Matthew 27

Questions from You...

Erin B. said...

Matthew 27:52-53
What is going here? Is this a literal bodily resurrection or a spiritual resurrection? Did the women see other people that had been "raised" in the garden with them? If it was a bodily resurrection did they live life and die again or were they taken up to heaven like Christ at this point?

Jennings Response: A lot happened at the moment of Jesus death. We are not sure of the details of who was raised. Perhaps they were Old Testament prophets and leaders? We don't know. I guess all we have is the quick mention. Perhaps when Matthew wrote this it was still well known and he did not need to elaborate. Then New Bible Commentary says about this episode, "The resultant raising of holy people who had died suggests that the resurrection of the last days (Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2) found its beginning in Jesus' resurrection." pg 943

Anonymous said...

Why does it say in Matthew that Judas hanged himself and in Acts he "ruptured his belly"?

Jennings Response:Great Question!!! At first glance this may look like a contradiction. But is it? Remember any eye witness account will have multiple versions. For the answer to this question i differ to the New Bible Commentary by IVP referring to Acts 1:18-19,

"The NIV, along with many other translations, puts these verses in brackets to indicate that they should probably not be though of as part of Peter's speech but rather as an explanatory comment by Luke. The story given agrees in the main with the only gospel record of the matter (Matthew 27:3-5). The details that seem at variance can be reconciled if we read the two accounts together thus: after refusing the money the priests bought the field in Judas' name and on his behalf, and it was there that he hanged himself. His body was no longer hanging by the time it was discovered, but had fallen from its suspended position to the ground where it had split open."

I think the main point of Judas is not how he died but really that he died because of his betrayal of Jesus...

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Chapter 27 is the account of Jesus final trial, crucifixion, and death. What an amazing picture of divine humility. The one who created us allows for us to destroy Him! And this is done to restore His creation. When we really think about it there is no other we should want to serve!