Matthew 27:65

KJV

Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make [it] as sure as ye can.

KJV (with Strong's)

{G1161} Pilate {G4091} said {G5346} unto them {G846}, Ye have {G2192} a watch {G2892}: go your way {G5217}, make it as sure {G805} as {G5613} ye can {G1492}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Pilate said to them, "You may have your guard. Go and make the grave as secure as you know how."

Berean Standard Bible

“You have a guard,” Pilate said. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”

American Standard Version

Pilate said unto them, Ye have a guard: go, make it as sure as ye can.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Matthew 27:65, Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, responds to the urgent plea of the chief priests and Pharisees to secure Jesus's tomb. Fearing that Jesus's disciples would steal His body and falsely proclaim His resurrection, these religious leaders sought to prevent any such deception. Pilate, likely weary of their demands, grants them permission to use a guard, instructing them to make the tomb as secure as they possibly could, inadvertently setting the stage for the undeniable authentication of Jesus's actual resurrection.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the chief priests and Pharisees' petition to Pilate in [Matthew 27:62-64](/matthew/27-62-64 "Matthew 27:62-64 - The Request for a Guard"). They express their concern that Jesus, whom they refer to as "that deceiver," had predicted His resurrection after three days. Their primary fear was that His disciples would steal the body and then claim He had risen, leading to a "last error... worse than the first." Pilate's response in [Matthew 27:65](/matthew/27-65 "Matthew 27:65 - Pilate Grants a Guard") is a direct answer to this request, leading directly into the sealing and guarding of the tomb described in [Matthew 27:66](/matthew/27-66 "Matthew 27:66 - The Tomb is Sealed and Guarded"). The entire sequence underscores the religious leaders' desperate efforts to control the narrative and prevent the spread of belief in Jesus's resurrection.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The scene takes place on the Sabbath, the day after Jesus's crucifixion. For the Jewish leaders, seeking out Pilate on the Sabbath for such a matter highlights the extreme importance they placed on preventing any perceived fraud regarding Jesus's body, even overriding their typical Sabbath observances. Pilate, as the Roman governor, held ultimate authority in Judea. His phrase "Ye have a watch" could refer to the Roman temple guard, a detachment of Roman soldiers often stationed at the Temple, or it could be a more general permission for the Jewish authorities to utilize their own Levitical temple guard. Regardless, it signifies Pilate's granting of official sanction and resources for their security measures. The Roman practice of sealing a tomb with a public seal would have been a well-understood method of ensuring its integrity, making any tampering a serious offense against Roman authority.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Matthew's Gospel and biblical theology. Foremost is the **Futility of Human Opposition to Divine Will**, as the religious leaders' meticulous efforts to prevent the resurrection ultimately serve to confirm its reality. Their actions inadvertently provide incontrovertible evidence for the empty tomb and Jesus's triumph over death. It also highlights the **Authenticity of the Resurrection**, as the very precautions taken (a guard, a sealed tomb) make the subsequent discovery of an empty tomb all the more compelling and miraculous. Finally, Pilate's character is further illuminated, showcasing his **Pragmatism and Detachment**. Having already tried to wash his hands of Jesus's condemnation ([Matthew 27:24](/matthew/27-24 "Matthew 27:24 - Pilate Washes His Hands")), he now grants their request with a seemingly dismissive attitude, eager to be rid of the persistent Jewish leaders and maintain civil order.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **watch (Greek, _koustōdía'_):** This word, of Latin origin, refers to "custody" or a "Roman sentry." Its use here indicates a formal, organized security detail, implying either a detachment of Roman soldiers or the temple guard under Roman authority. The presence of a *koustōdía* underscores the official and formidable nature of the security placed on the tomb, making any subsequent claim of a stolen body highly improbable.
* **make sure (Greek, _asphalízō'_):** Derived from a word meaning "secure," this verb means "to render secure" or "to make fast." Pilate's command emphasizes the need for maximum security. It's a direct instruction for the religious leaders to employ every possible measure to ensure the body remained in the tomb, highlighting their intense fear of a resurrection claim and Pilate's concession to their anxiety.
* **can (Greek, _eídō'_):** While often meaning "to see," in the perfect tense, as implied here, *eídō* means "to know" or "to perceive." Pilate's phrase "as ye can" therefore means "as much as you know how" or "as much as you perceive is necessary." It conveys a sense of delegating the responsibility fully to them, almost dismissively, while still granting them the authority to act with the utmost diligence according to their own judgment and resources.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Pilate said unto them,"**: This establishes the speaker and the recipients of the command. Pilate, the Roman governor, is responding directly to the chief priests and Pharisees who have just presented their fears about Jesus's body being stolen and a false resurrection proclaimed. His words carry the weight of Roman authority.
* **"Ye have a watch:"**: This is Pilate's direct answer to their request for a guard. It can be interpreted in two ways: either he is stating that they already possess their own temple guard which they can deploy, or he is granting them access to a detachment of Roman soldiers (the *koustōdía*). In either case, it signifies that their request for security is granted.
* **"go your way, make [it] as sure as ye can."**: This is Pilate's instruction and delegation of authority. "Go your way" is a dismissal, indicating he wants them to handle the matter themselves. "Make [it] as sure as ye can" is a command for them to implement the most rigorous security measures possible, using their own judgment and resources, to prevent any tampering with the tomb. It reflects both a concession to their fears and a desire to be done with the issue.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in this verse and the surrounding narrative is **Irony**. The religious leaders, in their desperate attempt to prevent a "false" resurrection, inadvertently set in motion the very actions that would later provide irrefutable evidence for the *true* resurrection. Their meticulous efforts to secure the tomb and prevent the body from being stolen (which they believed would be the "last error") only made the subsequent discovery of the empty tomb more undeniable and miraculous. The elaborate precautions they insisted upon, sanctioned by Pilate, serve as a powerful, unintended authentication of Christ's victory over death. There is also a subtle element of **Understatement** or even **Sarcasm** in Pilate's tone, as he seemingly washes his hands of the matter, telling them to do "as sure as ye can," implying a certain weariness or dismissiveness towards their anxieties, yet still granting their request.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 27:65 stands as a profound testament to the unassailable sovereignty of God. The meticulous efforts of human authorities—the religious leaders and the Roman governor—to thwart what they perceived as a potential deception, ultimately served as an unwitting instrument in God's perfect plan. Their attempts to secure the tomb and prevent a "faked" resurrection only provided historical and theological validation for the *actual* resurrection of Jesus Christ. This passage underscores that no human power, no matter how great or well-resourced, can ultimately stand against or derail the divine will. God's purposes will always prevail, turning even the most determined opposition into a means of fulfilling His ultimate design for salvation.

