Matthew 27:52 meanning
Just for your thoughts:
“The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.”
— Matthew 27:52
There are many events in the Bible to which we cannot give definitive answers.
Though Bible scholars may provide explanations based on assumptions, we cannot be certain that the reasons they give are absolutely true.
For such events, the answers can only be obtained in Heaven.
Only in the heavenly realm will we receive answers to many questions that we cannot fully comprehend through Scripture.
One such event is the opening of tombs and the resurrection of saints when Jesus Christ died. These resurrected bodies came out of the tombs. After Jesus rose from the dead, they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
— Matthew 27:53
This event raises several doubts and questions for us:
Did these spirits rise to life the moment Jesus died, or did this event occur only after Jesus rose from the dead?
If they had come to life as soon as Jesus died, then the truth that Jesus is the firstfruits of the resurrection would be contradicted.
In what kind of bodies were they raised? Were they revived in their old, decayed bodies?
— This question arises because Matthew mentions that they came out of the tombs and went into the holy city and appeared to many.
Or were they seen in a spirit-form? (As in the example of Saul seeing Samuel.)
Did they ascend in glorified bodies?
Since it says “many saints” were raised, why was this special blessing given only to them?
What happened to the spirits of these particular saints afterward? Did they go to Heaven?
Or did they return to the place of the dead?
Did this event occur immediately at Jesus’ death, or after Jesus rose, went to the realm of the dead, and set the captives free?
If this was a one-time, isolated incident, why was such a unique blessing given only to these individuals?
Matthew recorded the event as it happened, without hiding anything. Even if we don’t understand it, we must accept it as it is. It is wrong to build a doctrine on such events.
We should not use this passage to deny or reinterpret foundational doctrines of the Bible.
In this context, I wish to quote what David Pawson wrote in his book “The Road to Hell”:
“However, it remains a unique event, testifying to the uniqueness of that other event of which it was the accompaniment. As such, it cannot be used to establish any Christian doctrine about the future; it stands on its own in the past. It says much for the authenticity of the gospel record that such an awkward piece of information was faithfully recorded. That encourages us to accept the account as it stands and humble ourselves before what we do not fully understand.”
We should not pretend to know what we do not understand, nor should we confuse others with our assumptions. Our knowledge is limited. The answers to these profound and mysterious events lie with God alone in Heaven. Until then, it is wise to remain silent and trust.