Matthew 27:59-60
Summary for Matt 27:59-60: 27:59-60 a Burial customs were important in Judaism, especially in contrast to the Greeks and Romans, who cremated their dead. Leaving a corpse unburied was the severest form of judgment (Deut 21:22-23 b; 2 Kgs 9:37 c; Ps 79:3 d; Jer 16:4 e, 6 f; Ezek 29:5 g; Rev 11:9 h). Death was lamented and mourned (Mark 5:38-39 i); the body was washed (Acts 9:37 j), anointed (Matt 26:6-13 k; John 12:3 l, 7 m; 19:39 n), and wrapped in burial cloths (Matt 27:59 o; see Gen 50:2-3 p). The body was placed in a tomb (see Matt 23:27 q) that had been tunneled into a rock or carved into the side of a cave wall. The entrance to a tomb was often closed with a huge stone and sealed to prevent ceremonial uncleanness or robbery.• clean linen ... new tomb: Both reflect ceremonial purity. Joseph had purchased the tomb for his own family, but it had not yet been used.
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