* [Proverbs 21:30](/proverbs/21-30 "Proverbs 21:30 - No Wisdom Against the Lord")
* [Acts 5:38-39](/acts/5-38-39 "Acts 5:38-39 - Gamaliel's Counsel")
* [Psalm 33:10-11](/psalm/33-10-11 "Psalm 33:10-11 - The Lord's Counsel Stands Forever")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 27:65 offers a powerful and enduring lesson for believers today: God's sovereignty is absolute, and His plans cannot be thwarted by human efforts, no matter how well-intentioned or malevolent. The very precautions taken to prevent the resurrection became the strongest evidence for its truth. This should instill in us a profound trust in God's ultimate control over all circumstances. When we face opposition, challenges, or seemingly insurmountable obstacles in our lives or in the mission of the church, this verse reminds us that God is always at work, often turning human resistance into divine opportunity. It calls us to rest in His perfect will, knowing that His purposes will always be accomplished, and His truth will ultimately prevail. Our faith is built not on the absence of opposition, but on the certainty of God's triumph over it.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the irony in this passage—where human attempts to prevent the resurrection actually authenticate it—strengthen your faith in God's sovereignty?**
* **In what areas of your life or ministry are you tempted to rely on your own strength or strategies, rather than trusting in God's ultimate control?**
* **How can the historical evidence for the resurrection, bolstered by the actions of Jesus's opponents, equip you to share your faith more confidently?**

### FAQ
**Why were the chief priests and Pharisees so concerned about Jesus's body after His death?**
Answer: The chief priests and Pharisees were deeply concerned because they remembered Jesus's own predictions that He would rise from the dead on the third day ([Matthew 16:21](/matthew/16-21 "Matthew 16:21 - Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection"), [Matthew 17:23](/matthew/17-23 "Matthew 17:23 - Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection"), [Matthew 20:19](/matthew/20-19 "Matthew 20:19 - Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection a Third Time")). They feared that if His disciples stole the body, they would then claim He had risen, leading to an even greater "deception" than His ministry itself, potentially sparking widespread belief in His messianic claims among the populace. Their primary motivation was to prevent any scenario that could validate Jesus's identity as the Christ.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 27:65, depicting the futile human attempt to secure the tomb of Jesus, serves as a powerful Christ-centered fulfillment of God's sovereign plan of redemption. The very act of sealing the tomb and posting a guard, intended to prevent the resurrection, only highlights the immense power of Christ's victory over death. This passage underscores that no earthly authority or security measure could ever hold the Son of God captive. When Christ burst forth from the tomb, His resurrection was not merely a spiritual event but a historical, physical reality, attested to by the very precautions taken by His enemies. The empty tomb, guarded and sealed, became the ultimate proof of His triumph, fulfilling prophecies of His resurrection ([Psalm 16:10](/psalm/16-10 "Psalm 16:10 - You Will Not Abandon My Soul to Sheol")) and demonstrating His authority as the resurrected Lord who holds the keys of death and Hades ([Revelation 1:18](/revelation/1-18 "Revelation 1:18 - I Am the Living One")). This moment, born of human fear and opposition, ultimately magnified the glory of Christ's unparalleled power and secured the hope of eternal life for all who believe in Him ([Romans 6:9-10](/romans/6-9-10 "Romans 6:9-10 - Christ's Death and Resurrection")).

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 27:66

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Matthew 28:11

¶ 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.

Matthew 28:15

So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

Proverbs 21:30

¶ [There is] no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

Psalms 76:10

Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.