Topical Bible: Fear of God: Guilty Fear: The Guards at Jesus' Tomb

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The concept of the "Fear of God" encompasses a range of emotions and attitudes towards the divine, from reverence and awe to dread and terror. In the context of "Guilty Fear," this entry examines the reaction of the guards at Jesus' tomb following His resurrection, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.

Biblical Account

The account of the guards at Jesus' tomb is found in Matthew 28:1-4. After Jesus' crucifixion, the chief priests and Pharisees, recalling Jesus' prophecy that He would rise on the third day, requested Pilate to secure the tomb. Pilate granted them a guard and allowed them to seal the stone (Matthew 27:62-66). Despite these precautions, the resurrection of Jesus was accompanied by a supernatural event that instilled fear in the guards.

Matthew 28:2-4 states: "Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. The guards trembled in fear of him and became like dead men."

Analysis of Guilty Fear

The guards' fear can be characterized as "guilty fear" due to several factors:

1. Divine Encounter: The guards experienced a direct encounter with the divine through the angel of the Lord. The angel's appearance, described as "like lightning," and the accompanying earthquake were manifestations of God's power, which overwhelmed the guards.

2. Failure of Duty: The guards were tasked with preventing any tampering with the tomb. The angel's intervention rendered their efforts futile, and their fear was compounded by the realization that they had failed in their duty. This failure was not merely a professional shortcoming but a confrontation with the divine will, which they were powerless to oppose.

3. Witness to the Resurrection: The guards were unwitting witnesses to the resurrection event. Their fear was not only of the angel but also of the implications of what they had witnessed. The resurrection was a vindication of Jesus' claims, and the guards, as representatives of the Roman authority, were now faced with the reality of His divine nature.

4. Potential Repercussions: The guards' fear was also likely influenced by the potential repercussions from their superiors. Reporting the truth of the resurrection could lead to severe consequences, both from the Roman authorities and the Jewish leaders who had orchestrated Jesus' crucifixion.

Theological Implications

The guards' reaction serves as a powerful illustration of how the fear of God can manifest as guilty fear when individuals are confronted with the reality of divine power and their own inadequacies. It highlights the tension between human authority and divine sovereignty, as well as the ultimate futility of opposing God's purposes.

In the broader biblical narrative, this event underscores the transformative power of the resurrection and the inevitability of God's plan. The guards' fear contrasts with the joy and reverence experienced by the followers of Christ, who, upon learning of the resurrection, were filled with awe and worship rather than dread.

Conclusion

The guards at Jesus' tomb exemplify the concept of guilty fear in the face of divine intervention. Their experience serves as a reminder of the awe-inspiring power of God and the ultimate triumph of His will, challenging all to consider their own response to the reality of the risen Christ.

Nave's Topical Index

Matthew 28:4
And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

In Joseph's Tomb
... stood accused by their own consciences, they felt guilty of a ... not step over a Gentile's
threshold for fear of defilement ... But by their action God was glorified. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 80 in josephs tomb.htm

Psalm LXIV.
... More guilty are they that with crying out were raging ... they shall shoot Him, and shall
not fear." O heart ... made weak upon them." Could this be strong against God? ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxiv.htm

Looking unto Jesus
... "A guilty, weak, and ... And you that fear death"why fear to die? ... Your spirit mounts to
God; your body slumbers for awhile to be quickened into eternal life. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/looking unto jesus.htm

"The Lord is Risen"
... Trembling with fear, their faces colorless, they bore testimony to ... they said, It
was the Son of God who was ... if the disciples had been proved guilty of stealing ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 81 the lord is.htm

The Doctrine of Jesus Christ.
... of a bad conscience, that we are guilty, and that ... God, an Inheritance, and the Removal
of All Fear of Death ... other Jesus was alive, and lived with God, while His ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrine of jesus christ.htm

Psalm C.
... a deserter of so holy a design, and guilty of a vow ... That Shepherd dieth without fear
for the sheep, who on His ... Thou wilt ever confess, that He is God, thou a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm c.htm

Precious Deaths
... to them, but I fear we should often be guilty of it. ... the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil ... God the Father sees the fruit of his eternal love at ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/precious deaths.htm

Psalm LIX.
... In that place we must have no fear lest a man be ... thy sin in such sort, that thou
layest blame on God. So the guilty is excused, so that the Judge may be charged ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lix.htm

For whom did Christ Die?
... God grant you may not be guilty of it ... God, in condescension to your weakness, has
chosen one of your ... hell, lay hold upon eternal life; and by the fear that this ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 20 1874/for whom did christ die.htm

Matt. xxvii. 45-48.
... ye did it not to me." [3130] But God forbid that ... not even so ought I to desist, for
fear of making ... are these things spoken, but against the guilty, or rather ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxxxviii matt xxvii 45-48.htm