What can we learn about human nature from the guards' actions in Matthew 28:11? Setting the Scene • Earlier that morning an angel had rolled back the stone, the guards had “trembled… and became like dead men” (Matthew 28:2-4). • Verse 11 picks up right after the women leave the tomb: “While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened” (Matthew 28:11). • They had firsthand evidence of God’s power and the risen Christ, yet their immediate response was to seek out the religious authorities who had opposed Jesus. Observations on Human Nature • Self-preservation overrides truth – The guards fear Roman punishment for failing their duty (cf. Acts 12:19). – Rather than owning the truth, they instinctively pursue a course they hope will shield them from consequences. • We gravitate toward the approval of those who hold earthly power – They bypass the disciples, choosing the chief priests—the very men who engineered Jesus’ death (Matthew 27:1-2). – Proverbs 29:25 warns, “The fear of man brings a snare.” • Even irrefutable evidence can be resisted – Romans 1:18 describes suppressing truth in unrighteousness; the guards illustrate how seeing God’s work does not guarantee submission to it. • Sin seeks company – By involving the priests, the guards draw others into a shared cover-up (see verses 12-15). – 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Bad company corrupts good character.” • Conscience can be seared quickly – They go from paralyzing fear of the angel to calculated negotiation for a lie within hours (1 Timothy 4:2). Contrasting Responses • The women departed “with great joy” to proclaim the resurrection (Matthew 28:8). • The guards depart with anxiety, intent on damage control. • Same event, opposite reactions—showing the heart, not the evidence itself, determines the response (John 3:19-20). Personal Takeaways • Truth must be embraced, not merely witnessed. • Fear of man must not eclipse fear of God. • Immediate obedience to revealed truth safeguards the conscience. • Aligning with worldly power at the expense of integrity breeds deeper deception. |
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