Matthew 27:63

Matthew 27:63, in plain English

They say: Sir, we remember that while He was alive, that deceiver said He would rise after three days.

Why it's here

They call Jesus a deceiver, but they are the ones who lied, manipulated, and broke their own laws. And they remember His promise to rise — which means somewhere deep inside, they fear it might be true.

Who's speaking

The religious leaders speak to Pilate about their fear of Jesus' resurrection prediction.

Where it sits in the story

They are afraid of a dead man's words. That tells you everything you need to know about how powerful Jesus' claims were.

The scholarly reading

The leaders reference Jesus' resurrection prediction — 'after three days I will rise' (meta treis hemeras egeiromai) — revealing that they understood His claims better than His own disciples did.

Language and setting

The bitter irony is that the enemies of Jesus remembered His resurrection promise while His own followers were in despair. The leaders call Him a 'deceiver' (planos), a term that actually applies to themselves.

Voice

The religious leaders address Pilate, quoting Jesus' own words about rising from the dead.

Significance

Jesus' enemies take His words more seriously than His friends — the leaders seek to prevent a resurrection that the disciples have apparently forgotten was promised.

61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

62The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and Pharisees assembled before Pilate.

63“Sir,” they said, “we remember that while He was alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’

64So give the order that the tomb be secured until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people He has risen from the dead. And this last deception would be worse than the first.”

65“You have a guard,” Pilate said. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”

Read all of Matthew 27 — The climax of the story. Every thread — sacrifice, covenant, prophecy, promise — converges at a cross outside Jerusalem.