Matthew 27:62–66

Verse 62. The next day, which followed that of the parasceve, or preparation, (that is, on the great sabbath-day) the chief priests came to Pilate, to beg him to set a guard at the monument. Witham.—The day of the preparation. The eve of the sabbath; so called, because on that day they prepared all things necessary; not being allowed so much as to dress their meat on the sabbath-day. Challoner.

Verse 63. Sir, we have remembered, that that seducer, this impostor, this cheat; so they called our blessed Redeemer; from whence, says Saint Augustine, Christians may learn to be patient under the greatest injuries.—Said: … after three days I will rise again. This, therefore, must have been well known among the Jews. Witham.—The chief motive, which influenced the high priest on this occasion, was probably the apprehension lest this prediction of Christ’s resurrection should be verified. The wonderful prodigies which took place at his death, and especially the opening of the graves, (though none arose it is believed till after Christ’s resurrection, since Christ is called the first-born from the dead, 1 Coloss. 1:18 and the first-fruits of them that sleep, 1 Corinthians 15:20) might naturally appear as preludes to what he had so often foretold. It is true they had no idea but of a temporal passing resurrection, like that of Lazarus, which they had seen: yet they judged that such an event might be attended with the most serious consequences. Hence, it is probable, that they gave them most express injunctions to put Jesus to death by all means, and to secure the body in the monument: for, it is certain, they formed a similar design against the life of Lazarus, whose resurrection occasioned many to believe in Jesus. A.—They were not satisfied with taking his life; they must, moreover, deprived him of his good name. Menoch.—The chief priests could not yet be satisfied, after the horrid murder they had committed, unless they stirred up the minds of the people to a still greater height, by calumniating this innocent Lamb of God, and calling him an impostor, who was the most innocent of men, and spread abroad their poisonous doctrines in every sentence they uttered. S. Jerom.

Verse 65. You have a guard; supposed to be a company of Roman soldiers, destined for the guard of the temple: ( V.) or, may take a guard; go, and make it secure; which they did, sealing the stone, and placing guards at the monument. Providence ordered this, to make Christ’s resurrection more certain and evident. Witham.

Verse 66. They departing. See how beyond the possibility of contradiction these precautions prove the reality of Christ’s resurrection, and how the inveterate enemies of Christ become unwilling witnesses of it; for, since the sepulchre was guarded, there was an impossibility of any deceit on the part of the disciples. Now, if the least deceit was utterly impracticable, then indeed Christ our Lord was infallibly risen; and to remove every, the least possibility of deceit, Pilate would not permit the soldiers alone to seal up the monument. S. Thos. Aquin.—The high priests made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone at the entrance of the monument with the public seal, σφραγιζαντες τον λιθον, proof against all fraud, either of corrupt guards or of designing followers, as Darius did, (Daniel 6:17) that no violence might be offered him. All this diligence, on the part of the enemies of the Christian faith, was permitted by divine Providence, that our faith in Christ’s resurrection might be more certain, his glory greater, and the minds of the people better disposed to believe. Jans.