthly Jerusalem, which was previously holy. Likewise, Matthew is referred to as a tax collector not because he continued in that role after becoming an apostle, but because he retained that earlier designation. The city of Jerusalem is deemed holy due to its temple and the Holy of Holies, as well as to set it apart from other cities that honored idols. The phrase, “They appeared to many,” indicates that the resurrection was not universal or for all, but specifically for certain individuals, so that those favored might witness it."},{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Consider the insights regarding Matthew 21:19 and Matthew 27:42. The breaking of the graves served a purpose for the Lord to demonstrate that although He possessed the power to destroy the tree of the Cross, He refrained from doing so, as the Kingdom of Israel had to be fulfilled through it, and it was essential not to disrupt that which was meant to atone for the sins of the Gentiles. Instead, the Holy Spirit tore the temple veil in place of the tree of the Cross. Moreover, to signify His resurrection, the Lord summoned the righteous from their graves as witnesses to His emergence. In this way, both acts of exiting were declared in unison."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"In the events that ensued, Christ demonstrated His authority through the resurrection of the dead, the obscuration of light, and the transformation of the elements. During Elisha's time, a man who had died revived after coming into contact with another deceased person. Yet now, while nailed to the cross, Christ’s voice calls the dead back to life. This earlier event serves as a foreshadowing of what is occurring now, affirming the belief in these present miracles. They questioned, \\"He saved others, but He cannot save Himself?\\" Yet, even while on the cross, He displayed His power over the bodies of His followers. Indeed, if it was remarkable for Lazarus, who had been dead four days, to emerge from the tomb, it was far more extraordinary for those who had been dead for so long to suddenly rise, heralding the promise of future resurrection.\\n\\nWhen everything was shaken and unsettled, engulfed by fear, the divine spirit's return brought life back to all, revitalizing and restoring everything as if the divine presence was felt universally, and as if the act of crucifixion had reverberated through all creation."},{"author-name":"Hilarius of Poitiers","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88cb92f12b3278598f946_Hilarius%20of%20Poitiers.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"And at once, the curtain in the temple was torn apart, for the people were divided. The majesty of the curtain, along with the safeguard of its celestial guardian, vanished.\\n\\nThe ground trembled, unable to bear the presence of this deceased Man. The stones were scattered, as the Word of God and the might of His everlasting goodness pervaded all creation, penetrating even the heavens. The graves were opened, as the doors of death were set free. Numerous bodies of the righteous departed rose to new life; He abolished the shadow of death, illuminated the gloom of hell, and vanquished the sting of death through the resurrection of the saints, who instantly beheld Him. The centurion and the soldiers, having witnessed the disruption of the entire natural order, proclaimed Him to be the Son of God."},{"author-name":"Gregory the Great","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88c2b032f5f6e5effaa54_Gregory%20the%20Great.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":6,"exegesis-text":"And numerous bodies of the departed saints came to life (Matthew 27:52). We already possess the assurance of our own resurrection, as we look towards the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. However, to dispel any misgivings about His dual nature—God and man united—it is essential to understand that Christ conquered death in His humanity, validating the hope of our own resurrection through the rising of many saints. This act serves to illustrate the transformation that will occur for us, confirming our expectation of rising as He did. If one hesitates to believe in what the God-Man has revealed within Himself, they should take heart in the fact that they, like others who were truly human, can anticipate the same reality. Yet, there are skeptics today who, witnessing the separation of spirit from flesh, the decay of the body, and its return to dust—so reduced that it becomes invisible—doubt the prospect of resurrection. They see only desolate bones and refuse to believe they will be clothed anew with flesh and restored to life. However, if they reject resurrection based on the authority of God's Word, they ought to heed their own reason. For what does the world daily display if not the prefiguring of our resurrection? Each night, the fleeting daylight appears to die, only to re-emerge with the dawn. Likewise, in seasons of the year, trees lose their leaves and stand bare, only to awaken in spring—as if on resurrection day—to bring forth fresh foliage, blossoms, and fruit, revealing the revitalized tree in all its splendor. We continually observe how tiny seeds, when sown, yield expansive trees full of vitality. Reflect on the small seed buried in the ground—where within it was the mighty tree that would arise? Where was the root, the trunk, the bark, the lush leaves, or the