Allow me to open our Easter message with an illustration: Eight-year-old Philip had been born with a disability. He looked and acted different from his classmates, and so he never was part of the group. On Palm Sunday, Philip’s Sunday school teacher gave each of her students a plastic egg – the kind that panty hose come in – and she instructed them to bring the eggs back with a symbol of the resurrection inside.
The following week, the eggs were opened and the children explained the meaning of the symbol they had brought. One held a pretty flower; another held a leaf. In another there was a rock. However, Philip’s egg was empty. Some of the students said things like, “That’s stupid,” or “He didn’t do his homework.” But Philip spoke up and said, “I did so do my homework! The egg is empty because Jesus’ tomb was empty!” Silence followed.
From then on, Philip became a full-fledged member of the class. He died not long afterward from an infection. At the funeral, this class of eight-year-olds, along with their teacher, marched straight up to the casket; not with flowers, but to each lay on it an empty pantyhose egg.(1) They understood that, just as Jesus had been raised from the dead, Philip would also be raised into newness of life.
This morning, we are going to look at how the graves were opened after Jesus’s death and resurrection. We will also have the Word of God confirmed in our hearts of how the power of the resurrection can raise us from our “spiritual grave” into newness of life, if we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. I want to invite you to stand at this time in honor of God’s Word, as I read from Matthew 27:50-54:
50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
Jesus Cried and Yielded His Spirit (v. 50)
We read here that Just before Jesus yielded up His Spirit, He “cried out again with a loud voice” (v. 50). John Gill says that He cried aloud using actual words – His final words: “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46) and “It is finished” (John 19:30).(2) Jesus then “sent back His spirit” (aphiemi), according to the original Greek; and He “gave up His spirit” (parodidomi), according to the Greek in John 19:30. Jesus “gave up His life because He willed it, when He willed it, and as He willed it.”(3) Matthew Henry says that “just before He expired, [Jesus] spoke like a man in His full strength, to show that His life was not forced from Him, but was freely delivered by Him into His Father’s hands, as His own act” and “one mighty to save.”(4)
According to Matthew 27:45, Jesus yielded up His spirit sometime after the ninth hour, which is between three and four o’clock in the afternoon. This was the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, when the paschal lamb was killed; and thus, Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us, and offered Himself a sacrifice unto God as a sweet-smelling aroma.(5)
The Veil of the Temple Was Torn (v. 51a)
In verse 51a, we read about the veil of the temple being torn in two from top to bottom. Its height was around forty cubits.(6) A cubit is roughly 1.5 feet, so the veil would have been up to 60 feet tall. This sudden tearing could not have been done by a person, as it would have taken time to install scaffolding to reach the top. But let us also consider its thickness. The veil was made of fine linen, and “it is a rule with the Jews, that wherever mention is made in the Law of fine linen, or fine-twined linen, it means a thread six times doubled”(7) Rabbi Simeon ben Gamaliel said “the thickness of the veil is a hand’s breadth, and it is woven of seventy-two threads, and every thread has twenty-four [smaller] threads in it.”(8) This super thick material could not have been torn by a person.
When we consider its height and thickness, we must conclude that the tearing of the veil was something that only God could do. It was a miraculous sign, urging us to look deeper at its meaning. The veil, which was made of blue, purple, and scarlet linen, separated the holy place where the priests ministered, from the holy of holies into which the high priest entered only once a year to make atonement for the sins of the people. This rending of the veil was emblematic, signifying how the separation between God and people had been abolished, that all might have access to the throne of grace, through the one great atonement and mediator, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16).(9)
There Was a Great Earthquake (v. 51b)
In verse 54b, we read that “the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.” In contrast to the callous hearts who crucified Him, nature itself was shaken by the death of the Son of God. In Luke 19:40, Jesus answered the Pharisees, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out,” and perhaps that is what happened here. Charles Spurgeon had this observation to share: “Men’s hearts did not respond to the agonizing cries of the dying Redeemer, but the rocks responded: the rocks were rent. He did not die for rocks; yet rocks were more tender than the hearts of men, for whom He shed His blood.”(10) Sandi Patti sang of how the earth even quaked in celebration His resurrection, saying, “Over and over like a trumpet underground did the earth seem to pound, ‘He is risen!’ Over and over in a never-ending round. ‘He is risen! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!’”
Warren Wiersbe says that “the earthquake at Calvary signified that the demands of the Law had been met and the curse of the Law forever abolished.”(11) He bases this observation on 2 Corinthians 3:7, which calls the Old Testament Law, written and engraved on stone tablets, a ministry of death. He continues to state, “The torn veil indicates that He conquered sin; the earthquake suggests that He conquered the Law and fulfilled it; and the resurrection proves that He defeated death,”(12) and this resurrection power that can conquer death is what we see in verses 52-53, as it begins to take effect among the souls of men.
