Mat 28:11-15 11 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. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
Generally, official news is often composed of half-lies, and we can never believe it fully. More than ever, we see this in our current times; we cannot trust most of the reports coming through prominent news channels. Today, media outlets take money to completely distort the truth, spreading narratives that favor the government even when they are entirely false. This is nothing new. In our passage from Matthew today, we see official news from Israel that is completely contrary to the truth, spread by authorities who bribed Roman soldiers to promote a false story about the Resurrection.
The only hope for dying mankind is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We saw how the women overjoyed and welcomed this news with open hearts. However, not everyone welcomes the message of the Resurrection. In truth, all other world religions reject it and do not believe the message of the empty tomb. You can travel to China and find the tomb of Buddha occupied; the body is still there. You can travel to the Saudi Arabian city of Medina and find the tomb of Mohammed; it is closed because the body is inside. The same is true for any other historical religious leader.
But travel with me to Palestine. Let us go to an old tomb hewn out of a rock. There stands a tomb with a stone indicating it is vacant. While the tombs of other religious leaders are occupied, the tomb of Jesus alone is empty. He is not there; He is risen. That empty tomb sounds the death knell for every other religious system on the face of the earth! There is only one risen Savior, and His name is Jesus. He is the only one who overcame death, proving that He is God and the only way to heaven. All who believe in Him will be saved and, like Him, will overcome death.
The resurrection of Christ was a disaster for the Jewish religious leaders. Since they were the ones who killed Him, His resurrection meant they were entirely wrong and Jesus was entirely right. It meant their temple, their religious systems, and their rituals were all a fraud. Jesus alone was the path to salvation: “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
If these religious leaders were to save their false religion, they had to invent a story to prove the Resurrection was a lie. In today’s passage, we see them construct a foolish narrative—the same kind of denial many religions use today. Sadly, while the Resurrection is the only hope for mankind after death, most people remain blinded by fleeting pleasures, sin, and worldly desires. Today, when we tell people about the Resurrection, they have various stories to reject it, most of which are foolish. Let us look at the first foolish story used to deny the Resurrection.
Matthew alone records this event. At first glance, we might wonder why he ends his Gospel on such a negative note. Why bring in this ridiculous lie from the leaders? Last week, it was so thrilling to read about Jesus appearing to the women. Why didn’t Matthew include more testimonies from eyewitnesses—like the appearance to Mary Magdalene, the disciples on the road to Emmaus, or the moment Thomas confessed, “My Lord and my God”? Why interrupt our high spirits with this disgusting, blasphemous lie?
There are three reasons. First, Matthew wrote his Gospel primarily for the Jews, many of whom were influenced by this official lie. Second, Matthew shows that by rejecting the Resurrection, the apostasy of Israel was final. They had denied all His messianic signs, and though Christ promised the “sign of Jonah,” they rejected that too, sealing their rejection by God. Third, there is an amazing irony: the story His enemies built actually proves the Resurrection definitely happened. With the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, Matthew uses the narrative of Christ’s enemies as undeniable evidence for the Resurrection.
This is actually a powerful testimony for unbelievers who claim the disciples simply lied. Matthew shows that even the mortal enemies who killed Jesus proved by their actions that the Resurrection occurred. This incident provides a compelling defense of the faith.
A Foolish False Story
1. The True Report of the Roman Guards 11 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.
While the women were running to tell the disciples the good news, the Roman soldiers—the very first witnesses—were heading into the city. Remember, when these soldiers saw the angel, they shook with fear and became like dead men. They had essentially suffered a shock-induced comatose state at the sight of that holy angel.
When they regained consciousness, they did not fall prostrate and confess that Jesus was the Son of God. Instead, they went to report to the chief priests. While the women went in joy to fill the disciples’ hearts, the soldiers went in fear to fill the priests’ faces with shame. Matthew notes that only “some” of the guards went. Perhaps some were too frightened to admit they had lost the body they were supposed to guard, a failure that carried a death sentence under Roman law.
