TRV
Translation
King James Version
So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
Complete Jewish Bible
The soldiers took the money and did as they were told, and this story has been spread about by Judeans till this very day.
Berean Standard Bible
So the guards took the money and did as they were instructed. And this account has been circulated among the Jews to this very day.
American Standard Version
So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continueth until this day.
World English Bible Messianic
So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Judeans, and continues until this day.
Geneva Bible (1599)
So they tooke the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is noysed among the Iewes vnto this day.
Young's Literal Translation
And they, having received the money, did as they were taught, and this account was spread abroad among Jews till this day.
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In the KJVVerse 24,211 of 31,102
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Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers . Public domain.
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Hilary of Poitiers (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 367
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
The concealment of the Resurrection, and the false allegation of theft, is purchased by money; because by the honour of this world, which consists in money and desire, Christ's glory is denied.
John Chrysostom (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 407
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
(Hom. xc.) Of the signs which were shown around Christ, some were common to the whole world, as the darkness; some peculiar to the watch, as the wonderful apparition of Angels, and the earthquake, which were wrought for the soldiers' sake, that they might be stunned with amazement, and bear testimony to the truth. For when truth is proclaimed by its adversaries, it adds to its brightness. Which befel now; Some of the watch came into the city, and showed unto the Chief Priests all the things that were done.
How should the disciples carry Him away by stealth, men poor, and of no station, and who scarcely dared to show themselves? They fled when afterwards they saw Christ alive, how, when He was dead, would they not have feared so great a multitude of soldiers? How were they to remove the door of the sepulchre? One might have done it unperceived by the guard. But a large stone was rolled to the mouth requiring many hands. And was not the seal thereon? And why did they not attempt it the first night, when there was none at the sepulchre? For it was on the Sabbath that they begged the body of Jesus. Moreover, what mean these napkins which Peter sees laid here? Had the disciples stolen the Body, they would never have stripped it, both because it might so receive hurt, and cause unnecessary delay to themselves, and so expose them to be taken by the watch; especially since the Body and clothes were covered with myrrh, a glutinous spice, which would cause them to adhere. The allegation of the theft then is improbable. So that their endeavours to conceal the Resurrection do but make it more manifest. For when they say, His disciples stole the body, they confess that it is not in the sepulchre. And as they thus confess that they had not the Body, and as the watch, the sealing, and the fears of the disciples, make the theft improbable, there is seen evidence of the Resurrection not to be gainsaid.
See how all are corrupted; Pilate persuaded; the people stirred up; the soldiers bribed; as it follows, And they look the money, and did as they were instructed. If money prevailed with a disciple so far as to make him become the betrayer of his Master, what wonder that the soldiers are overcome by it.
John ChrysostomAD 407
Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 90
For the sake of these soldiers that earthquake took place, in order to dismay them, and that the testimony might come from them, which accordingly was the result. For the report was thus free from suspicion, as proceeding from the guards themselves. For of the signs some were displayed publicly to the world, others privately to those present on the spot; publicly for the world was the darkness, privately the appearance of the angel, the earthquake. When then they came and showed it (for truth shines forth, being proclaimed by its adversaries), they again gave money, that they might say, as it is expressed, "that His disciples came and stole Him."
How did they steal Him? O most foolish of all men! For because of the clearness and conspicuousness of the truth, they are not even able to make up a falsehood. For indeed what they said was highly incredible, and the falsehood had not even speciousness. For how, I ask, did the disciples steal Him, men poor and unlearned, and not venturing so much as to show themselves? What? was not a seal put upon it? What? were there not so many watchmen, and soldiers, and Jews stationed round it? What? did not those men suspect this very thing, and take thought, and break their rest, and continue anxious about it? And wherefore moreover did they steal it? That they might feign the doctrine of the resurrection? And how should it enter their minds to feign such a thing, men who were well content to be hidden and to live? And how could they remove the stone that was made sure? how could they have escaped the observation of so many? Nay, though they had despised death, they would not have attempted without purpose, and fruitlessly to venture in defiance of so many who were on the watch. And that moreover they were timorous, what they had done before showed clearly, at least, when they saw Him seized, all rushed away from Him. If then at that time they did not dare so much as to stand their ground when they saw Him alive, how when He was dead could they but have feared such a number of soldiers? What? was it to burst open a door? Was it that one should escape notice? A great stone lay upon it, needing many hands to move it.
