MY RESPONSE TO EXPLAINING AWAY MATTHEW 12:40

When we do a search for verses in the New Testament dealing with the time between the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, we find that Jesus Himself used different expressions at different times when speaking about it: “three days and three nights” (Mt 12:40), “after three days” (Mk 8:31), “in three days” (Jn 2:19), and “on the third day” (Lk 9:22).2 He would not have contradicted Himself; therefore all of these expressions must mean the exact same thing. The apostles Peter and Paul likewise used “on the third day” in Acts 10:40 and 1 Corinthians 15:3–4.

If we accept the reality that there were particular turns of phrase distinctive to Jewish expression in the time of Christ, it prepares us to understand how the statement in Matthew 12:40 was probably understood by Jesus’s hearers. The basic question before us is, does “three days and three nights” equate with 72 hours—three periods of 12 hours of daylight plus three periods of 12 hours of darkness—as a mathematically correct English rendering seems to indicate, or does it reflect an idiomatic Jewish expression that should not be interpreted that way?

Scripture is replete with examples that show we should regard “three days and three nights” as an idiom. A particularly clear example is seen in the story of Cornelius, the Roman centurion who asked Peter to visit him in Acts 10. Verse 3 says he saw a vision at the ninth hour of a certain day. Verses 7–8 then say he promptly responded to the vision by sending a couple servants and a soldier to Peter that same day. Then the next day (Acts 10:9), right after Peter saw a vision, the messengers from Cornelius arrived at his gate and explained their mission, and Peter invited them in to spend the night (10:17–23a). Then the next day (10:23b), Peter and some brethren left with Cornelius’s servants. They did not arrive at Cornelius’s home in Caesarea until the following day (10:24). The way we count time today, we would say that Peter arrived at Cornelius’s house three days after Cornelius dispatched his servants to fetch Peter. We would not include the day of their departure from Cornelius as part of the elapsed time. But what does Cornelius do? He relates his story, saying that “four days ago”—to the very hour, the ninth—he had his vision that prompted him to send his servants to Peter (v. 30). When one counts the hours from the time of the vision to the arrival of Peter, there were exactly 72 hours (three days), yet Cornelius called it the fourth day. This reflects the characteristic Jewish idiomatic way of reckoning time inclusively.

I recommend going one step further.

If at different times in different cultural settings the words possibly mean something else--Why? God can be clear. Why is this matter then left by God to be muddled over? Why indeed?

Was it even a matter of counting the days of evenings and mornings, or sunsets, or hours--or even anything within the realm of what men would first suspect? Was it just loosely stated, and okay to assume that close is good enough, and therefore it means this, or not this, but that?

No, but rather, we should consider that Jesus was doing the will of His Father, even precisely. So, does that mean it is one then and not the other? No--but all those thoughts of men should be eliminated all together. Again--one step further, wherein, Jesus gave His own definition:


But what does that even mean? Three days according to men? Is that it--did Jesus come to work on three 24 hour days and "It is finished?" No again, that is not how we should think of it--that's the way men think--not God. Did the Father send Jesus for just three days--or even only thirty-three years? What did He say? "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen." --"Lo" ("look," "see," "behold," or "observe"). "Always" ("at all times", "always", evermore").

In other words, the Christ and God defined definition of Jesus' "three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" is from the Beginning to the End--“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. "Meaning...the times of this world from beginning to end are three--or seven depending on what is referred to. And for this same reason, Daniel equated his seventy weeks prophecy also as three, or "a time, times, and half a time?"

But it all requires going one step further...

ScottA said:

I recommend going one step further.

If at different times in different cultural settings the words possibly mean something else--Why? God can be clear. Why is this matter then left by God to be muddled over? Why indeed?

Was it even a matter of counting the days of evenings and mornings, or sunsets, or hours--or even anything within the realm of what men would first suspect? Was it just loosely stated, and okay to assume that close is good enough, and therefore it means this, or not this, but that?

No, but rather, we should consider that Jesus was doing the will of His Father, even precisely. So, does that mean it is one then and not the other? No--but all those thoughts of men should be eliminated all together. Again--one step further, wherein, Jesus gave His own definition:

"Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected" (Luke 13:32)​

But what does that even mean? Three days according to men? Is that it--did Jesus come to work on three 24 hour days and "It is finished?" No again, that is not how we should think of it--that's the way men think--not God. Did the Father send Jesus for just three days--or even only thirty-three years? What did He say? "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen." --"Lo" ("look," "see," "behold," or "observe"). "Always" ("at all times", "always", evermore").

In other words, the Christ and God defined definition of Jesus' "three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" is from the Beginning to the End--“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. "Meaning...the times of this world from beginning to end are three--or seven depending on what is referred to. And for this same reason, Daniel equated his seventy weeks prophecy also as three, or "a time, times, and half a time?"

But it all requires going one step further...

Click to expand...

I was thinking on that Luke 13:32 verse about how Christ was perfected and thought this was good here

Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;


For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

"Day and night" is a Hebrew idiom for "any part of a day."

We use the same idiom ourselves. If I work on something 2 hours on Monday, four hours on Tuesday, 3 hours on Wednesday, then I can say, "It took me three days."