Matthew records three quakings: First of the sea (8:24), then of the land at Jesus’ death (27:51), and then at His resurrection (28:2).
Each time there’s a quaking, someone comes from a tomb. In chapter 8, after Jesus calms the storm He encounters two demoniacs in the country of the Gadarenes, who live in a cemetery. The demoniacs are evidently coming “out from among the tombs,” but the Greek is much more direct – “coming out of the tombs” ( exerchomenoi ek ton mnemeion ), conjuring a picture of zombies or mummies rising from the grave to confront Jesus. After Jesus dies, the earthquake cracks open the tombs, and saints “come out of the tombs” ( exelthontes ek ton mnemeion ). When the earthquake occurs on the day after the Sabbath, Jesus rises from His tomb (though the phrase from the first two quakings is not repeated).
According to Matthew, the gospel story is a story about shaking earth, until death gives up her dead. Initially, demoniacs rise from graves; then the saints; finally Jesus.
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