delightful fruit? Was any of this visible in the seed when it was cast into the soil? Yet, in the profound wisdom of the Creator, the gentleness of the seed conceals the strength of the trunk, and its apparent frailty encompasses potential for abundance. How marvelous it is, then, that the smallest ashes can be fashioned into man by Him who transforms the tiniest seeds into towering trees! As beings created in His image, we should draw assurance of our own resurrection and eternal life from observing the world around us. Yet, recognizing our dull and darkened intellects, the grace of the Redeemer comes to our rescue. The Creator Himself draws near to us, triumphing over death and unveiling the resurrection, so that we, unable to grasp the truth through reason alone, might be persuaded by His example. For the sake of our growth in understanding and the fortification of our frailty, our Lord willingly presented not just His own resurrection, but that of many others as well. He alone met His end upon the cross, yet it was not just one, but many who rose—the bodies of the departed saints. Now, every excuse for disbelief is rendered void. In view of the resurrection of those who were undeniably human alongside the God-Man, no one can claim that humanity cannot anticipate what God has incorporated in His own flesh. Therefore, as members of our Redeemer, we should expect to experience what has already been realized in our Head; we can at least look forward to the same outcomes that were witnessed in the multitude before us."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"This was accomplished to demonstrate the might of Jesus Christ and to instill fear in the Jews, helping them understand that the one who effortlessly raised the dead could also bring an end to the living with even greater ease. It also served to affirm the Resurrection that was to come."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The natural elements trembled, both to confirm that their Guardian is the Creator and to indicate a shift in circumstances, as the Scriptures associate an earthquake with such transitions. This marked the divine shift of attention from the Jews to the Gentiles. The stones, representing the hardened hearts of the Gentiles, softened and accepted the seed of truth. Those who were spiritually dead in their sins were resurrected, entering into the sacred city, the heavenly Jerusalem, and they appeared to many who traveled the wide path. In their presence, these resurrected ones became the initial model of righteous living and transformation; for when one observes another who was once ensnared by passions and now converted, entering the celestial city, it inspires imitation and change of heart. Nonetheless, this notion might seem overly imaginative. It is important to acknowledge that the resurrection of the dead at the Lord's crucifixion signified the liberation of souls from the realm of the dead. Those who were resurrected subsequently manifested themselves to many, ensuring that the event could not be dismissed as mere illusion; their resurrection served as a divine sign, and it is clear they eventually faced death again. Some, however, assert that these individuals were raised after Christ's resurrection and did not experience death anew. Whether this claim holds validity remains unclear."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The seismic event caused the mountains' rocks to break apart, while the tombs—excavated in the hillsides as caves—were made accessible: the stones that sealed the entrances to these burial sites were shifted due to the tremor, leaving them exposed, or the fractures above left them ajar. Regarding the many deceased bodies mentioned, these were likely recently departed righteous individuals, familiar to those who were still living in Jerusalem: had the ancient saints emerged and shown themselves in the city, they surely would not have been recognized, and their appearance (v. Matthew 27:35) would have missed its intended impact."},{"author-name":"Philaret (Gumilevski)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896f4b6fd32caa244b5d7_Philaret%20(Gumilevski).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The graves were opened, and numerous bodies of the departed holy ones rose, subsequently leaving their tombs to enter the holy city, where they were seen by many after His resurrection. When did these holy ones rise? According to the straightforward interpretation of the Evangelist, their resurrection occurred at the same moment as the earthquake, and they manifested in Jerusalem following the Savior’s rising from the dead. This understanding is shared by St. Chrysostom, Euthymius, and Theophylact. Who were resurrected, and for what reason? The raising of the dead serves as a powerful declaration that death relinquishes its hold when the Lord of both life and death willingly confronts it (Heb. 2:14, 15). This clearly signifies that Christ Jesus embodies life for humanity, which is spiritually dead due to sin. 'The tombs were opened as a foreshadowing of the universal resurrection to come.' At Jesus’s initial appearance in the realm of death, those who had perished come to the One they had long awaited and yearned to see—the anticipated Source of life. The resurrected individuals made their way to Jerusalem to testify through their presence about the Messiah whom humanity had so continuously rejected. 