After Jesus was crucified and placed within a tomb, Matthew the apostle wrote, “the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse sixty-four of his book, Matthew shared how “the chief priests and Pharisees” said to Pilate, “Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day.” where we read:
Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
The verse reads, “Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, ...” Matthew began words, “command therefore” which means “order and bid word then and on account of this” “that the sepulcher” or “that the tomb or grave” “be made sure” which means “be made firm, secure and against harm” “until the third day” or “till the third day has passed”, “lest his disciples” which refers to “whether perhaps Jesus' students, pupils and attendants” “come by night” or “arise and make appearance during the night time”, “and steal him away” which means “and take Jesus' body away by theft”. Matthew shared how the “religious leaders” wanted Pilate to “order” that there be a “security” detail placed around Jesus' tomb because they feared Jesus' “disciples” would “take His body” during the night.
The verse continues, “... and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.” Matthew added the words, “and say unto the people” or “and utter, declare and proclaim to the people who are around them”, “He is risen” which means “Jesus is resurrected, arisen and has aroused” “from the dead” or “separate from the non-living, lifeless and those who have breathed their last”: “so the last error” or “then the latter deception and fraud” “shall be worse” which means “will be sorer, more evil and aggravated” “than the first” or “than Jesus' first deception”. Matthew shared how the “religious leaders” believed Jesus' disciples would proclaim the He “rose from the dead” which they thought would be “more evil and aggravating” than Jesus' original lie.
When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we marvel at the persistence and paranoia of these “religious leaders”. They thought about the “possibilities” of Jesus' disciples “stealing” His body and declaring He rose from the dead which would be a lie greater than the original one believed about Jesus. They wanted Jesus' grave to be securely sealed so no one could “steal” Jesus' body and promote Jesus being resurrected. Can we imagine how big a threat Jesus was to these “leaders”? God desires to have a relationship with every person, and even when they are adamantly against Him, He will still invite them to yield to Him. God loves people regardless of their “paranoid” ways, and when they humble themselves, turn from their sins and believe and trust in His Son Jesus, He will not only “save” them but will also provide for them “everlasting life”.
Next time Matthew shares how Pilate says to the chief priests and Pharisees, “you have your watch”, 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
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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