Matthew 27:63 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’

NIV: Sir,' they said, 'we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.'

NASB: and they said, 'Sir, we remember that when that deceiver was still alive, He said, ‘After three days I am rising.’

CSB: and said, "Sir, we remember that while this deceiver was still alive he said, 'After three days I will rise again.'

NLT: They told him, 'Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’

KJV: Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

NKJV: saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’

Some of the chief priests and Pharisees have come to see Pilate on Saturday, the Sabbath day. From their perspective, they have succeeded in protecting themselves and the people from a false Messiah (John 11:48–53). They were able to illicitly convict Jesus of blasphemy (Matthew 26:57–68), condemned to death, and crucified by the Romans (Matthew 27:24). Some of them likely saw Him die with their own eyes (Matthew 27:39–43).

As religious leaders, however, these men understand the power of symbols. They want to be sure that not only is Jesus dead, but that everything He stood for is clearly refuted. That includes avoiding any possible deceptions or changes to the claims made about Jesus. They remind the Roman governor that Jesus said He would rise from the dead after three days (John 2:19–22). They do not believe, of course, that this will happen. They are worried that someone will steal the corpse and try to make it look like it has happened.

That possibility, it seems, is enough to convince Pontius Pilate to seal and guard the tomb, for a brief time (Matthew 27:64–66).

Matthew 27:57–66 describes Jesus' burial and the watch placed over His tomb. Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy follower of Jesus, asks for Jesus' body. Pilate agrees. Joseph wraps Jesus' body in a clean linen shroud and places it in his own, never-used tomb, which is cut out of the rock in a garden. Jesus' enemies ask Pilate to place Roman soldiers at the grave site. They seek to prevent anyone from stealing His body and claiming He has been resurrected. Pilate agrees. The tomb is sealed. A guard is posted. These events are also seen in Mark 15:42–47, Luke 23:50–56, and John 19:38–42.

When Judas learns Jesus has been condemned, he regrets betraying the Lord. He throws down his ill-gotten money and hangs himself. Jesus is taken to Pilate, who finds nothing to charge Him with. Given the choice, the people shout for the release of a convicted murderer and insist on Jesus' death. Jesus is mocked by a battalion of soldiers and then taken to be crucified. On the cross, He is mocked for not being able to save Himself. After three hours of darkness, Jesus dies. He is buried by a rich follower in a new tomb. This location is tightly guarded to prevent anyone from stealing the body.

Matthew 27 begins with an official meeting of the Jewish ruling council. They affirm Jesus' condemnation from the previous night, described in chapter 26. Judas confesses his betrayal and hangs himself. Pilate tries to release Jesus, but the mob shouts for Jesus to be crucified. Jesus is humiliated by Roman soldiers and marched to be executed. On the cross, He is mocked by Jewish religious leaders and others. He dies and is buried in a never-used tomb. Extensive efforts to secure His body from being stolen only serve to prove the miraculous nature of His resurrection, which is detailed in chapter 28.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.