They were right in saying, "So the last error shall be worse than the first," making this declaration against themselves, for that, when after so much mad conduct they ought to have repented, they rather strive to outdo their former acts, feigning absurd fictions, and as, when He was alive, they purchased His blood, so when He was dead and risen again, they again by money were striving to undermine the evidence of His resurrection. But do thou mark, I pray thee, how by their own doings they are caught everywhere. For if they had not come to Pilate, nor asked for the guard, they would have been more able to act thus impudently, but as it was, not so. For indeed, as though they were laboring to stop their own mouths, even so did they all things. For if the disciples had not strength to watch with Him, and that, though upbraided by Him, how could they have ventured upon these things? And wherefore did they not steal Him before this, but when ye were come? For if they had been minded to do this, they would have done it, when the tomb was not yet guarded on the first night, when it was to be done without danger, and in security. For it was on the Sabbath that they came and begged of Pilate to have the watch, and kept guard, but during the first night none of these was present by the sepulchre.
And what mean also the napkins that were stuck on with the myrrh; for Peter saw these lying. For if they had been disposed to steal, they would not have stolen the body naked, not because of dishonoring it only, but in order not to delay and lose time in stripping it, and not to give them that were so disposed opportunity to awake and seize them. Especially when it was myrrh, a drug that adheres so to the body, and cleaves to the clothes, whence it was not easy to take the clothes off the body, but they that did this needed much time, so that from this again, the tale of the theft is improbable.
What? did they not know the rage of the Jews? and that they would vent their anger on them? And what profit was it at all to them, if He had not risen again?
So these men, being conscious that they had made up all this tale, gave money, and said, "Say ye these things, and we will persuade the governor." For they desire that the report should be published, fighting in vain against the truth; and by their endeavor to obscure it, by these even against their will they occasioned it to appear clearly. For indeed even this establishes the resurrection, the fact I mean of their saying, that the disciples stole Him. For this is the language of men confessing, that the body was not there. When therefore they confess the body was not there, but the stealing it is shown to be false and incredible, by their watching by it, and by the seals, and by the timidity of the disciples, the proof of the resurrection even hence appears incontrovertible.
Nevertheless, these shameless and audacious men, although there were so many things to stop their mouths, "Say ye," these are their words, "and we will persuade, and will secure you." Seest thou all depraved? Pilate, for he was persuaded? the soldiers? the Jewish people? But marvel not, if money prevailed over soldiers. For if with His disciple it showed its might to be so great, much more with these.
"And this saying is commonly reported," it is said, "until this day." Seest thou again the disciples' love of truth, how they are not ashamed of saying even this, that such a report prevailed against them.
Jerome (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 420
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Thus the Chief Priests, who ought to have been by this turned to penitence, and to seek Jesus risen, persevere in their wickedness, and convert the money which was given for the use of the Temple to the purchase of a lie, as before they had given thirty pieces of silver to the traitor Judas.
All who abuse to other purposes the money of the Temple, and the contributions for the use of the Church, purchasing with them their own pleasure, are like the Scribes and Priests who bought this lie, and the blood of the Saviour.
JeromeAD 420
COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 4.28.14
The guards acknowledged the miracle, returned to the city quickly and described to the chief priest what they had witnessed. Those who should have turned, repented and sought out the resurrected Jesus continued instead in their wickedness. They converted the money which had been given to the temple into a bride for their falsehood, just as they had earlier given thirty pieces of silver to Judas, the betrayer. Everyone therefore who diverts the offerings given to the temple or to the church for other purposes, namely, the satisfaction of his own will, is like these scribes and chief priests who purchased a lie and bought the blood of the Savior.
JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Matthew
(Vers. 12 seqq.) And when they were gathered with the elders, after taking counsel, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying: Tell them that his disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep. And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble. So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And the story spread among the Jews to this day. The guards confessed the miracle: they returned to the city and reported to the chief priests all that they had seen and experienced. Those who were supposed to convert to repentance and seek the risen Jesus persist in wickedness, and they turn the money that was given for the use of the temple into the redemption of lies, just as they had previously given thirty pieces of silver to Judas the betrayer. Therefore, all those who misuse the temple offerings and those things that are given for the use of the church for other purposes, in order to fulfill their own desires, are similar to the scribes and priests who bought the lie and the Savior's blood.
Peter Chrysologus (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 450
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
(ubi sup.) Not content to have put the Master to death, they plot how they may destroy the disciples, and make the Master's power matter of charge against His disciples. The soldiers indeed lost Him, the Jews missed Him, but the disciples crimed Him away, not by theft, but by faith; by virtue, and not by fraud; by holiness, and not by wickedness; alive, and not dead.
(ubi sup.) Among the Jews, not among the Christians; what in Judæa the Jew concealed by his gold, is by faith blazed abroad throughout the world.
Remigius of Rheims (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 533
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
But if the guards slept, how saw they the theft? And if they saw it not, how could they witness thereto? So that what they desire to show, they cannot show.
Rabanus Maurus (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 856
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Simple minds, and unlearned country-folk, often make manifest without guile the truth of a matter, as the thing is; but on the other hand, a crafty wickedness studies how to recommend falsehood by glosing words.
But as the guilt of His blood, which they imprecated upon themselves and their children, presses them down with a heavy weight of sin, so the purchase of the lie, by which they deny the truth of the Resurrection, charges this guilt upon them for ever; as it follows, And this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
Theophylact of OhridAD 1107
. The guards reported everything: that there had been an earthquake, that the stone had been lifted away of a sudden, and that they themselves had been terrified and had become as ones dead. But the Jews were shamed neither by the miracles which had occurred at His Passion nor by the things which the soldiers had witnessed at the tomb; instead they corrupted the soldiers by their own favorite passion, the love of money, inducing the soldiers to utter the most impious and ridiculous thing of all: that He had been stolen. How, you foolish ones, could the disciples have stolen Him when in fear they had secluded themselves and did not even dare to go out at all? How, if they had stolen Him, would they later die for Him, preaching that He had risen, and be hacked to pieces for a lie?
Glossa Ordinaria (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 1274
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
(non occ.) That the fear of the Governor might not restrain them from this lie, they promise them impunity.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Matthew 28:15 details the successful implementation of the chief priests' and elders' conspiracy to suppress the truth of Jesus' resurrection. The Roman guards, having witnessed the miraculous events at the tomb, accepted a large sum of money and, as instructed, propagated the fabricated story that Jesus' disciples had stolen His body while they slept. This verse concludes by noting the widespread and enduring nature of this false report among the Jewish people, persisting even to the time of Matthew's writing.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Matthew 28:15 employs several literary devices to underscore its message. The most prominent is Irony, as the very attempt to suppress the truth of the resurrection through a fabricated story inadvertently serves as indirect evidence for it. The desperate and costly nature of the lie implies that something extraordinary, requiring a cover-up, indeed occurred. The phrase "until this day" functions as a Historical Marker or Apostolic Parenthesis, providing a direct connection between the events of Jesus' resurrection and the ongoing reality for Matthew's original audience. This device validates the historical veracity of the account while also highlighting the persistent challenge of unbelief. Furthermore, the narrative presents a stark Contrast between the divine truth of the resurrection and the human-orchestrated falsehood, emphasizing the spiritual battle between light and darkness, truth and deception.