Meaning of Matthew 28:13

This verse, Matthew 28:13, records the instructions given by the chief priests and elders to the Roman guards stationed at Jesus' tomb. Faced with the undeniable reality of the empty tomb and the spreading news of Jesus' resurrection, they devised a false narrative to discredit the disciples and suppress the truth. The instruction to claim the disciples stole the body while the guards were asleep is a desperate attempt to explain away the resurrection, revealing their fear, their unwillingness to accept the divine, and their commitment to maintaining the status quo, even through deception.

Context and Background

The immediate context is the discovery of the empty tomb on the morning of the third day after Jesus' crucifixion. The guards, who had been set to ensure the tomb was secure (Matthew 27:62-66), were presumably overcome by the supernatural event of the resurrection, or at the very least, were derelict in their duty. The religious authorities, upon hearing of the empty tomb, were not motivated by a desire for truth but by a need to control the narrative and prevent the growing belief in Jesus' claims. They convened to strategize, and their chosen strategy was a cover-up involving a fabricated story.

Key Themes and Messages

• Deception and Cover-up: The primary theme is the deliberate spread of misinformation by those in power to conceal a truth they find inconvenient or threatening. This highlights the human tendency to resort to lies when confronted with evidence that challenges their authority or beliefs.
• Fear of Truth: The religious leaders' actions are driven by fear – fear of Jesus' continued influence, fear of losing their own power, and perhaps even a nascent fear of the divine power they witnessed.
• Discrediting the Disciples: The narrative is designed to portray the disciples as deceitful thieves, undermining their credibility and any testimony they might offer about Jesus' resurrection.
• The Power of Rumor: This verse illustrates how fabricated stories can be manufactured and disseminated to counteract genuine events, demonstrating the power of rumor and propaganda.

Spiritual Significance and Application

Spiritually, this verse serves as a stark warning against willful ignorance and the active suppression of divine truth. It demonstrates that opposition to God's work often manifests not through direct confrontation with divine power, but through the manipulation of human perception and the propagation of falsehoods. For believers, it underscores the importance of discerning truth from falsehood, standing firm in the face of opposition, and recognizing that the resurrection of Jesus is a historical event that has been met with attempts at suppression throughout history. It also calls us to be vigilant against the temptation to compromise truth for the sake of convenience or to maintain a false appearance.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This incident is a crucial part of the overarching narrative of redemption. The resurrection is the cornerstone of Christian faith, proving Jesus' divine identity and his victory over sin and death. The attempt to cover it up by the religious authorities foreshadows the ongoing spiritual battle between truth and deception that characterizes much of biblical history. From the serpent's lies in Eden to the prophecies of false prophets in the end times, the Bible consistently depicts this struggle. The success of the disciples in spreading the gospel despite such opposition highlights the unstoppable nature of God's truth when empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Analogies

One analogy for this situation is a group of powerful individuals discovering a significant scientific breakthrough that threatens their established industry. Instead of embracing the new discovery, they might attempt to discredit the scientists, spread rumors about flawed research, and promote outdated theories to maintain their own economic and social standing. Another analogy is a political regime that, to maintain power, fabricates stories about dissidents to justify their persecution, rather than acknowledging legitimate grievances.

Relation to Other Verses

• John 20:1-10: This passage describes the discovery of the empty tomb by Mary Magdalene, Peter, and another disciple, providing the account from the perspective of those who found it. It is the event that this verse's fabricated story seeks to explain away.
• Acts 4:1-22: Here, Peter and John are arrested and questioned by the Sanhedrin. When commanded not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus, they boldly declare, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard." This demonstrates the disciples' commitment to truth in the face of opposition, contrasting with the leaders' deception.
• 1 Corinthians 15:12-19: Paul extensively argues for the resurrection of Jesus, emphasizing that if Christ has not been raised, Christian faith is futile. This verse highlights the foundational importance of the resurrection, making the attempt to suppress it in Matthew 28:13 particularly significant.
• 2 Peter 1:16: Peter, a witness to the resurrection, writes, "For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty." This directly counters the "cleverly devised myths" that the chief priests were attempting to create.