What is the meaning of Matthew 28:15? So the guards took the money Matthew tells us, “So the guards took the money” (Matthew 28:15). A few verses earlier the chief priests had offered “a large sum of money” to these soldiers to keep silent about the resurrection (Matthew 28:12–13). •Their acceptance shows how easily greed can cloud conscience—much like Judas, who sold Jesus for silver (Matthew 26:14–16). •Scripture consistently warns that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). •The bribe also fulfills the pattern God condemns: “You shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see” (Exodus 23:8). Despite standing witness to the angel’s appearance (Matthew 28:4), the guards still chose the payoff, demonstrating that even undeniable evidence can be rejected when hearts are hard (John 12:37). and did as they were instructed After pocketing the money, “the guards…did as they were instructed”—they spread the fabricated story that Jesus’ disciples stole His body (Matthew 28:13–14). •Obedience to unrighteous commands contrasts sharply with the apostles’ later conviction: “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). •The priests had already plotted to kill Lazarus to suppress proof of Jesus’ power (John 12:10–11); now they orchestrate another cover-up. •The soldiers’ compliance underlines Proverbs 29:25: “The fear of man brings a snare,” while showcasing how fear of losing position or pay can silence truth. And this account has been circulated among the Jews to this very day Matthew, writing decades after the resurrection, testifies that the false narrative was still widely repeated. •His remark underscores the historical reliability of the Gospel: readers could investigate the claim for themselves (Acts 26:26—“this thing was not done in a corner”). •The persistence of the story confirms the stakes: if the tomb was empty because Jesus rose, denial becomes imperative for those rejecting Him (1 Corinthians 15:3–8). •Believers, meanwhile, rest on eyewitness testimony, “for we did not follow cleverly devised myths” (2 Peter 1:16). The enduring rumor only highlights how fiercely truth is opposed (2 Timothy 4:3-4). summary Matthew 28:15 records a real payoff, a real lie, and a real campaign to smother the resurrection. The guards’ greed, the leaders’ manipulation, and the rumor’s longevity all underline one reality: Jesus really did rise, and opposition sprang up immediately to deny it. The verse challenges us to prize truth over comfort, obey God above human pressure, and confidently stand on the eyewitness evidence that the tomb is still empty. |
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