The Resurrected Saints Appeared (vv. 52-53)
We read that “the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many” (vv. 52-53). The earthquake is thought to be what opened the graves, but the sequence of events can be confusing. One interpretation is that the earthquake occurred after Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday, and the saints were raised to life and left their graves immediately to appear in the holy city. A second interpretation is that the earthquake occurred after Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday, and the saints were raised to life, but then they sat in their opened tombs until Easter Sunday before going into the holy city.(13)
Allow me to share a third interpretation. Matthew 28:1-2 also speaks of an earthquake. The text says that “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it” (28:1b-2). The final interpretation is this: The earthquake, the opening of the graves, the resurrection of the saints and their appearances, all happened on the same day on Easter Sunday; that the earthquake found in both chapters are one and the same. This view attempts to make sense of verse 53, which tells us that the sants came “out of the graves after His resurrection.” The theory is that Matthew narrated the saints’ resurrection out of order, to go ahead and cover these details, so that Jesus could be the focus in the next chapter.(14)
Now, keep in mind that these are only interpretations. We should not allow them to distract us from what has just taken place. The saints were raised to life again! In a moment, I want to share the significance of this event. But before I do, a good question to ask is “Who were these saints?” Some think they were the ancient patriarchs, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; or perhaps, those who had been martyred for the faith.(15) Others think they were contemporaries of Christ, such as those who died before Him, like Zacharias and Simeon; or perhaps, even those who knew Jesus, like John the Baptist and others.(16)
Another good question regarding these saints is “What became of them after their resurrection appearances?” It has been noted that we should consider the account of Lazarus. Jesus raised Lazarus back to life after he had been lying dead in a tomb for four days (John 11:1-44). In raising him to life, Jesus demonstrated the same power that had resurrected the saints. Now, before this miracle, Martha accused Jesus, saying, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (v. 21), and He provided her assurance, saying, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (v. 25). Martha confessed that Jesus could indeed raise Lazarus back to life in the “last day” (v. 24), but Jesus wanted her to know that He has just as much power to raise someone from the dead today, as in the final resurrection.
When we come to the very next chapter, we see Lazarus alive and well, eating supper with Jesus (John 12:2). We also read that many people came to marvel at him (v. 9). So, Lazarus did not die immediately after being brought to life. He continued to live. For how long, we do not know, as the Scripture no longer mentions him. “Church tradition says he fled persecution, became the first Bishop of Cyprus” “lived for about 30 more years, [and] died a second time,” “with his tomb becoming a significant pilgrimage site.”(17) The point is that he lived until he would again die a natural death. David Guzik says that apparently, the saints whom Jesus resurrected would die a natural death, because they were raised from the dead in the sense that Lazarus was; not to resurrection life, but to mortal life to die again.(18)
Matthew Henry holds a different view, saying, “It is more agreeable, both to Christ’s honor and theirs, to suppose (though we cannot prove) that they arose as Christ did, to die no more, and therefore ascended with Him to glory. Surely, on them who did partake of His first resurrection, a second death had no power.”(19) Henry bases this view on 1 Peter 3:19 and Ephesians 4:8-10. Again, these are only interpretations, and we must not allow them to distract us from the fact that the saints were raised to life again!
The reason why the saints were raised to life was to demonstrate Christ’s resurrection power. After they were raised, they appeared in Jerusalem, the city that had rejected Jesus, as proof of His victory.(20) Henry says, “These saints that arose, were the present trophies of the victory of Christ’s cross over the powers of death, which He thus made a show of openly.”(21) John Calvin states that Jesus “exhibited in a few persons an instance of the new life which all ought to expect . . . that the minds of believers might be more quickly raised to hope,”(22) with the assurance that He would one day raise them to eternal spiritual life. But the earthquake, the opening of the graves, and the appearances of the saints were probably a sign to unbelievers as well, which brings us to verse 54.
The Centurion and Guards Confessed (v. 54)
We read about “the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus” (v. 54). The Roman officer who presided over the execution, was the centurion, which comes from the Latin word centum for a hundred. The centurion had the command of one hundred men.(23) “Petronius is the name given [to] this centurion by [church] tradition.”(24) Now, in addition to the centurion, “it was usual with the Romans to set a soldier, or soldiers, to watch those that were crucified, not only before they expired, but after they were dead, lest they should be [taken] down and buried”(25) We read in Matthew 27:35-36 that the soldiers, after they had crucified Jesus and parted His garments, sat down on the ground at the foot of the cross and watched Him. They guarded Him just in case His disciples should try to take Him down.(26)
We continue to read that “the centurion and those with him” proclaimed, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (v. 54). So, does this mean they put their faith and trust in Jesus and received eternal life? Some suggest that since there is no article with the word “son,” that it could be rendered as “a son of God.” Perhaps they were thinking of some pagan hero. It is grammatically possible, but this rendering is unlikely. The Greek phrase is literally “God’s Son” (theou huios).(27) Luke has them saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man” (Luke 23:47), to which A.T. Robertson comments, “How much [they] meant by [their] words we do not know, but probably [they] meant more than merely ‘a righteous man’.”(28) So, what did they mean, exactly? Matthew Henry says that right here the centurion and soldiers made a voluntary confession of the Christian faith.(29)
According to Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” The centurion and solders confessed Christ with the mouth, but the real question is, “Did they truly believe?” Listen, as I read the entire statement Jesus made to Martha concerning Lazarus’ resurrection. In John 11:25-26, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Jesus made two statements here. He spoke of His ability to raise a believer from the dead in the here and now; and He spoke of His ability to raise a believer into eternal life in the final resurrection. But both are predicated on believing, and that is why He asked Martha, “Do you believe this?” So, I want to encourage you to search your heart this morning, and ask yourself, “Have I confessed that Jesus is Lord?” and “Have I truly believed?”
