John Calvin Commentary Matthew 27:51

"And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake; and the rocks were rent;" — Matthew 27:51 (ASV)

And, lo, the veil of the temple was rent. When Luke blends the rending of the veil with the eclipse of the sun, he inverts the order, for the Evangelists, as we have frequently seen, are not careful to mark every hour with exactness.

Nor was it proper that the veil should be rent until the sacrifice of expiation had been completed. For then Christ, the true and everlasting Priest, having abolished the figures of the law, opened up by his blood the way to the heavenly sanctuary for us, so that we may no longer stand at a distance within the porch, but may freely advance into the presence of God.

For as long as the shadowy worship lasted,²⁸⁷ a veil was hung up before the earthly sanctuary to keep the people not only from entering but from seeing it (Exodus 26:33; 2 Chronicles 3:14).

Now Christ, by blotting out the handwriting which was opposed to us (Colossians 2:14), removed every obstruction, so that, relying on him as Mediator, we may all be a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9).

Thus, the rending of the veil was not only an abrogation of the ceremonies which existed under the law, but was, in some respects, an opening of heaven, so that God may now invite the members of his Son to approach him with familiarity.

Meanwhile, the Jews were informed that the period of abolishing outward sacrifices had arrived and the ancient priesthood would be of no further use; that, although the building of the temple was left standing, it would not be necessary to worship God there according to the ancient custom; and that, since the substance and truth of the shadows had been fulfilled, the figures of the law were changed into spirit.

For though Christ offered a visible sacrifice, yet, as the Apostle tells us (Hebrews 9:14), it must be viewed spiritually, so that we may enjoy its value and its fruit.

But it was of no advantage to those wretched men that the outward sanctuary was laid bare by the rending of the veil, because the inward veil of unbelief, which was in their hearts,²⁸⁸ hindered them from beholding the saving light.

And the earth trembled, and the rocks were split. What Matthew adds about the earthquake and the splitting of the rocks, I think it probable, occurred at the same time.

In this way, not only did the earth bear testimony to its Creator, but it was even called as a witness against the hard-heartedness of a perverse nation.

For it showed how monstrous that obstinacy must have been, on which neither the earthquake nor the splitting of the rocks made any impression.

²⁸⁷ “Cependant que le service, qui avoit les ombres de la Loy, a duré;” — “so long as the service, which contained the shadows of the Law, lasted.”;” — “so long as the service, which contained the shadows of the Law, lasted.”

²⁸⁸ “Qui estoit en leurs cœurs.”.”