Question

In the presentation of the death of Jesus in Matthew's Gospel, why according to course readings does Matthew have tombs opening and people coming out and appearing to many?

Answer 1

In Matthew's Gospel, the tombs opening and people coming out and appearing to many serve as a symbolic representation of the resurrection of Jesus and the victory over death.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the presentation of the death of Jesus in Matthew's Gospel, the tombs opening and people coming out and appearing to many serve as a symbolic representation of the resurrection of Jesus and the victory over death. According to the course readings, these details highlight the supernatural and extraordinary nature of Jesus' resurrection.

Matthew 27:51-54 describes how at the moment of Jesus' death on the cross, the tombs opened and many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus' resurrection and appeared to many people in Jerusalem. This account emphasizes the power and significance of Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection.

These events are meant to reinforce the belief that Jesus is the Son of God and the savior of humanity, as his resurrection demonstrates his victory over death. The appearance of these resurrected individuals to many people serves as a testimony to the reality of Jesus' resurrection.

Answer 2

The presentation of the death of Jesus is a passage in Matthew's Gospel which to this day does not have a well-defined explanation about it. The facts are mysterious and open to various interpretations. However, according to Matthew's description, one of the possible interpretations in relation to Matthew's main purpose was related to the fulfillment of Scripture. He wanted to show how the scripture was fulfilled.

Step-by-step explanation: