Matthew 27:65-66

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 27:57-66

We have here an account of Christ's burial, and the manner and circumstances of it, concerning which observe, 1. The kindness and good will of his friends that laid him in the grave. 2. The malice and ill will of his enemies that were very solicitous to keep him there. I. His friends gave him a decent burial. Observe, 1. In general, that Jesus Christ was buried; when his precious soul was gone to paradise, his blessed body was deposited in the chambers of the grave, that he might answer the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 27:62-66

27:62-66 On the next day, which is the day after the Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came to Pilate in a body. "Sir," they said, "we remember that, while he was still alive, that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' Give orders therefore that the tomb should be kept secure until the three days are ended, in case his disciples come and steal him, and say to the people, 'He has been raised from among the dead.' If that happens, the final deception will be worse than... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:65

Pilate said unto them, ye have a watch ,.... Meaning either the watch of the temple, said to be placed in the tower of Antonia, for the service of it: hence mention is made of the captain of the temple, Acts 4:1 , but it is not likely they would remove the temple guards, to watch a sepulchre night and day: or rather, therefore, the soldiers that had had the care of the crucifixion of Christ, and watched him on the cross, are designed: the words may be read imperatively, "have yea watch",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:66

So they went ,.... From Pilate's palace, to the garden of Joseph, and to the sepulchre there; which whether more than a sabbath day's journey, or two thousand cubits, may be inquired; and if so, then they broke one of their own traditions, which allowed a person to go no further on a sabbath day; See Gill on Acts 1:12 . And made the sepulchre sure ; in the following manner, sealing the stone ; that was rolled to the door of it, it may be with some public seal, with Pilate's, or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 27:65

Ye have a watch - The Jews had a corps of Roman troops, consisting of several companies, as a guard for the temple, Acts 4:1 . These companies mounted guard by turns, see Luke 22:4 . Some of these companies, which were not then on duty, Pilate gave them leave to employ to watch the tomb. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 27:66

Made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch - Or rather, made the tomb secure by the guard, and by sealing the stone. I follow Kypke, in construing μετα της κουστωδιας , with ησφαλισαντο . The guard was to take care that the disciples should not steal him away; and the seal, which was probably the seal of the governor, was to prevent the guards from being corrupted so as to permit the theft. So every thing was done which human policy and prudence could, to prevent a... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 27:65

Verse 65 65.You have a guard. By these words, Pilate means that he grants their request by permitting them to post soldiers to keep watch. This, permission bound them more firmly, so that they could not escape by any evasion; for though they were not ashamed to break out against Christ after his resurrection, yet with Pilate’s signet they as truly shut their own mouths as they shut up the sepulcher. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 27:57-66

The Lord's grave. I. THE BURIAL . 1 . Joseph of Arimathaea. He was a rich man and a counsellor. Like Nicodemus, he believed in Christ; but, like Nicodemus, he had not had the courage to avow his convictions. His rank, perhaps, and his riches had kept him back. It was hard for a man in his position to espouse the cause of the despised Prophet of Nazareth. He had, perhaps, absented himself from the council at which the Lord was condemned. He would not take part in that awful crime,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 27:57-66

The treatment of the body of Christ. The body of Christ is mystically taken to represent his Church (see 1 Corinthians 10:17 ; Ephesians 4:16 ; Colossians 1:18 ). In this figure the fact is strongly set forth, viz. that Christ takes home to himself whatever treatment his Church may receive (see Proverbs 19:1-29 :31; Matthew 25:35-46 ; Acts 9:1 , Acts 9:4 , Acts 9:5 ). This also applies to individual members. And agreeably to this analogy, what was done to the literal body of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 27:62-66

The great sabbath. The sepulchre sealed and watched. (Peculiar to St. Matthew.) read more

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