How does Matthew 28:15 illustrate the consequences of rejecting the resurrection truth? The Setting “ ‘So the guards took the money and did as they were instructed. And this explanation has been spread among the Jews to this very day.’ ” (Matthew 28:15) A Snapshot of Unbelief • Bribed soldiers knew the tomb was empty, yet they chose a lie over truth. • Religious leaders, confronted with the miracle they feared, protected their position instead of submitting to the risen Christ. • Together they formed a conspiracy that Matthew notes was “spread … to this very day,” showing how quickly falsehood can embed itself in culture. Immediate Consequences 1. Moral Compromise • “The guards took the money” (v. 15). Love of money eclipsed love of truth (1 Timothy 6:10). • They became willing servants of deceit rather than eyewitnesses to God’s greatest victory. 2. Obedience to Man Over God • “Did as they were instructed.” Acts 5:29 reminds us, “We must obey God rather than men.” The guards reversed that order. 3. Active Participation in Satan’s Agenda • Jesus called Satan “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). By promoting a fabrication, the guards and leaders aligned with that agenda. Ripple Effects Through History • Enduring False Narrative – “This explanation has been spread … to this very day.” Lies outlive their authors and ensnare later generations (2 Thessalonians 2:11). • Hardened Hearts – Romans 1:18, 25 describes those who “suppress the truth” and “exchange the truth of God for a lie,” resulting in darkened understanding. • Suppressed Witness – The story aimed to silence resurrection testimony, echoing later attempts in Acts 4:17–18 to gag the apostles. • Cultural Confusion – Proverbs 12:19 contrasts enduring truth with the fleeting tongue of deceit; yet a long-lived lie still distorts countless lives. Personal Warnings Today • A lie chosen for convenience will demand continual maintenance—more lies, more compromise. • Rejecting the resurrection removes the foundation of hope: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless and so is your faith” (1 Corinthians 15:14). • Every unrepented falsehood will be judged: “All liars— their place will be in the lake that burns with fire” (Revelation 21:8). Hope for the Truth-Seeker • The empty tomb remains an unassailable fact; only two responses exist—faith or suppression. • Choosing truth brings freedom (John 8:32), assurance of life (John 11:25–26), and the promise that “we will also live with Him” (Romans 6:8). |
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