When they reached the chief priests, they reported “all the things that had happened.” They described the massive earthquake and the arrival of the lightning-bright angel who rolled away the stone. They told the priests that the tomb was empty and the body was gone. You can imagine them trembling as they explained how they had been paralyzed by terror. Their report was so detailed that the leaders were surely convinced it was a true eyewitness account.
As men who knew the Scriptures, these Jewish leaders realized this was a supernatural event. They knew without a doubt that this was a true resurrection. Even before the disciples heard the news, the enemies of Christ knew the truth. But did they believe? They had previously said, “Let Him come down from the cross and we will believe,” yet here was something greater—He had come out of the grave—and they still refused. Their hearts were so hardened that the news brought only shock and fear, not repentance.
Behold the blindness of these religious and political fanatics. Nothing poisons the soul like the desire to protect one’s power. Knowing the truth, they dared to hide it in unrighteousness. The soldiers told the truth, but the leaders immediately tried to silence them. They cared more about their positions than the fact that their Messiah had risen.
2. The Three Resolutions of the Sanhedrin 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together…
The leaders were baffled. They immediately called an official meeting of the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish parliament. They were all informed of the earthquake, the angel, and the empty tomb. They had to answer this problem or lose their rule. If they allowed the people to believe Jesus was alive, the entire nation would follow Him, and the temple system would be exposed as a fraud.
Their only solution was to create a false narrative. The Sanhedrin passed three formal resolutions:
- Bribery for Silence: They gave a “large sum of money” to the soldiers. One does not pay someone to tell the truth; you pay them to be quiet. They were willing to pay any price to hide the Resurrection. This was a “national security” issue to them. Every soldier received a massive bribe to hide the truth.
- The False Narrative: They told the guards to say, “His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.” They knew this was a lie, but it was the only theory that could explain the empty tomb. Other lies, such as the idea that Jesus only “fainted” on the cross, were even more unbelievable. How could a man scourged and pierced fight off an armed guard and walk miles on nail-pierced feet? The leaders decided the “stolen body” narrative was their best bet.
- Full Protection: Under Roman law, a soldier who slept on duty faced execution. The soldiers would never have agreed to this lie unless they were guaranteed safety. The leaders promised: “If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” They claimed to have Pilate in their pockets, promising to “satisfy” him so that no power in Rome could touch the guards. They told the soldiers to “rest easy” and take the money.
Just as our Lord commissioned His disciples to go into the world with the Gospel, these leaders commissioned the soldiers to spread an “anti-gospel” for the sake of money. These resolutions sealed the final apostasy of Israel. Their Messiah had risen, the truth had been delivered to them by Gentile messengers, and yet they chose to hide that truth in unrighteousness.
The False Narrative of the Guards
15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
If the leaders themselves are rogues, the authorities under them will be the same. With no sense of integrity, the guards took the money against their conscience and spread a lie. They did exactly as they had been instructed. They went out and proclaimed a false narrative. The Jewish leaders likely utilized their influence—much like modern authorities controlling media channels—to ensure this story was repeated constantly. We see in today’s debates how easily men lie without a conscience. Thus, a false narrative was spread throughout the nation.
The result of their preaching is noted in verse 15: “this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.” Even now, the prevalent anti-resurrection narrative is the “theft theory”—that the disciples stole His body. They propagated this lie successfully. Matthew wrote this approximately thirty years after the Resurrection (around 63 AD), and the lie was still believed. Justin Martyr, an early church father writing in 165 AD, noted that this remained the most common opinion among the Jews. Even 2,000 years later, the lie persists. It serves as an excuse for those who reject Christ, yet this rejection has led to a spiritual wilderness.
