Matthew 27:51-53
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 tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The text highlights that the temple veil was torn "from top to bottom." This wasn't a tear initiated by human hands, but a divine act, signifying that the way into God's presence was now open to everyone, not just the high priest.
As Jesus breathes his last on the cross, a series of dramatic cosmic events unfold, signaling the immense spiritual significance of his death. The thick veil within the temple, separating the holy of holies from the rest of the sanctuary, is supernaturally torn in two from top to bottom. Simultaneously, the very earth shakes violently, causing nearby rocks to split apart.
Imagine standing before the holiest place in God's presence, separated by a thick curtain. Then, in an instant, it's torn from top to bottom. What does this dramatic event signify?
The veil in the Temple was no ordinary cloth; it was a monumental barrier, described as incredibly thick and strong, separating the 'holy place' from the 'most holy place' (the Holy of Holies). Only the High Priest could enter the latter, and only once a year, on the Day of Atonement, to make sacrifices for the sins of the people.
A Symbolic Death Knell
When Jesus died, this veil was torn in two, from top to bottom. This wasn't a gentle tear; it was a supernatural ripping that signified several profound truths:
The death of Jesus wasn't just a human event. The very earth itself reacted violently. What message was God sending through these seismic disturbances?
The earthquake and the splitting rocks were not random occurrences but powerful divine endorsements of Jesus' identity and the significance of His death.
Heaven and Earth React
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.
koimaō · Greek Verb
A state of death for believers, reflecting the hope of a future, bodily resurrection, much as one awakens from natural sleep.
hagios · Greek Noun/Adjective
Those set apart by God for His service and purposes; under the new covenant, this refers to all who are sanctified by faith in Christ.
egersis · Greek Noun
The climactic event of Jesus' life and ministry, demonstrating His victory over death and the inauguration of the new creation.
The dramatic tearing of the temple veil at the moment of Jesus' death was a potent symbol, understood by early Christians as signifying the end of the old sacrificial system and the opening of direct access to God for all people, Jew and Gentile alike.
c. 27 BC - AD 30
Herod the Great's Temple Expansion
King Herod the Great undertook a massive renovation and expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, a project that continued for decades. This grand structure included the inner sanctuary with its thick veil, the setting for the miraculous event.
c. AD 30
The Passover Sacrifice Ritual
During the annual Passover festival, the temple was the site of intense activity, including the offering of thousands of lambs. The time of Jesus' crucifixion coincided with the evening sacrifice ritual, when a priest would be burning incense before the inner veil.
AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus' Crucifixion and Death
Jesus is crucified at Golgotha, a site near the temple in Jerusalem. His death occurs around the time of the evening Passover sacrifice.
c. AD 30-33
Supernatural Signs at Jesus' Death
Matthew records simultaneous supernatural events: the temple veil is torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quakes, and rocks split, signifying divine judgment and the opening of a new way to God.
This passage describes the original construction of the veil separating the holy of holies, providing context for the significance of its tearing in Matthew.
Hebrews 9:1-10This New Testament passage explains the symbolism of the tabernacle, including the veil, and how it pointed to a greater reality that Christ fulfilled.
Hebrews 10:19-22This passage directly draws a parallel, explaining that the tearing of the veil signifies that believers now have direct access to God through Jesus' sacrifice.
Psalm 18:7This psalm describes God's powerful, earth-shaking presence when He intervenes, mirroring the earthquake that accompanied Christ's death.
Isaiah 24:19This prophetic passage foretells a great shaking of the earth, which resonates with the earthquake that occurred at the moment of Jesus' death, suggesting divine judgment.
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." This wasn't a tear initiated by human hands, but a divine act, signifying that the way into God's presence was now open to everyone, not just the high priest.
As Jesus breathes his last on the cross, a series of dramatic cosmic events unfold, signaling the immense spiritual significance of his death. The thick veil within the temple, separating the holy of holies from the rest of the sanctuary, is supernaturally torn in two from top to bottom. Simultaneously, the very earth shakes violently, causing nearby rocks to split apart.
As Jesus breathes his last on the cross, a series of dramatic cosmic events unfold, signaling the immense spiritual significance of his death. The thick veil within the temple, separating the holy of holies from the rest of the sanctuary, is supernaturally torn in two from top to bottom. Simultaneously, the very earth shakes violently, causing nearby rocks to split apart.
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hagia polis · Greek Noun phrase
The earthly city of Jerusalem, which serves as the site of the temple and the focal point of God's redemptive work in the Old Testament.
c. AD 40-60
Early Christian Preaching
The apostles begin preaching the Gospel, explaining the significance of Jesus' death and resurrection. They teach that the torn veil symbolizes the abolition of the separation between Jews and Gentiles and direct access to God through Christ.
AD 70
Destruction of the Second Temple
The Roman army destroys Jerusalem and the Second Temple. This catastrophic event renders the temple rituals and the torn veil obsolete, fulfilling prophecies and marking a definitive end to the Old Covenant system.
"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 tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the to…" — The text highlights that the temple veil was torn "from top to bottom." This wasn't a tear initiated by human hands, but a divine act, signifying that the way into God's presence was now open to ever…
