Matthew 27:64

KJV

Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

KJV (with Strong's)

Command {G2753} therefore {G3767} that the sepulchre {G5028} be made sure {G805} until {G2193} the third {G5154} day {G2250}, lest {G3379} his {G846} disciples {G3101} come {G2064} by night {G3571}, and steal {G2813} him {G846} away {G2813}, and {G2532} say {G2036} unto the people {G2992}, He is risen {G1453} from {G575} the dead {G3498}: so {G2532} the last {G2078} error {G4106} shall be {G2071} worse than {G5501} the first {G4413}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Therefore, order that the grave be made secure till the third day; otherwise the talmidim may come, steal him away and say to the people, `He was raised from the dead'; and the last deception will be worse than the first."

Berean Standard Bible

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.”

American Standard Version

Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest haply his disciples come and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: and the last error will be worse than the first.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Matthew 27:64, the chief priests and Pharisees approach Pontius Pilate, requesting that Jesus' tomb be heavily guarded and sealed until the third day. Their explicit fear is that Jesus' disciples might steal His body under the cover of night and then falsely proclaim His resurrection from the dead, asserting that such a deception would be a more profound and damaging "error" than Jesus' ministry itself. This verse highlights the religious leaders' desperate attempt to control the narrative surrounding Jesus' death and prevent any belief in His predicted resurrection.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed immediately after the accounts of Jesus' crucifixion, death, and burial in [Matthew 27:32-61](/matthew/27-32-61 "Matthew 27:32-61 - Jesus' Crucifixion, Death, and Burial"). Specifically, it follows Joseph of Arimathea's request for Jesus' body and its placement in a new tomb, observed by Mary Magdalene and the other Mary ([Matthew 27:57-61](/matthew/27-57-61 "Matthew 27:57-61 - Jesus' Burial")). The religious leaders' petition to Pilate in [Matthew 27:62-66](/matthew/27-62-66 "Matthew 27:62-66 - The Guard at the Tomb") directly addresses their awareness of Jesus' prophecy concerning His resurrection on the third day, as stated in [Matthew 27:63](/matthew/27-63 "Matthew 27:63 - The Chief Priests Recall Jesus' Prophecy"). Their actions here set the stage for the dramatic and undeniable discovery of the empty tomb on the third day, as recorded in [Matthew 28](/matthew/28 "Matthew 28 - The Resurrection").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In Roman Judea, the authority to deploy a military guard and seal a tomb rested solely with the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. Tombs of the wealthy, like Joseph of Arimathea's new rock-cut tomb, typically had a large, heavy stone rolled across the entrance. To "make sure" (secure) the sepulchre involved not only positioning a Roman guard (custodia) but also applying an official Roman seal (sphragis) over the stone and the tomb's entrance. Breaking such a seal was a capital offense, punishable by death, underscoring the gravity and official nature of the security measures. The Jewish leaders' appeal to Pilate, despite their recent success in having Jesus crucified, reflects their continued reliance on Roman authority to enforce their will and maintain social order, particularly against what they perceived as a dangerous messianic movement.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Matthew's Gospel. Firstly, it highlights the **Antagonism and Blindness of the Religious Leaders**, who, despite witnessing Jesus' miracles and hearing His prophecies, remained hardened in their opposition, even after His death. Their fear of a "last error" reveals their profound misunderstanding of Jesus' true identity and mission, viewing His resurrection as a potential deception rather than a divine act. Secondly, it underscores the **Fulfillment of Prophecy**, as Jesus had repeatedly foretold His resurrection on the third day ([Matthew 16:21](/matthew/16-21 "Matthew 16:21 - Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection"), [Matthew 17:23](/matthew/17-23 "Matthew 17:23 - Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection Again"), [Matthew 20:19](/matthew/20-19 "Matthew 20:19 - Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection a Third Time")). The leaders' actions, ironically, serve to authenticate this very prophecy by providing irrefutable evidence against any claim of theft. Lastly, it introduces the theme of **God's Sovereignty Over Human Plans**, demonstrating how human efforts to thwart divine purposes often inadvertently serve to fulfill them, setting the stage for the undeniable truth of the resurrection.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Command (Greek, _keleúō'_):** This verb signifies "to incite by word, i.e., order." It conveys the authority and urgency with which the chief priests and Pharisees address Pilate. Their request is not a mere suggestion but a forceful demand, reflecting their perceived right to dictate terms, even to the Roman governor, concerning matters they deemed critical to Jewish order and their authority.
