Matthew 27:64
Encyclopedia
Matthew 27:64 is the sixty-fourth verse of the twenty-seventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew
in the New Testament
. This verse occurs after the crucifixion
and entombment of Jesus. In it the chief priests and the Pharisees
are meeting with Pontius Pilate
and they ask for a guard for the tomb.
The original Koine Greek
, according to Westcott and Hort
, reads:
In the King James Version of the Bible it is translated as:
The modern World English Bible
translates the passage as:
For a collection of other versions see BibRef Matthew 27:64
At the time Matthew was being written a story was current among anti-Christian's that instead of being resurrected, Jesus' body had been stolen by the disciples. These verses are considered an attempt by the author of Matthew to counter these rumours. These scenes are not found in any of the other gospels. Grave robbery was a common problem in this era, lending some background to the charge.
The "last deception" seems to clearly be a reference to Jesus rising from the dead. What is mean by the "first deception" is not made clear, but is likely Jesus' claim to be King of the Jews
. The talk of deception ironically foreshadows the actions of the priests at Matthew 28:12
-13
where they bribe the guards to lie about the resurrection.
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
in the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
. This verse occurs after the crucifixion
Crucifixion of Jesus
The crucifixion of Jesus and his ensuing death is an event that occurred during the 1st century AD. Jesus, who Christians believe is the Son of God as well as the Messiah, was arrested, tried, and sentenced by Pontius Pilate to be scourged, and finally executed on a cross...
and entombment of Jesus. In it the chief priests and the Pharisees
Pharisees
The Pharisees were at various times a political party, a social movement, and a school of thought among Jews during the Second Temple period beginning under the Hasmonean dynasty in the wake of...
are meeting with Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilatus , known in the English-speaking world as Pontius Pilate , was the fifth Prefect of the Roman province of Judaea, from AD 26–36. He is best known as the judge at Jesus' trial and the man who authorized the crucifixion of Jesus...
and they ask for a guard for the tomb.
The original Koine Greek
Koine Greek
Koine Greek is the universal dialect of the Greek language spoken throughout post-Classical antiquity , developing from the Attic dialect, with admixture of elements especially from Ionic....
, according to Westcott and Hort
The New Testament in the Original Greek
The New Testament in the Original Greek is the name of a Greek language version of the New Testament published in 1881. It is also known as the Westcott and Hort text, after its editors Brooke Foss Westcott and Fenton John Anthony Hort...
, reads:
- κελευσον ουν ασφαλισθηναι τον ταφον εως της τριτης ημερας μηποτε
- ελθοντες οι μαθηται κλεψωσιν αυτον και ειπωσιν τω λαω ηγερθη απο
- των νεκρων και εσται η εσχατη πλανη χειρων της πρωτης
In the King James Version of the Bible it is translated as:
- Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his
- disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is
- risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
The modern World English Bible
World English Bible
The World English Bible is a public domain translation of the Bible that is currently in draft form. Work on the World English Bible began in 1997 and was known as the American Standard Version 1997...
translates the passage as:
- Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps
- his disciples come at night and steal him away, and tell the people, 'He is
- risen from the dead;' and the last deception will be worse than the first."
For a collection of other versions see BibRef Matthew 27:64
At the time Matthew was being written a story was current among anti-Christian's that instead of being resurrected, Jesus' body had been stolen by the disciples. These verses are considered an attempt by the author of Matthew to counter these rumours. These scenes are not found in any of the other gospels. Grave robbery was a common problem in this era, lending some background to the charge.
The "last deception" seems to clearly be a reference to Jesus rising from the dead. What is mean by the "first deception" is not made clear, but is likely Jesus' claim to be King of the Jews
King of the Jews
-History:Ruler of historic Jewish kingdoms and client states:* Kingdom of Israel * Kingdom of Judah * Hasmonean dynasty * Herodian Dynasty Others:...
. The talk of deception ironically foreshadows the actions of the priests at Matthew 28:12
Matthew 28:12
Matthew 28:12 is the twelfth verse of the twenty-eighth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. This verse is part of the resurrection narrative...
-13
Matthew 28:13
Matthew 28:13 is the thirteenth verse of the twenty-eighth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. This verse is part of the resurrection narrative...
where they bribe the guards to lie about the resurrection.