Gospel Prayer Ministry

📖 Passage

Matthew 27:45–66
Read Matthew 27:45–66 (NKJV)

🧠 Context & Background

The death of Jesus is the climax of Matthew's Gospel, revealing the fullness of His atoning mission. Darkness over the land recalls Old Testament imagery of divine judgment (Amos 8:9–10). Jesus' loud cry and yielding up of His spirit demonstrate that His death was a voluntary act, not the result of weakness. The tearing of the temple curtain from top to bottom signifies that access to God is now open through the sacrifice of Christ (Hebrews 10:19–20). The centurion's confession highlights the universal scope of the Gospel. His burial by Joseph of Arimathea fulfills prophecy (Isaiah 53:9), and the sealing of the tomb with a guard underscores the divine reversal about to come in the resurrection.

🌿 Key Themes

Divine Judgment – Darkness over the land symbolizes God's wrath against sin.
Voluntary Sacrifice – Jesus surrenders His life; no one takes it from Him.
Access to God – The temple veil torn in two marks the end of the old sacrificial system.
Witness of the Nations – A Gentile soldier confesses Jesus as the Son of God.
Providential Safeguards – The guarded tomb becomes evidence of the resurrection.

📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary

Matthew 27:45–50 – Darkness and Death

"From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land…"

Supernatural Darkness – Not an eclipse, but a sign of God's judgment and the weight of sin borne by Christ.
Psalm 22 Echo – "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" reveals the depth of abandonment Jesus experienced.
Voluntary Death – Jesus cries out and yields His spirit, showing sovereign control even in dying.

Matthew 27:51–54 – The Veil Torn and the Centurion's Confession

"The curtain of the temple was torn in two…"

Veil Torn from Top to Bottom – God Himself removes the barrier between Himself and sinners.
Earthquake and Opened Tombs – Creation responds to the death of its Creator.
Gentile Confession – The centurion proclaims, "Truly this was the Son of God," a foretaste of the nations coming to faith.

Matthew 27:55–61 – The Burial of Jesus

"Joseph of Arimathea… took the body and wrapped it…"

Faithful Women – Witnesses from Galilee remain present, showing loyalty when many disciples fled.
Joseph's Boldness – Risking his standing, he requests Jesus' body and buries Him in his own tomb, fulfilling Isaiah 53:9.
Stone Rolled to Seal Tomb – An act meant for closure but later becomes part of the resurrection evidence.

Matthew 27:62–66 – The Guard at the Tomb

"Sir, we remember how that impostor said…"

Religious Leaders' Fear – They recall Jesus' resurrection prediction, but respond with human schemes instead of repentance.
Roman Seal and Guard – Intended to prevent theft, these measures make the resurrection harder to deny.

🔍 Trusted Insight

"RC Sproul notes, 'The tearing of the temple curtain was God's own declaration that the old order had passed away. Through Christ, we have direct access to the throne of grace.'" This moment shifts history from shadow to fulfillment, from sacrifice to Savior.

Summary: In His death and burial, Jesus fulfills prophecy, removes the barrier to God, and sets the stage for the vindication of His resurrection.

🧩 Review Questions

🔍 Definitions

Sixth Hour – Noon in Jewish timekeeping.
Veil – The inner curtain of the temple separating the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place.
Arimathea – Likely a town northwest of Jerusalem; home of Joseph, a respected council member.
Seal – A wax or clay imprint securing the tomb under Roman authority.

🙋 Application Questions

How does knowing Jesus died willingly deepen your trust in His love for you?
In what ways can you live with confidence in the access to God purchased by Christ?
How does the centurion's confession challenge us to share the Gospel with people outside our cultural comfort zones?

🔤 Greek Keywords

ἐγκαταλείπω (egkataleipō) – "Forsake" or "abandon," expressing deep relational separation.
καταπέτασμα (katapetasma) – "Curtain" or "veil" in the temple.
ἐσφράγισαν (esphragisan) – "They sealed," indicating security and authority.

📚 Cross References

Amos 8:9–10 – Prophecy of darkness at midday in the day of judgment.
Psalm 22:1 – Jesus' cry of forsakenness.
Isaiah 53:9 – The Messiah's burial with the rich.
Hebrews 10:19–20 – Access to God through the torn veil of Christ's flesh.
John 19:30 – "It is finished" — the completion of His atoning work.

📦 Next Study

Next Study → Matthew 28:1–20

Matthew 27:45–66 – The Death, Burial, and Guarding of Jesus' Tomb