* **risen (Greek, _egeírō'_):** This word means "to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e., rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively, from obscurity, inactivity, ruins, nonexistence)." In this context, it specifically refers to being raised from the dead. The religious leaders' use of this term acknowledges their awareness of Jesus' explicit predictions of His resurrection, even as they sought to prevent its perceived fraudulent manifestation.
* **error (Greek, _plánē'_):** This noun denotes "fraudulence" or "a straying from orthodoxy or piety." Here, it encapsulates the religious leaders' perception of Jesus' entire ministry as a deception or deviation from true Jewish teaching. Their fear is that a false resurrection claim would be an even greater "fraudulence," leading the people further astray and undermining their religious authority more profoundly than Jesus' life had.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day,"**: The religious leaders, having just secured Jesus' crucifixion, now turn their attention to His burial place. Their request for the tomb to be "made sure" (secured) indicates their deep concern about the "third day," a timeframe Jesus had repeatedly mentioned concerning His resurrection. This command seeks to physically prevent any tampering with the tomb.
* **"lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away,"**: This clause reveals the specific fear driving their request: a nocturnal theft of Jesus' body by His followers. They anticipate that the disciples might attempt to create a false narrative of resurrection, mirroring Jesus' own prophecies, to deceive the populace. This shows their belief that the disciples were capable of such a deception and that the people were susceptible to it.
* **"and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead:"**: This outlines the feared outcome of the body theft—a public proclamation of Jesus' resurrection. The religious leaders understood the power of such a claim, especially if it appeared to fulfill Jesus' own words, and sought to preemptively discredit it by making any such theft impossible.
* **"so the last error shall be worse than the first."**: This concluding statement articulates their ultimate concern. The "first error" refers to Jesus' public ministry, His claims of Messiahship, and the popular following He garnered, which they considered a dangerous deception. They believed a fabricated resurrection would be an even greater "error" or delusion, leading to a more widespread and uncontrollable movement than His earthly life had produced.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Irony** is paramount, as the very measures taken by the religious leaders to prevent a false resurrection inadvertently become the strongest evidence for the true one. Their efforts to secure the tomb and prevent a hoax ultimately authenticate the miraculous event when the tomb is found undeniably empty, despite their precautions. There is also **Foreshadowing**, as their explicit mention of the "third day" and the fear of a resurrection claim directly anticipates the actual resurrection event that Matthew will record in the very next chapter. Furthermore, the phrase "the last error shall be worse than the first" employs **Hyperbole** to emphasize their extreme anxiety and the perceived magnitude of the threat a resurrection claim posed to their authority and the established order. This statement also functions as a stark **Contrast** between Jesus' earthly ministry (the "first error" in their view) and the potential impact of a resurrection claim (the "last error"), revealing their escalating fear.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 27:64 stands as a profound testament to God's sovereignty, demonstrating how human attempts to thwart divine plans often inadvertently serve to fulfill them. The religious leaders' meticulous efforts to secure the tomb, driven by fear and a desire to suppress the truth, ironically provided the most compelling historical evidence for the reality of Jesus' resurrection. Their actions established an undeniable chain of custody for Jesus' body and ensured that when the tomb was found empty, the only logical explanation was a supernatural event, thereby authenticating Christ's victory over death. This divine orchestration underscores that no human power or conspiracy can ultimately prevent God's purposes from being accomplished.

