How does Matthew 28:11 illustrate the power of truth over deception? The Setting: A Dawn of Unstoppable News • “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) • These guards had watched the sealed tomb burst open and the risen Lord depart (28:2–4). • Their immediate instinct was to report exactly what they saw—truth rushing forward before any plot could be hatched. Truth Witnessed by Unlikely Eyewitnesses • Roman soldiers were hardened professionals, not prone to superstition. • Their testimony carried weight in Jewish and Roman courts. • God chose these unlikely witnesses so no one could dismiss the account as friendly bias (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:27). • Even the chief priests—sworn enemies of Jesus—heard His resurrection from the mouths of their own hired guard. The Unstoppable Momentum of Truth • Truth speaks first. Deception scrambles to catch up (Proverbs 12:19). • The guards “reported…everything,” leaving no gaps for speculation. • As soon as the facts were delivered, the leaders had to devise a bribe (28:12–15). Lies are always reactive, never proactive; truth leads the way. Exposure of Deception in the Following Verses • Verses 12–15 reveal a hush-money scheme. • Yet Matthew preserves the guards’ original report, immortalizing their words in Scripture. • The conspiracy fades; the truthful testimony endures, fulfilling Jesus’ promise: “I was born…to testify to the truth” (John 18:37). God’s Sovereignty Over Information • Psalm 119:160—“The entirety of Your word is truth.” • By nudging the guards straight to the priests, God ensured the truth entered enemy headquarters before lies could be drafted. • Acts 4:20 echoes the principle: “For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Living the Lesson Today • Expect truth to surface, even through surprising voices. • When faced with cultural pressures to revise or suppress Scripture, remember John 8:32—“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” • Stand calmly; deception must continually be propped up, but truth stands on its own. |
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