And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text highlights that the temple veil was torn "from top to bottom," emphasizing that this was a supernatural act, not humanly possible, signaling God's direct intervention. This powerful, instantaneous tear from heaven downward shattered the exclusive barrier to God's presence, making the way to Him accessible to everyone.
And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.
English Standard Version (ESV)
As Jesus breathes His last and declares, "It is finished," a series of dramatic, supernatural events unfolds at the temple in Jerusalem. The thick veil separating the most sacred part of the temple from the rest is violently torn from top to bottom, signifying a profound shift in access to God. Simultaneously, the earth shakes with an earthquake, splitting rocks in the vicinity.
Imagine standing before the holiest place in all of Israel, separated by a thick, ornate curtain. Suddenly, it rips open from top to bottom. What does this dramatic event signify?
The veil in the temple was no ordinary cloth; it was a massive, intricately woven barrier separating the 'Holy Place' from the 'Most Holy Place,' where God's presence was believed to dwell. Only the High Priest could enter, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement.
A Divine Invitation
When Jesus died, this veil was torn in two, from top to bottom. This wasn't a natural occurrence; it was a supernatural sign pointing to a profound theological shift:
The ground trembles, rocks split open – these aren't just natural disasters. They are God's dramatic response to the death of His Son.
Matthew doesn't just mention the torn veil; he adds two more powerful signs: an earthquake and split rocks. These events weren't random but purposeful demonstrations of God's power and displeasure.
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God's Testimony
Understand the original words
katapetasma · Greek Noun
A woven veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, symbolizing the barrier between a holy God and sinful humanity that restricted access to His presence.
The dramatic supernatural events at Jesus' death—the torn veil and the earthquake—signaled the end of the Old Covenant's sacrificial system and the inauguration of a new way for all people to approach God through Christ.
c. 28-30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Crucifixion
Jesus is crucified by Roman authorities in Jerusalem at the command of Jewish leaders. This event is the climax of his earthly ministry and the central act of atonement.
c. 30 AD
Temple Veil Torn
Immediately following Jesus' death, the thick veil separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Jerusalem Temple is supernaturally torn from top to bottom.
c. 30 AD
Earthquake and Rock Fissures
A violent earthquake shakes the region around Jerusalem, splitting rocks and causing widespread tremors, further attesting to the cosmic significance of Christ's death.
c. 33 AD
Pentecost and the Early Church
Fifty days after Jesus' resurrection, the Holy Spirit empowers the apostles, leading to the rapid growth of the early church and the spread of the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles.
c. 48-50 AD
Council of Jerusalem
The early church grapples with the inclusion of Gentiles, affirming that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not adherence to the Mosaic Law.
c. 64 AD
Great Fire of Rome
A massive fire devastates Rome, leading to persecution of Christians under Emperor Nero, who falsely blamed them for the disaster.
70 AD
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Roman army under Titus destroys Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, ending the sacrificial system and a central element of Jewish worship.
This passage describes the creation of the inner veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, highlighting its significance as a boundary to God's presence.
This describes the High Priest's once-a-year entrance into the Most Holy Place behind the veil on the Day of Atonement, emphasizing the veil's role in a restricted access to God.
This New Testament passage explains the Old Testament tabernacle and its veil, explicitly linking the veil to a symbol of the limited access to God under the old covenant.
Hebrews 10:19-22This passage directly interprets the tearing of the temple veil as a symbol of Christ's sacrifice opening a new and living way for believers to enter the heavenly sanctuary.
Psalm 18:7This Psalm speaks of God's powerful presence manifesting with earthquakes, echoing the earth shaking described in Matthew as a divine reaction to Christ's death.
vincentMatthew 27:51: "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;"
The veil of the templeAccording to the Rabbis this was a handbreadth in thickness, and woven of seventy-two twisted plaits, each plait consisting of twenty-four threads. It was sixty feet long and thirty wide. Two of them were made every year, and according to the exaggerated language of the time it needed three hundred priests to manipulate it. This ve…
clarkeMatthew 27:51: "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;"
The veil of the temple was rent - That is, the veil which separated the holy place, where the priests ministered, from the holy of holies, into which the high priest only entered, and that once a year, to make a general expiation for the sins of the people. This rending of the veil was emblematical, and pointed out that the separation between Jews and G…
The text highlights that the temple veil was torn "from top to bottom," emphasizing that this was a supernatural act, not humanly possible, signaling God's direct intervention. This powerful, instantaneous tear from heaven downward shattered the exclusive barrier to God's presence, making the way to Him accessible to everyone.
As Jesus breathes His last and declares, "It is finished," a series of dramatic, supernatural events unfolds at the temple in Jerusalem. The thick veil separating the most sacred part of the temple from the rest is violently torn from top to bottom, signifying a profound shift in access to God. Simultaneously, the earth shakes with an earthquake, splitting rocks in the vicinity.
As Jesus breathes His last and declares, "It is finished," a series of dramatic, supernatural events unfolds at the temple in Jerusalem. The thick veil separating the most sacred part of the temple from the rest is violently torn from top to bottom, signifying a profound shift in access to God. Simultaneously, the earth shakes with an earthquake, splitting rocks in the vicinity.
"And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split." — The text highlights that the temple veil was torn "from top to bottom," emphasizing that this was a supernatural act, not humanly possible, signaling God's direct intervention. This powerful, instant…
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Last reviewed October 2026