Questions
- The Opening of the Graves of the Righteous: Matthew 27:52-53 …. ‘And the tombs were
opened; and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were raised.’ please explain for me. - As the bible shows, Jesus had brothers and sisters and their names mentioned (brothers). Are these family members born from Joseph and Mary? Explain for me. I thank you. Look forward.
Answers
- Matthew is the only gospel writer who mentions this event in connection with the Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection. This occurred after Jesus’ resurrection, as verses 52-53 indicate, and this harmonizes with the fact that Christ is the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Matthew mentions it at this point in connection with other miraculous occurrences that would add to the evidence that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The record does not indicate what eventually became of these saints, whether they ascended to heaven or died again, and I will not speculate (Deuteronomy 29:29).
- “Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” (Matthew 13:55-56; cf. Mark 6:2-3). I see no reason to avoid the obvious conclusion that Jesus had four fleshly brothers and several sisters, the children of Joseph and Mary, but who were actually half siblings to Jesus since Joseph was not actually Jesus’ father (Luke 3:23; Matthew 1:18-20; Luke 1:26-35).
