http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 1 Watch at the Sepulchre and Sealing of Stone Saturday, April 16, 29 A.D. Matthew 27:62-66
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 2 Text: Watch at the Sepulchre and Sealing of Stone Matthew 27:62-66, 62. Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63. Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64. Command therefore that the sepulcher 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. 65. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. Commentary: Matthew 27:62, Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, I. On the morrow; that is, the day after the crucifixion. II. The day after the preparation was the Sabbath day. III. The chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. A. What they wanted would require Pilate s authorization.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 3 B. They wanted a governmental seal to be placed on the stone at the door of the tomb and a guard to prevent the body of Jesus from being stolen. Matthew 27:63, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. I. The chief priests and the Pharisees addressed Pilate: A. These who had instigated the death of Christ were not finished with their wickedness even with Jesus in the tomb. II. Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while he was yet alive, After three days I rise again. A. These enemies of Jesus were well aware of our Lord s prophesy that he would rise from the dead after three days in the tomb. B. Matthew 12:39, 40, But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 27:64, Command therefore that the sepulcher 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. I. They asked Pilate, Command that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day...
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 4 II. This was requested lest haply his disciples come and steal him away. A. The disciples were not about to steal the body of Jesus. 1. They were bewildered, confused and disorganized. B. That they did not steal the body of Jesus is proved by the fact that everyone to the man was willing to die rather than deny the risen Christ. III. And to prevent the disciples from claiming Jesus had risen from the dead. IV. In the view of the chief priests and Pharisees the last error will be worse than the first. A. In their view, what was the first error? Matthew 27:65, Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. I. Pilate told them, You have a guard: go, make it as sure as you can. A. This may indicate that Pilate was prepared to believe Jesus might well rise from the dead... or was it just to pacify the Chief Priests and Pharisees? B. So much had happened on the crucifixion day that Pilate didn t know what might happen next. C. Even the hardened Roman centurion declared, Surely this man was the Son of God.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 5 Matthew 27:66, So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. I. The chief priests and Pharisees went and made the sepulcher sure... II. They sealed the stone. III. Their guard was with them. Note 1: The Pharisees now assumed they could relax thinking they had finally silenced Jesus of Nazareth. Note 2: On the Sabbath Jesus was in the tomb. The Sabbath was not Jesus day of victory. The Lord s Day was the first day of the week, the resurrection day. Consequently Christians worship on the day of Christ s great victory, not on the day of his being dead and buried, a day of apparent defeat.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 6 Watch at the Sepulchre and Sealing of Stone Questions 1. On the ; that is, the day after the, the and the went to. 2. They wanted a to be placed on the at the of the and a to prevent the at from being. 3. They told Pilate, We remember that said, while he was yet, after I will. 4. Command therefore that the be made sure until the day, lest his come by, and him away, and say unto the people, he is from the : as the last shall be than the. 5. Pilate said to them, You have a : go your way, make it as as you can. So they went, and made the sure, the, and setting a.