Matthew 28:11 meaning
In the aftermath of Jesus' resurrection, the guards at the tomb were forced to confront an extraordinary reality: the stone was rolled away, and the tomb was empty. In a desperate move, these guards reported the events surrounding the resurrection to the chief priests. Instead of recognizing the divine significance of the resurrection, the authorities sought to suppress the truth. They devised a cover story, offering bribes to the guards to claim that the disciples had stolen Jesus' body while they slept. This created a narrative that served their interests, choosing to uphold their reputation while attempting to undermine the burgeoning Christian movement.
This passage illustrates that fear of the truth often leads to deceit. The guards, who had witnessed God's power firsthand, chose to yield to the pressures of authority rather than testify to what they had seen. Their actions reflect a recurring theme in scripture: the struggle between belief and skepticism. The weight of evidence surrounding the resurrection was substantial, yet human motives can corrupt perceptions of truth. In this way, the events of Matthew 28:11 resonate with ongoing struggles in faith and the human propensity to rationalize against the truths of God.
This quick synopsis was AI autogenerated utilizing existing TheBibleSays commentaries as the primary source material. To read a related commentary that has been fully developed, see the list below. If there is an issue with this summary please let us know by emailing:[email protected]
Deeper Commentary Covering this Verse:
- Matthew 28:11-15 meaning. The Resurrection Coverup Some of the soldiers who ran away from the tomb report to the chief priests about the angel who rolled away the stone. The priests confer with the elders and together they devise a scheme to cover up the resurrection. They bribe the soldiers with a large sum of money to tell the lie that Jesus’s disciples stole His body by night. The religious leaders assure the guards that they will keep them out of trouble if Pilate hears of their desertion or failure.
Other Relevant Commentaries:
- Matthew 28:11-15 meaning. The Resurrection Coverup Some of the soldiers who ran away from the tomb report to the chief priests about the angel who rolled away the stone. The priests confer with the elders and together they devise a scheme to cover up the resurrection. They bribe the soldiers with a large sum of money to tell the lie that Jesus’s disciples stole His body by night. The religious leaders assure the guards that they will keep them out of trouble if Pilate hears of their desertion or failure.
- Matthew 28:9-10 meaning. Jesus’s Second Resurrection Appearance Jesus meets the women after they reported to the disciples about the angel and the empty tomb. They fall to the ground in worship of Jesus, clinging to His feet. He encourages them to not be afraid and tells them to instruct His disciples to leave Jerusalem for Galilee where they will see Him.
- Matthew 28:2-4 meaning. The Opening of Jesus’s Tomb Matthew reports accompanying signs of Jesus’s resurrection: a severe earthquake, an angel of the Lord descends from heaven, and the stone sealing Jesus’s tomb is rolled away. The Roman soldiers guarding Jesus’s tomb were terrified and became like dead men at the sight of this brilliant and powerful angel.