Say His Disciples Stole Him - Matthew 28:13

Matthew the apostle wrote how women came to visit Jesus' grave and saw an angel there who told them to go into the city of Jerusalem and tell His disciples that He is risen. They met Jesus along their way, and Matthew continued with these words, “when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and showed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers”, and in chapter twenty-eight and verse thirteen of his book, Matthew wrote how the chief priests told the guards to say, “His disciples came by night, and stole him away” where we read:

Saying, Say you, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.

The verse reads, “Saying, Say you, His disciples came by night, ...” Matthew began word, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “say you” or “the guards were to utter, declare and proclaim”, “His disciples” which means “Jesus' students, pupils and attendants” “came by night” or “appeared and approached during the nighttime”. Matthew shared how the “religious leaders” told the “Roman guards” to declare that Jesus' disciples came during the night hours.

The verse goes on to say “... and stole him away while we slept.” Matthew continued with the words, “and stole him away” or “took Jesus by stealth and theft” “while we slept” which means “during the time when the Roman guards were asleep”. Matthew shared how the “Roman guards” were to tell how Jesus' disciples “stole” His body during the time the “guard” was sleeping.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, can we imagine this “lie” coming from the “religious leaders” who were supposed to be the “righteous” and “holy ones” among the people? They not only bribed the “Roman guard”, but they also instructed them to say something that was not true. First, the “guard” would not be “sleeping” if they were performing their job correctly, and secondly, they would have been “killed” for not keeping the tomb of Jesus secure. Only God is able to bring “salvation” to mankind through His Son Jesus, and all those who “pretend” to be “righteous” will be exposed. God wants everyone to have a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, and regardless of the “pay offs” or “lies” to be told about Him, Jesus is still the “Savior and Lord” of the world.

Next time Matthew shares how the chief priests told the guards, “if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".