Matthew 28:13 - saying, “Say that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
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What does "Matthew 28:13" mean?
Matthew 28:13 describes the false narrative that the Jewish religious leaders (specifically, the chief priests and elders) instructed the Roman guards to spread regarding the disappearance of Jesus' body after his crucifixion.
Here's a breakdown of what it means:
Context: After Jesus' resurrection, the guards who were stationed at his tomb were terrified and reported the events to the chief priests.
The Bribe and the Lie: The chief priests, wanting to suppress the news of the resurrection, bribed the soldiers with a large sum of money. They instructed them to:
"Say that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept."
Implications of the Lie:
Undermining the Resurrection: The religious leaders understood that if Jesus had risen from the dead, it would validate his claims of being the Messiah and pose a serious threat to their authority. The "stolen body" narrative was a way to deny the resurrection and maintain their power.
Discrediting Jesus' Followers: By accusing the disciples of stealing the body, they were attempting to portray them as liars and deceivers.
Protecting Themselves: Admitting that Jesus had risen would have been an admission that they had wrongly condemned and crucified an innocent man.
Problem with the Lie: The lie is inherently problematic. Soldiers sleeping on guard duty was a serious offense punishable by death, so it would be unlikely that the Roman guards would admit to this. Furthermore, if they were asleep, they would not know that the disciples were the ones who stole the body.
In essence, Matthew 28:13 reveals the deliberate attempt by the Jewish religious leaders to cover up the resurrection of Jesus by spreading a false and easily debunked story.
Matthew 28:13 - saying, “Say that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
What does "Matthew 28:13" mean?
Matthew 28:13 describes the false narrative that the Jewish religious leaders (specifically, the chief priests and elders) instructed the Roman guards to spread regarding the disappearance of Jesus' body after his crucifixion.
Here's a breakdown of what it means:
Context: After Jesus' resurrection, the guards who were stationed at his tomb were terrified and reported the events to the chief priests.
The Bribe and the Lie: The chief priests, wanting to suppress the news of the resurrection, bribed the soldiers with a large sum of money. They instructed them to:
"Say that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept."
Implications of the Lie:
Undermining the Resurrection: The religious leaders understood that if Jesus had risen from the dead, it would validate his claims of being the Messiah and pose a serious threat to their authority. The "stolen body" narrative was a way to deny the resurrection and maintain their power.
Discrediting Jesus' Followers: By accusing the disciples of stealing the body, they were attempting to portray them as liars and deceivers.
Protecting Themselves: Admitting that Jesus had risen would have been an admission that they had wrongly condemned and crucified an innocent man.
Problem with the Lie: The lie is inherently problematic. Soldiers sleeping on guard duty was a serious offense punishable by death, so it would be unlikely that the Roman guards would admit to this. Furthermore, if they were asleep, they would not know that the disciples were the ones who stole the body.
In essence, Matthew 28:13 reveals the deliberate attempt by the Jewish religious leaders to cover up the resurrection of Jesus by spreading a false and easily debunked story.