Matthew 27:64 - Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He is risen from the dead;’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”
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What does "Matthew 27:64" mean?
This verse, Matthew 27:64, is a request from the Jewish chief priests and Pharisees to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, following Jesus' crucifixion. Let's break down its meaning:
"Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day..." The chief priests and Pharisees are worried that Jesus' followers will try to steal his body. They specifically request the tomb be guarded until the third day because Jesus had predicted he would rise on the third day after his death (Matthew 16:21, 17:23, 20:19).
"...lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal him away..." Their fear is that Jesus' disciples will take advantage of the darkness to secretly remove the body from the tomb.
"...and tell the people, ‘He is risen from the dead;’..." They are concerned about the spread of the belief that Jesus has resurrected, which they strongly reject.
"...and the last deception will be worse than the first.” This is the key part, expressing their fear of the consequences.
The "first deception" likely refers to Jesus' claim to be the Messiah (the King of the Jews), which they considered blasphemy and a threat to their authority and the established order. They saw Jesus as a deceiver who had misled the people.
The "last deception" is the potential claim of Jesus' resurrection. They believe that if people start believing in his resurrection, his movement will gain even more momentum, making it harder to control. This would undermine their authority even further and potentially lead to unrest and rebellion against Roman rule. They feared a resurrected Jesus would be a much more powerful symbol and a greater threat than the living Jesus.
In summary, this verse highlights the fear and political calculation of the Jewish leaders:
Fear of Disciples: They were concerned about Jesus' disciples removing the body and falsely claiming a resurrection.
Fear of Uprising: They were concerned about the political and religious upheaval that would follow a widespread belief in Jesus' resurrection. They saw it as a threat to their authority and a potential catalyst for rebellion.
Seeking Roman Support: They are asking Pilate for Roman troops to guard the tomb. This shows their reliance on Roman power to suppress what they perceived as a religious and political threat.
This passage is also significant in the Christian narrative because it inadvertently confirms the importance of the resurrection claim. The Jewish leaders would not have taken such measures to prevent it if they did not perceive it as a serious threat. It also highlights that the idea of the resurrection wasn't some made up idea that came later, even Jesus' enemies were aware that this was a key belief of his followers.
Matthew 27:64 - Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He is risen from the dead;’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”
What does "Matthew 27:64" mean?
This verse, Matthew 27:64, is a request from the Jewish chief priests and Pharisees to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, following Jesus' crucifixion. Let's break down its meaning:
"Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day..." The chief priests and Pharisees are worried that Jesus' followers will try to steal his body. They specifically request the tomb be guarded until the third day because Jesus had predicted he would rise on the third day after his death (Matthew 16:21, 17:23, 20:19).
"...lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal him away..." Their fear is that Jesus' disciples will take advantage of the darkness to secretly remove the body from the tomb.
"...and tell the people, ‘He is risen from the dead;’..." They are concerned about the spread of the belief that Jesus has resurrected, which they strongly reject.
"...and the last deception will be worse than the first.” This is the key part, expressing their fear of the consequences.
The "first deception" likely refers to Jesus' claim to be the Messiah (the King of the Jews), which they considered blasphemy and a threat to their authority and the established order. They saw Jesus as a deceiver who had misled the people.
The "last deception" is the potential claim of Jesus' resurrection. They believe that if people start believing in his resurrection, his movement will gain even more momentum, making it harder to control. This would undermine their authority even further and potentially lead to unrest and rebellion against Roman rule. They feared a resurrected Jesus would be a much more powerful symbol and a greater threat than the living Jesus.
In summary, this verse highlights the fear and political calculation of the Jewish leaders:
Fear of Disciples: They were concerned about Jesus' disciples removing the body and falsely claiming a resurrection.
Fear of Uprising: They were concerned about the political and religious upheaval that would follow a widespread belief in Jesus' resurrection. They saw it as a threat to their authority and a potential catalyst for rebellion.
Seeking Roman Support: They are asking Pilate for Roman troops to guard the tomb. This shows their reliance on Roman power to suppress what they perceived as a religious and political threat.
This passage is also significant in the Christian narrative because it inadvertently confirms the importance of the resurrection claim. The Jewish leaders would not have taken such measures to prevent it if they did not perceive it as a serious threat. It also highlights that the idea of the resurrection wasn't some made up idea that came later, even Jesus' enemies were aware that this was a key belief of his followers.