Applications
Behold the monumental and convincing proof of the reality of the Resurrection within this foolish, false narrative. Why is this the greatest proof? While this story was intended to make people doubt the Resurrection, it does the exact opposite. It provides evidence supplied not by the friends of Jesus, but by His enemies. Acts 1 says there were many “infallible proofs” by which Jesus affirmed His resurrection; this is one of the most unique. Any person with common sense who investigates these facts will see that the story is impossible to believe. It is such a stupid lie that even a ten-year-old child could see through it. Here is why:
1. The Character of the Disciples If you know anything about the disciples, you know they were huddling in fear. They were so scared that when Jesus was arrested, they fled. Only one was brave enough to witness the crucifixion. They were so afraid that they let the women go to the tomb alone to prepare the body. To suggest these same men suddenly became brave enough to overpower a Roman guard is unbelievable. Furthermore, they didn’t even expect a resurrection. Luke 24:11 says that when the women told them Jesus was alive, their words seemed like “idle tales.” Why would cowards who didn’t believe in the Resurrection risk a capital offense against Rome to steal a body and then die for a lie they created?
What changed these “hiding cats” into “pouncing tigers”? Only the sight of the Risen Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit can explain Peter’s transformation from a man who denied Christ three times to a bold preacher at Pentecost. They became so bold that they told the Sanhedrin in Acts 4 that they must obey God rather than men. They eventually died as martyrs to seal the truth of the Resurrection with their blood. No one dies for a lie they know they fabricated.
2. The Evidence of Bribery If the “theft” story were true, the leaders would not have needed to offer such a large bribe. You do not bribe people to tell the truth; you bribe them to spread a lie.
3. The Impossibility of the Sleep Theory The Roman guard was incredibly strict. It is impossible to believe that every soldier in a unit fell asleep at the same time. They rotated watches every three hours in four shifts. For a Roman soldier to sleep on duty was a crime punishable by death. They knew the price was too high to close their eyes.
4. The Absurdity of the Testimony Verse 13 says: “Say this, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we slept.'” Think about how ridiculous that is. If you were asleep, how do you know what happened? How did you see the disciples? This is a self-condemned explanation. It offends logic and facts. Furthermore, they didn’t wake up when a massive stone was rolled across the ground? They didn’t notice that the grave clothes were left behind, neatly folded? Why would thieves take the time to unwrap a body and fold a napkin while soldiers slept nearby?
If the soldiers had truly failed, the priests would have been the first to demand their execution. Instead, they offered them money and protection. Their concern for the soldiers’ safety plainly exposes the lie. Matthew shows us that this brainless story is actually a great proof that the Resurrection happened.
The Frightening Power of Willful Unbelief
Behold the frightening power of willful unbelief. These soldiers were the first human witnesses to the Resurrection, yet they chose to hide the truth for money. This was a final, unforgivable blasphemy for the leaders—attributing the power of the Holy Spirit to the “roguery” of the disciples.
No one reaches this level of hardness in a day. It is the cumulative effect of refusing to yield to the light. These leaders had seen Jesus’ miracles for three years and still attributed them to the devil. They hardened their hearts until they were capable of lying even in the face of an earthquake and an angel. Beware of an “evil heart of unbelief.” If you hear His voice today, do not harden your heart. If you keep rejecting the light, you will eventually believe the most “brainless” lies to justify your sin. Men love darkness because it allows them to continue in their lusts.
The Dangers of the Love of Money
Behold the horrible sins committed for the love of money. Jesus was betrayed for money both before and after the cross—first by Judas for thirty pieces of silver, and then by the guards for a “large sum.” For the sake of money, these men hid the only truth that can save a soul.
The love of money can reign in a heart undiscovered for years until a moment of truth arrives. Will you sell the truth, your soul, or Jesus for a profit? If there is an element of discontent or envy in your heart, those are the cancerous signs that the love of money is spreading. Satan thinks every man has a price. Is he buying your silence or your tongue with worldly reputation or fear of loss?
A Call to Response
The Resurrection is the great argument proving Christ is the Son of God. The soldiers had the most convincing proof, yet they sold their souls and likely suffer in the hottest hell today. What are you selling the truth for? Knowing the truth and hiding it for worldly reasons is a grave sin.
As believers, consider how much money is spent spreading false narratives and false religions. Let us not “starve a good cause” while bad ones are so liberally supported. We know this is the only truth that saves. May we give generously for the advancement of the Gospel, trusting in God’s promise to bless those who seek His Kingdom first.