Matthew 27:63-66

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 27:63

Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said ,.... Meaning Jesus; for no better name could they give him alive or dead, and they chose to continue it; and the rather to use it before Pilate, who had a good opinion of his innocence; and to let him see, that they still retained the same sentiments of him: מסית , "a deceiver", is with the Jews F24 Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 7. sect. 10. , "a private person, that deceives a private person; saying to him there is a God in such a place, so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:64

Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure ,.... By this also they own, that he was buried; and they knew in what, and whose sepulchre he was laid, and where it was; and request of Pilate, that as he had given leave to Joseph to take the body and inter it, that he would also give orders that the sepulchre might be watched, that no body might come near it, and remove the body, and that until the third day : not from the time they made this request, but from the time of Christ's... 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 27:63

Sir, we remember, etc. - While these wicked men are fulfilling their own vicious counsels, they are subserving the great cause of Christianity. Every thing depended on the resurrection of Christ; if it did not appear that he rose from the dead, then the whole system was false, and no atonement was made. It was necessary therefore that the chief priests, etc., should make use of every precaution to prevent an imposture, that the resurrection of Christ might have the fullest evidence to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 27:64

Lest his disciples come by night - Νυκτος , by night, is wanting in ten of the uncial MSS., and in several others, and in most of the versions. Erasmus, Aldus, Bengel, and Boghard, with Griesbach, leave it out of the text. 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

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