* [Romans 1:4](/romans/1-4 "Romans 1:4 - Declared Son of God by Resurrection")
* [1 Corinthians 15:3-4](/1_corinthians/15-3-4 "1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - Christ Died and Rose According to the Scriptures")
* [Acts 2:24](/acts/2-24 "Acts 2:24 - God Raised Him Up")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account in Matthew 27:64 offers a powerful reminder that even the most determined human opposition cannot thwart God's ultimate plan. The religious leaders, in their attempt to control the narrative and suppress what they perceived as a dangerous "error," unwittingly became instruments in God's grand design, providing irrefutable proof for the central tenour of the Christian faith: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For us today, this passage encourages a deeper trust in God's sovereignty, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles or determined opposition. It challenges us to consider how our own fears or attempts to control outcomes might, in God's hands, be repurposed for His greater glory. The meticulous efforts to secure the tomb serve as a powerful historical anchor for our faith, assuring us that the resurrection was not a myth or a conspiracy, but a divinely orchestrated, historically verifiable event. This should bolster our confidence in the truth of the Gospel and empower us to live out our faith boldly, knowing that the foundation of our hope is unshakable.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the religious leaders' fear of a "last error" reveal their misunderstanding of Jesus' true identity and mission?**
* **In what ways do human efforts to control or suppress truth often inadvertently highlight it, as seen in this passage?**
* **How does the secured tomb and the subsequent empty tomb strengthen your faith in the historical reality of Jesus' resurrection?**
* **What "errors" or deceptions in our world today might God be using, ironically, to reveal His truth?**

### FAQ

**Why were the religious leaders so concerned about the "third day"?**

Answer: The religious leaders were concerned about the "third day" because Jesus had repeatedly and explicitly prophesied that He would rise from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion. Passages like [Matthew 16:21](/matthew/16-21 "Matthew 16:21 - Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection"), [Matthew 17:23](/matthew/17-23 "Matthew 17:23 - Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection Again"), and [Matthew 20:19](/matthew/20-19 "Matthew 20:19 - Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection a Third Time") record these predictions. Even His adversaries were aware of these claims, fearing that His disciples might exploit this prophecy by stealing His body and fabricating a resurrection, which they believed would be a more dangerous "error" than His earthly ministry.

**What was the "first error" and "last error" in the religious leaders' view?**

Answer: In the context of [Matthew 27:64](/matthew/27-64 "Matthew 27:64 - The Guard at the Tomb"), the "first error" refers to Jesus' public ministry, His claims of Messiahship, and the popular following He had amassed. The chief priests and Pharisees considered Jesus' teachings and claims to be a dangerous deception or deviation from orthodox Judaism, hence an "error." The "last error" was their fear that a fabricated resurrection, achieved by His disciples stealing His body, would be an even greater and more widespread deception, leading to a more profound and uncontrollable belief in Jesus than His life had. They believed this "last error" would be "worse than the first" because it would solidify a false messianic movement in the minds of the people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 27:64, though detailing the futile efforts of Jesus' enemies, profoundly underscores the Christ-centered fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. The very act of securing the tomb, meant to prevent a hoax, became an indispensable part of God's authentication of the true resurrection. When the tomb was found empty on the third day, despite the Roman guard and the official seal, it served as irrefutable proof that Jesus had indeed conquered death, just as He said He would. This historical certainty, inadvertently established by His adversaries, confirms Jesus' identity as the Son of God, powerfully declared by His resurrection from the dead ([Romans 1:4](/romans/1-4 "Romans 1:4 - Declared Son of God by Resurrection")). The empty tomb, secured by human hands but emptied by divine power, stands as the cornerstone of the Gospel message, validating Jesus' sacrifice for sin and His triumph over death. It is the ultimate demonstration that Christ is not merely a historical figure, but the living Lord, whose resurrection ensures our own hope of new life and eternal salvation ([1 Peter 1:3-5](/1_peter/1-3-5 "1 Peter 1:3-5 - A Living Hope Through Resurrection")). The chief priests' desperate attempts to suppress the truth ultimately magnified it, revealing Christ's absolute victory and the unshakable foundation of Christian faith ([1 Corinthians 15:14-20](/1_corinthians/15-14-20 "1 Corinthians 15:14-20 - If Christ Has Not Been Raised")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 28:13

Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him [away] while we slept.

Matthew 12:45

Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last [state] of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.