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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 28:11 - 28:15
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_28:11-15
11Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. 12And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13and said, " You are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.'14And if this should come to the governor's ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble." 15And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.
Mat_28:11 It is surprising that Roman guards reported to Jewish priests! Some of these must have told Matthew!
Mat_28:12 "they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers" What these soldiers must have thought, knowing the truth and telling a lie!
These Jewish leaders (i.e., Sanhedrin) would do anything to destroy Jesus. They
1. used betrayal to find and arrest Jesus
2. held an illegal night trial to accuse Him
3. used lying witnesses to charge Him
4. then used bribery to silence witnesses
Mat_28:13 "His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep" If they were sleeping, how did they know the disciples stole His body? However, this account does emphasize that by the report of the Roman guards, the women, and the disciples, the tomb is empty.
Mat_28:14 "keep you out of trouble" Roman guards falling asleep at their posts was a grave offense, sometimes punishable by death.
Mat_28:15 "this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day" Remember that Matthew was written for a Jewish audience. A similar account was given in Justin Martyr's (a.d. 114-115) Dialogue with Trytho (i.e., 108). It was the Sadducees and Romans who were to prevent the body of Jesus from being stolen.