The rending of the veil in Matthew 27:51a is explained in this 2001 text, with reference to ancient Jewish texts.

1. Introduction; 2. Veils in the Old Testament; 3. Functionality and identity in the 'veil of the temple'; 4. The veil in Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism; 5. Matthew's temple and Jesus' death: hermeneutical keys to the rending of the veil; 6. Analysis of the Matthean velum scissum pericope; 7. Conclusion: Matthew's velum scissum - retrospect and prospect.