'To ensure that reality would not be mistaken for a mere dream, as St. Chrysostom notes, the dead reveal themselves to many in the city,' which is also the very place designated for the manifestation of the Messiah King, even as they chose to deny Him. Given this interpretation, we can ascertain with confidence who these resurrected holy ones were: they are those who eagerly anticipated the arrival of the Lord’s Messiah, with that hope forming the spiritual foundation of their existence. This expectation is what earned them the title of Saints, as believers in Christ were referred to during the time of the Apostles (Acts 9:13, 41; Acts 26:10; Rom. 8:27; Rom. 12:13; Rom. 1:7). \\n\\nHowever, two points warrant attention: first, that many Saints were raised, indicating that not all were resurrected, but rather a selection; second, they appeared to many so that they could be recognized by some distinguishing feature, hence those who had departed appeared to those who knew them in life. St. Epiphanius states they 'appeared to many, being known by their own as those who had died some time before.' It is thus believed with great likelihood that among those raised were Simeon the Hospitaller, Anna the Prophetess, and Zachariah and Elizabeth; there is even a tradition about the resurrection and appearance of two of Simeon’s sons. \\n\\nConsider the remarkable might displayed in the Son of Man who died on Calvary as He rises! The manifestation of God on Sinai was accompanied by the terrors of thunder and lightning. At Golgotha, the dying utterances of Jesus tore the temple veil, shook the earth, and awakened the dead from their graves. There is divine power evident on both occasions; yet the contrast is stark: at Sinai, holiness remains unreachable, while at Calvary, the resonances are of humility and love. The command was given, “Let no one approach Sinai; whoever touches the mountain will die” (Ex. 19:12). At Calvary, while the earth trembles, it consumes no one; the rocks may fracture, yet they bring no harm; the tombs open not to entomb the living, but to usher in life. \\n\\nWhat could be more grievous than the crime of those who brought about the death of God? Yet, while the transgressors of Moses descended alive into the abyss (Numbers 16:33), the executioners of the only begotten Son of God suffer no immediate consequence; neither their households nor their hair is touched. Both heaven and earth tremble at the sight of Caiaphas’s unconceivable wickedness; nevertheless, the wrongdoers are unaffected, and the cries of a grieving creation only urge them towards a shattered faith in the crucified Lord, calling them to life and salvation. What was the penalty for ridiculing the Prophet Elisha? What recompense was there for the dishonoring of the king’s ambassadors sent to the messenger of the Lord? Yet to those who crucified Jesus, His messenger proclaims, 'Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit' (Acts 2:38). Oh, boundless Love! Shelter us under Thy wings from the wrath of God’s Righteousness that our sins have provoked, granting us the ability to sing to Thee: Alleluia! Amen."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The tombs were opened, revealing the burial chambers typically hewn into the rocky mountains. The massive stones that had sealed their entrances were displaced by the shaking, and fissures appeared in the walls and ceilings of these vaults, leaving them exposed. However, this revelation of the tombs was merely a prelude to an even greater miracle wrought by the omnipotence of the Crucified One on the Cross: Many BODIES OF THE HOLY SAINTS ROSE, and emerging from their graves after HIS RESURRECTION, WENT INTO THE HOLY CITY OF JERUSALEM, appearing to many, that they might not think these events were merely a dream, as St. Chrysostom elucidates. Thus, the authority of Christ, who dismantles the very foundations of death’s dominion, ‘immediately flowed into all that was capable of receiving it and was marked with a life-giving effect.’ Even as the Lord hung weary and silent on the cross, ‘both heaven and earth proclaim His glory, and the dead proclaim the resurrection of the Crucified One; even the stone cries out for Him’ (Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow), bearing witness that all authority in heaven and on earth has been entrusted to Him, holding the keys of hell and death. Therefore, the proclamation of Christ to the Jews was realized: ‘when you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that it is I’ (John 8:28), you will recognize My divine sonship and the extent of My power and authority. The Evangelist does not specify the names of those raised from the dead because the wonder resides not in their identities but in the miracle of resurrection itself. ‘Christ,’ reflects St. Gregory the Dialogist, ’died alone, yet He did not rise alone; He raised many alongside Himself, affirming the hope of our own resurrection through their revival.’ The righteous who rose through the Lord's death received renewed bodies, akin to those that all saints will possess at the final resurrection. Hence, the holy fathers believe that these saints did not experience death again but rather accompanied the Lord invisibly to heaven during His ascension, forming the essence of renewed humanity around Him, later joined by the Mother of God, who was taken into heaven with her body."}]}
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