by Janice Day Sirman

Created on: June 25, 2008

Matthew 28:12-15:
And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel,they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, say ye his disciples came by night, and stole him while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught, and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day."

Matthew 28:12-15

The setting for these verses is immediately following the death of Jesus. The leaders of that time were afraid that maybe Jesus was who He claimed to be. The whole countryside was already in an uproar and unsettled. The Jewish leaders knew that they were losing control. The Roman government was afraid of a king who might take over and take away their rule of the Jews. They had decided that they need to do major damage control. Although the leaders had rejected Jesus as the Christ, they were still very concerned about the number of people who did believe. They knew that if He was truly the Son of God, His body would not remain in the grave. They concocted a cover story that would explain everything away, and also diminish the impact of His resurrection.

The Jewish leaders and the Roman government were afraid of what would happen when the body of Jesus was no longer in His grave. They convinced the Roman soldiers who were charged with guarding the tomb to lie and say that they had fallen asleep,and while they slept, the followers of Jesus had come and stolen the boy so that they could claim later He had risen as He had promised He would.

After it was discovered that Jesus had indeed risen from the grave, the soldiers told their stories. Since it would have meant death to any soldier who fell asleep during his duties, the government assured the soldiers that they would cover for them with the head of state.

The verses can be seen as a warning to true believers not to fall for the lies of the enemy. Belief in the resurrection of Christ requires faith and the ability to stick to that faith no matter what. The government will always try to explain things in a none miraculous way, and we must be willing to accept what God tells us has happened not what someone explains.

These verses also show us that the leaders of that time must have had some inkling that Jesus was who He said He was the Son of God. If they did n ot have any faith that He would rise from the dead, they would not have felt the need to concoct a cover story.

Learn more about this author, Janice Day Sirman.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.