They were many bodies of the saints—dead believers, specifically Jewish believers—who came out of their graves after Jesus' own resurrection (Matthew 27:52-53).
The Bible records that the graves were opened when Jesus died, but the saints did not come out until after His resurrection. Les Feldick teaches that these were believing Jewish people buried in the area of Jerusalem, and that Christ had to be the first resurrected from the dead. Their rising was connected to the Old Testament firstfruits sheaf, showing Christ was first and they were included with Him.
Matthew 27:52-53 — This is the direct account of the opened graves and the saints who came out after Jesus' resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:20-23 — Paul identifies Christ as the firstfruits of them that slept and explains the order of resurrection, which Les relates to the Matthew 27 saints.
Matthew 27:50-53 records that when Jesus yielded up the ghost, the veil of the temple was rent, the earth quaked, and the rocks rent. Verse 52 says the graves were opened and many bodies of the saints which slept arose. Verse 53 immediately clarifies that they came out of the graves after His resurrection and went into the holy city, appearing unto many. The Bible does not name these people, give their number, or explain what happened to them afterward. It simply calls them 'saints which slept'—holy ones who had died.
Les Feldick teaches that these were Jewish believers—'saints' in the biblical sense of believers—who had been buried in the area of Jerusalem. He notes that in the Old Testament economy there were not enough Gentiles to count, so these were believing Israelites. They did not come out while Christ was still on the cross; the graves were opened at His death, but they came out only after His resurrection. Les emphasizes that Christ had to be the first to be resurrected from the dead, and that no one had ever been truly resurrected before Christ. He connects this event to the Old Testament firstfruits sheaf, which was made from many early-ripened stems, not a single stalk. So Christ was first, but these resurrected believers were included with Him as the firstfruits of those who slept. Les also says the Scripture is silent on what happened to them, and he assumes that, since Christ ascended in a resurrected body, these saints also ascended into heaven.
Les Feldick stresses the importance of Matthew 27:53's phrase 'after his resurrection.' The graves were opened at the moment of Christ's death, but the saints did not come out until after Jesus rose. Les explains that this was necessary because Christ had to be the first to ever be resurrected from the dead. If these saints had come out before Christ, it would have disrupted the whole plan of God that Christ is the firstfruits of resurrection.
In the Bible, the word 'saints' describes believers. Les Feldick notes that saints can refer to believing Israelites, believers during Christ's earthly ministry, believers during the Acts period, believers in the Church age, and believers saved during the tribulation. In Matthew 27, since the Old Testament economy had very few Gentiles, these were evidently Jewish believers who had been buried in the area of Jerusalem.
Les uses the Old Testament firstfruits sheaf to explain this event. The firstfruits sheaf was not a single stalk of grain but a sheaf made from many early-ripened stems gathered from the field. It was a sample of the harvest to come. Les teaches that Christ was the first, but these resurrected saints were also part of that firstfruits picture—firstfruits of them that slept, as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15.
The Scripture is silent about further details. Les Feldick says we have to assume that, since Christ in His resurrected body ascended into heaven, these saints also ascended into heaven.
Les teaches the resurrection of the just happens in three distinct stages: Christ and those who came out of the graves in Matthew 27, the Church resurrection (including the Rapture), and the Old Testament saints after the Kingdom is established. This means the Matthew 27 saints are part of the first stage, with Christ as the firstfruits.
Firstfruits Sheaf of Early-Ripened Stems
Les explains the Old Testament firstfruits sheaf was made from many early-ripened stems gathered from the field, not a single stalk—so the sheaf pictured Christ and other resurrected believers together.
Reading Matthew 27:50-53 Through 'After His Resurrection'
Les points out that the bodies of the saints arose after Jesus' resurrection, not while He was dying on the cross, if you read the next verse.
Jewish Believers Raised From Cemeteries Around Jerusalem
Les teaches these were Jewish believers who came out of cemeteries near Jerusalem after Christ's resurrection, entered the city, and likely ascended to heaven like Christ.
Graves Opened at Crucifixion, Saints Awaiting Resurrection
Les shows the graves were opened at the moment of Christ's death, but the bodies of the saints—believers—arose later.
Christ Had to Be the First Resurrected
Les stresses no one had ever been resurrected before Christ, which is why the saints waited until after His resurrection to come out.
These Saints Were Jewish Believers
Les identifies the resurrected group as Jewish believers, since the Old Testament economy had very few Gentiles, and notes they came out after Christ's resurrection.
Redemption Explained: From Law to Grace (Romans 3 & 6)
We have died with Him. But now let's go one step further. I probably haven't got that straight. But anyway, when they took Christ from the cross, what did they do with Him? Where was He placed? In the sepulcher, in the grave. He was buried. Then after the third day and the third night, what happened? He rose from the dead. Now we've got to carry this identification all the way through.
Matthew 27 Group as Firstfruits in Resurrection Order
Les places Christ and those who came out of the graves in Matthew 27 as the first stage of the resurrection of the just, before the Church resurrection and Old Testament saints.
Matthew 27:50-53: 50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 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; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
This is the direct biblical account of the risen saints and the timing of their coming out of the graves.
1 Corinthians 15:20-23: 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
Paul teaches that Christ is the firstfruits of the resurrection and that there is an order to the resurrection, which Les connects to the Matthew 27 saints.
No. Les Feldick points out that Matthew 27:53 says they came out of the graves after His resurrection. The graves were opened at the moment of His death, but the saints did not come out until after He rose.
The Bible calls them 'many bodies of the saints which slept.' Les Feldick teaches they were believing Jewish believers buried in the area of Jerusalem, raised after Christ's resurrection.
Scripture is silent about further details. Les Feldick assumes, since Christ ascended in a resurrected body, these saints also ascended into heaven.
Les Feldick uses the sheaf of firstfruits—many stems, not just one—to show Christ was first, but these resurrected believers were included with Him as the firstfruits of those who slept.
Watch the Teaching: From Adam to the Rapture: God's Plan for the Ages