Matthew 28:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place.

NIV: While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.

NASB: Now while they were on their way, some of the men from the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.

CSB: As they were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.

NLT: As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened.

KJV: Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.

NKJV: Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened.

Matthew has described how the women who came to treat Jesus' corpse were instead sent away to deliver the message that Jesus was alive (Matthew 28:1–10). A different group will take a similar message to those who will not want to hear it.

The Roman soldiers who had been guarding the tomb (Matthew 27:62–66) awaken from their fear-induced unconsciousness. Some of them go into Jerusalem, to the temple, to tell the chief priests what they have seen happen at the tomb. It's unlikely these soldiers saw Jesus alive. But they did experience the earthquake and see an angel from heaven roll a huge stone out from in front of Jesus' tomb. They know that the body is gone, even if they can't say for sure that Jesus has been raised from the dead.

The soldiers must have been worried about making this report. After all, they have failed in their duty to protect the body from being stolen. Their story of how it happened is bound to sound outlandish. Fortunately for them, the Jewish religious leaders will be eager to make use of them for their own ends.

Matthew 28:11–15 describes a plot by the Jewish religious leaders to distribute a false story about Jesus' resurrection. The Roman soldiers report what really happened at the tomb. The chief priests and elders agree to bribe the soldiers to lie and say they fell asleep on the job so hard that Jesus' followers were able to steal His dead body. They promise to protect the soldiers from Pilate, the Roman governor, if he hears they slept while on guard duty and wants to punish them. The lie begins to spread among the Jewish population, despite the idea being ludicrous (Matthew 27:66).

An angel of the Lord descends from heaven and rolls the stone from Jesus' tomb. The guards faint. The angel sits on top of the stone and waits. Two women, followers of Jesus, arrive and are told that Jesus is risen from the dead. Jesus then meets them and tells them to give the news to His brothers. The chief priests bribe the guards to say Jesus' followers stole His body. Jesus meets the disciples on a mountain in Galilee and commissions them to make disciples of people from all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey Jesus' commands. Jesus promises to be with them always.

Matthew 28 follows the dark events of the crucifixion in the previous chapter and brings Matthew's story of Jesus to a close. An angel descends from heaven and rolls back the stone. The guards faint. The angel tells two women Jesus is risen and then Jesus meets them. The Jewish religious leaders bribe the guards to lie and distribute a story that His followers took the body. Jesus meets His disciples in Galilee and commissions them to make disciples of people from all nations on earth, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all of Jesus' commands.

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.

Accessed 5/6/2024 11:24:18 AM