Matthew 28:13

Matthew 28:13 is a pivotal verse that reveals the desperate attempt by the Jewish religious authorities to suppress the truth of Jesus' resurrection. Following the miraculous events at the tomb, including an earthquake and the appearance of an angel, the Roman guards who witnessed these phenomena reported them to the chief priests.

Context

This verse immediately follows the account of Jesus' resurrection and the initial report of the guards. Having witnessed the empty tomb and the terrifying angelic presence (see Matthew 28:4), the guards were in a state of fear and reported everything to the chief priests. Rather than acknowledging the divine power at work, the chief priests, in conjunction with the elders, devised a plan to spread a false narrative. This plan involved bribing the guards with a large sum of money to propagate a lie: that Jesus' disciples had stolen His body while the guards slept.

Key Themes

• The Suppression of Truth: This verse starkly illustrates the human tendency to reject inconvenient truths, especially those that challenge established power or belief systems. The religious leaders actively chose to invent a lie rather than confront the implications of Jesus' resurrection.
• Human Opposition to God's Plan: It highlights the ongoing spiritual battle where human authorities and institutions conspire against God's revealed truth. Despite overwhelming evidence, they sought to discredit the most central event of the Christian faith.
• The Inherent Weakness of Lies: The fabricated story itself is illogical. As many commentators note, if the guards were truly asleep, they could not have known who stole the body. This logical inconsistency underscores the desperation and flimsiness of the lie, which ultimately failed to stop the spread of the Gospel.

Linguistic Insights

While there isn't a complex Greek word nuance in this specific verse, the KJV's phrasing "stole him [away] while we slept" directly translates the Greek. The inherent absurdity of this claim is the most significant linguistic insight. The lie is self-refuting: if the guards were asleep, they could not have witnessed the theft, and therefore could not truthfully identify the perpetrators. This contradiction was likely apparent even to many at the time, highlighting the desperation of the chief priests to invent any plausible (or implausible) explanation.

Practical Application

Matthew 28:13 serves as a timeless reminder that truth often faces opposition, especially when it challenges prevailing narratives or comfortable assumptions. In every age, there are those who seek to discredit God's word and the reality of Christ's work. This verse encourages believers to:

• Discern Truth from Falsehood: Be vigilant against deceptive narratives, even those propagated by influential figures.
• Stand Firm in the Gospel: The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of Christian faith, an event so powerful that even its opponents had to invent elaborate lies to explain it away. This bolsters confidence in the truth of the Gospel message.
• Proclaim the Truth Boldly: Just as the disciples were later commissioned to go and make disciples (see Matthew 28:19), we are called to share the undeniable truth of Jesus' victory over death, despite any opposition.