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 28:15 serves as a stark reminder of humanity's propensity to reject divine truth, particularly when it challenges established power structures or comfortable worldviews. The chief priests' actions illustrate the depth of human depravity and the lengths to which individuals will go to suppress God's work, choosing deliberate deception over acknowledging a miraculous reality. This resistance to God's truth, fueled by fear and self-preservation, is a recurring theme throughout biblical history. Yet, paradoxically, the very existence of this elaborate lie underscores the undeniable power of the resurrection, for if Jesus' body was still in the tomb, or if there was a simple explanation, such a costly and enduring cover-up would have been entirely unnecessary. The lie, in effect, testifies to the truth it sought to bury.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 28:15 offers profound lessons for believers in every age. In a world saturated with information and misinformation, it challenges us to cultivate discernment, recognizing that truth often faces opposition and that false narratives can gain widespread acceptance and endure for significant periods. This verse calls us to a deeper commitment to the historical and theological truth of Christ's resurrection, which is not merely a historical event but the foundational cornerstone of Christian faith and hope. It encourages us to be vigilant against convenient lies and to embrace inconvenient truths, even when they challenge our assumptions or require us to stand against prevailing narratives. Ultimately, it underscores the importance of integrity, courage, and an unwavering pursuit of what is genuinely true, regardless of the cost or the opposition encountered.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did the chief priests and elders resort to bribery and a false report?
Answer: The chief priests and elders resorted to bribery and a false report because they were faced with undeniable evidence of Jesus' resurrection, which directly contradicted their efforts to discredit Him and maintain their religious and political authority. They had already condemned Jesus as a blasphemer and orchestrated His crucifixion, believing they had eliminated a threat. The empty tomb and the guards' terrifying testimony of an angel and an earthquake (Matthew 28:2-4) presented an existential crisis to their power and theological claims. Rather than repent or acknowledge God's work, they chose to suppress the truth through deception, attempting to control the narrative and prevent the spread of belief in Jesus as the Messiah.
How long did this false report persist among the Jews?
Answer: Matthew 28:15 explicitly states that "this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day." This phrase indicates that at the time Matthew wrote his Gospel, which is generally dated to the latter half of the first century AD (perhaps 60s-80s AD), the fabricated story of the stolen body was still a prevalent explanation for the empty tomb within Jewish communities. This suggests the lie persisted for several decades after the resurrection, highlighting the enduring nature of deliberate misinformation and the ongoing theological debate between early Christians and some Jewish factions regarding Jesus' identity and resurrection.
What is the significance of the guards' willingness to participate in the lie?
Answer: The guards' willingness to participate in the lie is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it highlights the corrupting power of money and the compromise of integrity. They accepted "a large sum of money" (Matthew 28:12) in exchange for their testimony, demonstrating that financial gain can override truth and duty. Secondly, it underscores the desperation of the Jewish leaders, who were willing to pay a substantial bribe and even promise protection from Roman authorities (Matthew 28:14) to ensure the lie's propagation. Thirdly, it adds another layer of human culpability to the narrative, showing how various parties, for different motives, conspired to deny God's miraculous intervention.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 28:15, while detailing a human attempt to suppress the truth, ultimately serves to highlight the undeniable and unstoppable victory of Christ. The very existence of this elaborate lie underscores the profound reality of Jesus' resurrection, for no such desperate measure would have been necessary had the tomb not been empty and the guards not witnessed a divine intervention. Christ's triumph over death on the cross and His subsequent resurrection are the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan, demonstrating His power over sin, death, and the forces of darkness (Colossians 2:15). Even as human authorities conspired to spread falsehoods, the truth of Christ's victory could not be contained. His resurrection is the bedrock of the Gospel message, validating His claims to be the Son of God and the promised Messiah (Romans 1:4). The lie of the stolen body, designed to obscure His glory, instead serves as an ironic testament to the overwhelming evidence that demanded such a desperate cover-up, pointing all the more clearly to Jesus as the Lord of life. He is the Truth whom no lie can ultimately overcome, and His kingdom, founded on the reality of His resurrection, will endure forever, despite all human opposition (Daniel 2:44).