Meaning of Matthew 27:51

The tearing of the temple curtain in Matthew 27:51, occurring simultaneously with the earth shaking and rocks splitting at Jesus' death, signifies a cataclysmic disruption of the old covenant order and the inauguration of a new era of direct access to God. This dramatic event, described as happening "at that moment," directly links the physical phenomena to the sacrificial death of Jesus, indicating a divine endorsement and profound theological consequence. The curtain, a thick veil separating the Holy of Holies—God's dwelling place—from the rest of the temple, represented the barrier between humanity and God due to sin. Its tearing from top to bottom, an action clearly beyond human capability, demonstrates that God Himself initiated this rupture, making the way to Him accessible through Christ's finished work.

Context and Background

This verse occurs in the immediate aftermath of Jesus' crucifixion. The Gospel of Matthew has meticulously detailed Jesus' suffering, death, and burial. The temple, the central place of worship and atonement for Israel under the Old Covenant, stood as the physical manifestation of God's presence among His people. The Holy of Holies within the temple housed the Ark of the Covenant and was entered only once a year by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement, a ritual laden with symbolic meaning about sin and the need for divine forgiveness. The tearing of the curtain, therefore, was not a minor detail but a monumental event that occurred during the Passover season, a time of profound religious significance for Jews.

Key Themes and Messages

• Abolition of the Old Covenant and Inauguration of the New: The tearing of the curtain symbolizes the obsolescence of the Levitical sacrificial system and the Mosaic Law as the exclusive means of approaching God. Jesus' death fulfills these Old Testament types and antitypes.
• Direct Access to God: The barrier between humanity and God is removed. Believers are no longer dependent on a priestly intermediary or a physical sanctuary to approach the divine presence.
• Christ's Sacrifice as Sufficient Atonement: Jesus' death is presented as the ultimate sacrifice that atones for sin, making the way to God permanently open.
• Divine Judgment and Power: The accompanying earthquake and splitting rocks underscore the magnitude of this event, indicating God's powerful intervention and a seismic shift in His redemptive plan.

Spiritual Significance and Application

The spiritual significance of this event is immense. It declares that through Jesus' sacrifice, the alienation caused by sin is overcome. Every believer, regardless of their status or the specific day, can now enter into a personal and intimate relationship with God. This liberation from ritualistic barriers calls for a life of faith and reliance on Christ's finished work, rather than on human efforts or external religious observances. The implication is that true worship and communion with God are now spiritual realities, accessible through the Holy Spirit dwelling within believers.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This event is a pivotal moment in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan, bridging the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament foreshadowed this ultimate atonement through its sacrificial system and the High Priest's annual entry into the Holy of Holies. Jesus, as the High Priest of the new covenant, enters not a man-made sanctuary but heaven itself, offering His own blood for eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:11-12, 24). The tearing of the curtain is the physical manifestation of this spiritual transition, fulfilling prophecies and setting the stage for the church age.

Analogies

One analogy for the torn curtain is a king who, after a long period of requiring visitors to go through numerous gatekeepers and receive specific permissions, finally opens the palace doors wide and invites everyone to approach him directly. Another analogy is a dam bursting, releasing a flood of living water that was previously held back, symbolizing the abundant grace and access to God now available. The splitting of rocks can be likened to a great chasm opening, revealing a pathway where none existed before.

Relation to Other Verses

This verse finds powerful resonance with several other biblical passages:

• Hebrews 9:11-12: "But Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here. He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, nor of this earthly creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption." This passage explicitly connects Christ's priestly work with the abolition of the old sanctuary system.
• Hebrews 10:19-22: "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings..." This explicitly identifies Jesus' body (his sacrifice) as the "curtain" that was torn, opening the way.
• Exodus 26:31-33: This describes the original construction of the temple curtain, emphasizing its function as a barrier to the Holy of Holies, highlighting the significance of its tearing.
• Revelation 21:22: While not a direct parallel in terms of the temple, this verse speaks of a future heavenly city where there is "no temple, for its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb," signifying the ultimate dwelling of God with His people where no physical separation is needed.