These verses follow the resurrection of Jesus and provide an account of the actions taken by the religious authorities to counter the news of Jesus' resurrection.
- The Guards' Report and the Response of the Religious Authorities
Report to the Chief Priests: The guards, eyewitnesses to the angelic appearance and the empty tomb, report the events to the chief priests. This news poses a significant challenge to the established religious order.
Counsel and Conspiracy: The religious leaders, rather than acknowledging the possibility of a miraculous resurrection, choose to convene and devise a plan. Their response is not one of faith but of manipulation to maintain control over the narrative.
- The Conspiracy and Deception Unveiled
Bribery and False Testimony: The chief priests and elders orchestrate a plan involving a bribe for the soldiers. They instruct them to spread a false narrative that Jesus' disciples came at night and stole his body while the guards slept.
Persuasion and Assurances: The religious authorities assure the soldiers that if the governor hears about the incident, they will intervene and protect them. The use of persuasion and the promise of safety reveals the extent to which they are willing to go to suppress the truth.
Significance for Believers: Truth in the Face of Opposition
Opposition to Truth: The response of the religious authorities highlights the opposition that the truth of Christ often faces. Even in the face of overwhelming evidence, there can be a deliberate effort to suppress and distort the truth.
Deception's Short-Term Gains: The religious leaders' plan achieves a short-term objective of silencing the guards, but it cannot alter the reality of the resurrection. Deception might bring temporary relief, but it cannot change the eternal truth.
The Unstoppable Spread of the Gospel: Despite the attempt to contain the story, the false narrative is acknowledged to have persisted "until today." However, it stands in stark contrast to the enduring and transformative message of the true resurrection, which continues to spread globally.
Cross-References:
Proverbs 19:5: "A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he who pours out lies shall not go free." The actions of the religious leaders align with the warning in Proverbs about the consequences of false witness.
Acts 5:33-40: The story of Gamaliel's advice to the Sanhedrin regarding the followers of Jesus provides another perspective on the futility of opposing something ordained by God. Gamaliel's counsel suggests that efforts to suppress a movement inspired by God are destined to fail.
Conclusion - The Persistence of Truth: Matthew 28:11-15 captures a moment of human manipulation and deception in the face of the profound truth of Jesus' resurrection. The passage serves as a reminder that, despite efforts to suppress or distort the truth, the message of Christ's victory over death persists and prevails. Believers are called to stand firm in the truth, knowing that no amount of manipulation can alter the reality of the risen Christ.
Matthew 28:11-15. Some of the guards came into the city, and told the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers, saying, “Say that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry.” So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until today.