New Testament · Gospel

Matthew 27:64

The Crucifixion

So 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.” Matthew 27:64 · Berean Standard Bible

What It Means

Matthew 27:64, in plain English

They ask Pilate to secure the tomb until the third day, worried that the disciples might steal the body and tell everyone Jesus rose from the dead.

Why it's here

By guarding the tomb so tightly, they accidentally make the resurrection even harder to deny. When the tomb is found empty despite guards and a sealed stone, there will be no easy explanation.

Who's speaking

The leaders petition Pilate for tomb security, explaining their fear of a faked resurrection.

Where it sits in the story

They think they are preventing a lie. They are actually setting the stage for the truth to be undeniable. God uses even their fear to serve His purposes.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

They request a guard until the third day, fearing the disciples will steal the body and claim a resurrection — calling such a potential deception 'worse than the first.'

Language and setting

The phrase 'the last deception would be worse than the first' (he eschate plane cheiron tes protes) suggests they viewed Jesus' entire ministry as the 'first deception.' Their precautions ironically strengthen the resurrection's credibility.

Voice

The religious leaders make their request to Pilate, explaining their concern.

Significance

By guarding the tomb so carefully, Jesus' enemies inadvertently create the conditions that make the resurrection claim more credible — if the tomb was guarded and still empty, the body was not stolen.

In context

Matthew 27:62–66

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.”

66So they went and secured the tomb by sealing the stone and posting the guard.

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

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