Three days and nights

"Discover the spiritual depth and historical reality behind the 'three days and three nights' prophecy, exploring why Matthew and Luke use different time reckoning methods in their accounts of Jesus' death and resurrection."

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Two Accounts and Different Methods of Time Reckoning

1. Three Days and Three Nights (Roman Method of Reckoning)

In Matthew 12:40, Jesus says, "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

• Method of Reckoning: Roman reckoning counts three full days and three full nights, which aligns with Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (with Saturday night completing the third night). Wednesday night does not count because it’s only a partial night, not a full 24-hour period.

Correct timeline for "three days and three nights":

• Thursday (Day 1, Daytime) + Thursday night (Night 1)
• Friday (Day 2, Daytime) + Friday night (Night 2)
• Saturday (Day 3, Daytime) + Saturday night (Night 3)

The third night (Saturday night) completes the three nights, and the resurrection happens early on Sunday morning before the start of a new day, so Sunday is not counted as a full day.

Key verse:

• Matthew 12:40 – Jesus' prophecy of being in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.

2. Three Days in the Grave (Hebrew Method of Reckoning)

In Luke 24:7, the angels remind the women that Jesus must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, crucified, and on the third day rise again.

• Method of Reckoning: Luke follows the Hebrew method of reckoning time, where any part of a day counts as a full day. This method is reflected in Mark 8:31 and Luke 9:22, where Jesus speaks of His death, burial, and resurrection as occurring after three days.

Correct timeline for "three days in the grave":

• Friday (Day 1, from Friday afternoon to Friday night)
• Saturday (Day 2, the full 24-hour Sabbath, from Saturday morning to Saturday night)
• Sunday (Day 3, from Saturday night to Sunday morning, before Jesus' resurrection)

Key verses:

• Luke 24:7 – Jesus’ death and resurrection on the third day.
• Mark 8:31 – Jesus predicts His death, burial, and resurrection on the third day.
• Luke 9:22 – Similar prophecy of His death and resurrection on the third day.

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Theological Differences in Terminology

1. Matthew’s "Heart of the Earth":
   • Matthew 12:40 refers to Jesus being in the "heart of the earth". This term is loaded with symbolic meaning—the heart in Scripture often represents the seat of human sin, wickedness, and deceit.
   • The "heart" is described in Jeremiah 17:9 as "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" In this context, the "heart of the earth" can be interpreted as Jesus entering into the very depths of sin and deceit in the world, where He would take on the fullness of humanity's brokenness and corruption. Scriptural justification for the "heart of the earth" interpretation:
   • Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”
     • Here, the heart is presented as a symbol of wickedness and deceit, aligning with the "heart of the earth" where Jesus enters to confront the deceitfulness and brokenness of sin.
   • Matthew 12:40: Jesus' prophecy about being in the heart of the earth aligns with the spiritual and symbolic meaning of entering into the realm of deceit and sin, which He ultimately overcomes through His sacrifice. In this way, Matthew’s reference to the "heart of the earth" is not just about physical burial in a tomb, but about Jesus entering the realm of sin and deceit to overcome it, which is reflected in His victory on the cross.
2. Luke’s "Grave":
   • Luke uses the term "grave" to refer to Jesus' literal burial. It focuses on the physical reality of Jesus' death and burial in the tomb, marking His physical time in the grave.
   • Luke follows the Hebrew method of reckoning time, where any part of a day counts as a full day, and Jesus’ time in the grave spans Friday (partial day), Saturday (full day), and Sunday morning (partial day).

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Why the Two Different Accounts?

1. Matthew’s Focus on Spiritual Victory:
   • Matthew 12:40 focuses on the spiritual significance of Jesus' time in the "heart of the earth". This is more than just a physical burial; it represents Jesus entering into the depths of sin and deceit, taking on the wickedness of the world and overcoming it.
   • Romans 6:4: "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."
     • This connects to the idea of Jesus entering into the depths of sin and emerging victorious over death and deceit.
2. Luke’s Emphasis on Literal Death and Resurrection:
   • Luke 24:7 speaks about the physical death and resurrection of Jesus, using the term "grave" to highlight the actual burial and physical reality of Jesus’ time in the tomb. Luke is less concerned with the symbolic meaning of the heart of the earth and focuses more on the historical events of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

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Conclusion

• Matthew uses the term "heart of the earth" to emphasize the spiritual victory over sin, deceit, and wickedness. The heart of the earth symbolizes the realm of sin into which Jesus entered to take on the deceit and brokenness of humanity and ultimately overcome it. This interpretation is supported by Jeremiah 17:9, which describes the heart as deceitful and wicked. Matthew follows the Roman reckoning of time, counting three full days and nights from Thursday to Saturday.
• Luke uses the term "grave" to focus on the literal burial of Jesus’ body. He emphasizes the physical death and resurrection and follows the Hebrew method of reckoning time, counting any part of a day as a full day, thereby fulfilling the prophecy of Jesus being "in the grave" for three days.

The two accounts—one focusing on the spiritual victory over sin and deceit (Matthew) and the other on the historical reality of the death and resurrection (Luke)—complement each other and together provide a complete picture of the work of Christ on our behalf.