What does Matthew 27:52 mean that the graves were opened and many bodies of the saints arose?
Matthew 27:52 describes graves near Jerusalem opening at the crucifixion, with many bodies of saints—believers, here Jewish believers—coming out after Christ’s resurrection. This confirms Christ as firstfruits of resurrection; had they risen before Him, it would disrupt God’s plan.
Les explains that Matthew 27:52 follows the moment Christ gave up the ghost. The veil was rent, the earth quaked, and the rocks rent, all nature responding to His death on Calvary. Then verse 52 says graves in the Jerusalem area were opened—not all, but some—and many bodies of the saints came out. The saints are believers in any age: believing Israelites, those saved in Christ’s earthly ministry, the Acts period, the Church period, and the tribulation. Here they were Jewish believers buried around Jerusalem, and they came out after His resurrection. Les stresses this is important because if they had come out before Christ’s resurrection, it would throw a kilter in the whole plan of God that Christ was the firstfruits of resurrection.
And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
More Questions
When did the saints rise from their graves in Matthew 27?
The saints whose graves opened around the crucifixion did not come out until after Jesus' resurrection, because He had to be the first to be resurrected.
which graves were opened when Jesus died?
The graves opened at the crucifixion were graves in the area of Jerusalem, and not all of them were opened but only some of them.
Why was it important that the saints came out of the graves after Jesus' resurrection?
It matters that the saints came out of the graves after Christ's resurrection, because if they had come out before, it would have thrown a kink in the whole plan of God that Christ was the firstfruits of resurrection.