What does "deceiver" in Matthew 27:63 reveal about the Pharisees' view of Jesus? Setting the Scene • Matthew 27:62-63 recounts the chief priests and Pharisees standing before Pilate the morning after the crucifixion. • They say, “we remember that while He was alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’” • The Greek word translated “deceiver” is πλάνος (planos) – “one who misleads, an impostor, a seducer.” The Accusation Behind the Word • Calling Jesus “that deceiver” shows they believed His ministry was calculated fraud, not honest error. • They lump Him with the false prophets condemned in Deuteronomy 13:1-5, men who “entice you from the way the LORD your God commanded.” • Earlier, they had branded His miracles demonic (Matthew 12:24) and claimed He misled the crowds (John 7:12). • Their language drips with contempt: “that deceiver” (ὁ πλάνος ἐκεῖνος) treats Him as a notorious, dangerous swindler. What Their Choice of Words Reveals • Hard-hearted Unbelief – Despite witnessing undeniable signs (Matthew 11:4-5), they refused to credit Him with truth. – Isaiah 6:9-10 describes this blindness: “ever hearing but never understanding.” • Fear of Losing Control – His popularity threatened their authority (John 11:48). – Labeling Him a deceiver justified extreme measures—arrest, crucifixion, and now guarding the tomb. • Conscious Awareness of His Claim – They quote His resurrection prediction accurately: “After three days I will rise again.” – Their words admit they understood exactly what He proclaimed, yet still rejected Him. • Projection of Their Own Tactics – They worry about “the last deception” (Matthew 27:64), assuming His disciples might stage a fraudulent resurrection—the very sort of scheming they themselves practiced (Matthew 26:59). Irony Exposed by Scripture • Jesus is repeatedly called “the Truth” (John 14:6). The true deceiver is Satan (John 8:44; Revelation 12:9). • By branding Truth incarnate as a deceiver, the leaders align themselves with the adversary’s agenda (John 8:42-47). • God overturns their plot: the guarded tomb becomes unassailable proof of the genuine resurrection (Matthew 28:4-6). Takeaway Truths • Religious position never guarantees spiritual sight; humility before God does (James 4:6). • Rejecting clear revelation hardens the heart and warps judgment (Hebrews 3:12-13). • God’s purposes stand, even when human authorities oppose Him (Psalm 2:1-4). |
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