Time of Reflection
Allow me to share some of the promises to those who believe. Romans 6:4: “Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” 1 Corinthians 6:14: “God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power,” and 1 Thessalonians 4:14 and 16-17: “If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus . . . For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord.” In the words of the old gospel song, “When I hear the trumpet sound, gonna get up outa the ground. There ain’t no grave gonna hold my body down.” Can you confidently declare these words today?
If you do not know Jesus Christ, you are bound in a spiritual grave. Charles Spurgeon says, “Those persons who received life . . . came out of their graves. Of course they did! What living man would wish to stay in his grave? And you, my dear hearers, if the Lord quickens you, [you] will not stay in your graves . . . You will not feel any attachment to your sepulcher . . . [There will be no] need to come after you to lead you away from your old associations. You will be eager to get out of them. If any person here should be buried alive, and if he should be discovered in his coffin before he had breathed his last, I am sure that if the sod were lifted and the lid were taken off, he would not need prayerful entreaties to come out of his grave. Far from it, [as] life loves not the prison of death.”(30)
Those who have been touched with “the light of life” (John 8:12) will get up out of their graves and proclaim their faith, as those who appeared in Jerusalem! Spurgeon continues, “What does this teach us, but that if the Lord’s Grace should raise us from the dead, we must take care to show it? Let us appear unto many. Let the life that God has given us be manifest. Let us not hide it; but let us go to our former friends and make our epiphanies as Christ made His. For His glory’s sake, let us have our manifestation and appearance unto others!”(31) I will close today by saying this: If you have no desire to leave your grave, then you are still dead in your sins and you need to do something about it. You need to get up out of your grave by putting your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, and by publicly confessing Him as Savior and Lord.
NOTES
(1) “Resurrection,” Sermon Illustrations: https://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/r/resurrection.htm (Accessed January 13, 2026).
(2) John Gill, John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible: https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/matthew-27-50.html (Accessed January 13, 2026).
(3) A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1930), p. 235.
(4) Matthew Henry, “Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible,” Power Bible CD (Bronson, MI: Online Publishing, Inc., 2008).
(5) Ibid.
(6) Gill, https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/matthew-27-51.html.
(7) Ibid.
(8) Ibid.
(9) Adam Clarke, “Matthew to the Acts,” Clarke’s Commentary, vol. 5 (Nashville: Abingdon Press), p. 278.
(10) David Guzik, “Study Guide for Matthew 27,” Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/matthew/matthew-27.cfm (Accessed January 13, 2026).
(11) Warren Wiersbe, “The Complete New Testament in One Volume,” The Wiersbe Bible Commentary (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2007), p. 84.
(12) Ibid., p. 84.
(13) Greg Lanier, “Resurrected Saints and Matthew’s Weirdest Passage,” The Gospel Coalition: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/resurrected-saints-weirdest-passage-matthew/ (Accessed January 16, 2026).
(14) Ibid.
(15) Gill, https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/matthew-27-52.html.
(16) Henry, “Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible.”
(17) Goole AI.
(18) Guzik, “Study Guide for Matthew 27.”
(19) Henry, “Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible.”
(20) Lanier, “Resurrected Saints and Matthew’s Weirdest Passage.”
(21) Henry, “Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible.”
(22) Jacob Toman, “The After-Effects of Jesus’ Death,” Redeeming Family: https://www.redeemingfamily.com/originals/the-after-effects-of-jesus-death-matthew-2752-53 (Accessed January 16, 2026).
(23) Clarke, p. 279.
(24) Robertson, p. 236.
(25) Gill, https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/matthew-27-36.html.
(26) Ibid.
(27) Frank Stagg, “Matthew,” The Broadman Bible Commentary, vol. 8 (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1969), p. 247.
(28) Robertson, p. 236.
(29) Henry, “Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible.”
(30) Toman, “The After-Effects of Jesus’ Death.”
(31) Ibid.
