What is the meaning of Matthew 27:62? The next day • Scripture places this scene on the morning after Jesus’ crucifixion and burial (cf. Matthew 27:57–61). • It is now the Sabbath, the seventh day God ordained as a day of rest (Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:8-11). • Though the disciples are scattered in sorrow (Luke 24:17), Israel’s leaders remain active, revealing their restless opposition to Christ. • God’s timetable is precise: the events that will validate Jesus’ resurrection are already unfolding, even on a day meant for rest (Matthew 12:8). the one after Preparation Day • “Preparation Day” refers to the day before the weekly Sabbath when Jews completed tasks forbidden on the Sabbath (Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54). • Jesus had been entombed just before sundown on that Day of Preparation (John 19:31, 38-42). • By specifying “the one after,” the text affirms a literal sequence—Friday crucifixion, Saturday Sabbath, Sunday resurrection (Matthew 28:1). • God uses the rhythm of Israel’s calendar to highlight that salvation’s work is finished (John 19:30), and now His promised rest will soon be revealed in the risen Christ (Hebrews 4:9-10). the chief priests and Pharisees • These two groups, often at odds (Acts 23:6-8), unite in shared hostility toward Jesus (John 11:47-53). • Their past plots—arrest (Matthew 26:3-5), false witnesses (Matthew 26:59), pressure on Pilate to crucify (John 19:6-7)—show a consistent pattern of unbelief. • Their gathering on the Sabbath underscores willful disregard for both the day’s sanctity and the clear signs that Jesus is Israel’s promised Messiah (Isaiah 53:3; Acts 2:22-23). • Their actions fulfill Psalm 2:1-2: “The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against His Anointed One.” assembled before Pilate • They return to the Roman governor who authorized the crucifixion (Matthew 27:2; John 18:28-31). • Pilate represents earthly authority; coming to him shows the leaders’ dependence on political power to suppress the truth (John 19:12). • Their real motive appears in the next verses—securing the tomb to prevent any claim of resurrection (Matthew 27:63-64). • Ironically, their attempt to seal the grave and post guards sets the stage for an even stronger testimony when the tomb is found empty (Matthew 28:11-15). • God overrules human schemes; what they meant for suppression becomes further proof that “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said” (Matthew 28:6). summary Matthew 27:62 highlights God’s sovereign orchestration of events leading to the resurrection. On the Sabbath following Jesus’ crucifixion, Israel’s religious elite violate their own rest to plot against the truth, seeking Pilate’s help to secure the tomb. Their united opposition only confirms Scripture’s accuracy and prepares undeniable evidence for the literal, bodily resurrection of Christ on the first day of the week. |
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