Knowing The Word in Matthew 27:62-66

The Guard at the Tomb [only in Matthew]

62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation [meaning on the Sabbath], the chief priests and the Pharisees [the once opposing forces still united against Jesus] gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” [“A faked resurrection from the dead would be worse than the false claim to be the Messiah.”] 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. [This translation could mean the Jewish temple guards, but they did not need Pilate’s permission to use them. Another translation would be “Take a guard,” which would suggest Pilate gave them a detachment of his non-Jewish auxiliary troops. Because 28:14 shows that they are answerable to Pilate, it is most likely that Pilate’s troops were used.] Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.