What does Matthew 28:15 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 28:15 refers to the aftermath of Jesus' resurrection as described in the Gospel according to Matthew.

The verse indicates that the Jewish authorities bribed the Roman soldiers who had been guarding Jesus' tomb to spread a false story.

Specifically, the story was that Jesus' body had been stolen by his disciples while the guards slept.

The objective was to squash rumors of Jesus' resurrection, which would have undermined the authority of the Sanhedrin and could have caused unrest.

The passage suggests that this fabricated story was successful and had become widespread among the Jewish population at the time.

Historical Context

At the time the Gospel of Matthew was written, which scholars estimate to be around 80-90 AD, Christianity was in its nascent stages and faced opposition from various quarters, including Jewish authorities.

The resurrection of Jesus is a cornerstone event in Christian faith, and thus, any doubts cast upon it would have had significant implications.

The guards' testimony would have been crucial, as they were neutral witnesses to the events at the tomb.

The bribery incident is recorded only in Matthew's Gospel and is likely intended to refute the circulating claims by Jewish leaders that the resurrection was a hoax perpetrated by Jesus' followers.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse highlights the importance of belief in the resurrection as a key element of faith. It also showcases the early challenges Christianity faced in establishing the veracity of Jesus' resurrection.

The verse serves to discredit the alternative explanation for the empty tomb – that the body was stolen – reinforcing the miraculous nature of the event as told by the evangelists.

Different theological viewpoints might interpret this event in various ways.

A conservative interpretation would take the verse at face value as a factual historical report.

A more liberal theology might view it as part of the apologetic narrative of the early church, aimed to counteract opposing views and strengthen the faith of believers.

Practical Applications

The verse could be applied in daily life to encourage individuals to seek truth and integrity, even in the face of societal pressure or potential gain from dishonesty.

It also warns against the temptation to manipulate facts for personal or collective advantage.

In broader terms, it reminds believers to stand firm in their convictions and to critically evaluate the information they receive.

Cross-References

• Matthew 27:64 - "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."
• Matthew 27:65-66 - "Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch."

• Matthew 28:11-14 - "[...] some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.

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 away while we slept."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, several key words are worth noting:

• "Took the money" (λαβόντες τὰ ἀργύρια, labontes ta argyria): suggesting a willing acceptance, indicating complicity.
• "Did as they were taught" (ἐποίησαν, epoiēsan): meaning "they acted" or "they practiced," showing action taken on instructions received.
• "Commonly reported" (διεφημίσθη, diephēmisthē): from the root φημί, indicating a widespread speaking or rumor.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In terms of cultural and religious comparisons, the need to justify or explain away miraculous or unexplained events is common in many traditions. In the context of ancient myths, divine interventions are often explained by natural phenomena or human deception.

This verse's account of the authorities creating an alternative narrative to explain the empty tomb can be seen as a similar attempt to maintain control and explain a miraculous event in more conventional terms.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, explanations of events like resurrections fall outside the realm of empirical evidence and verifiable hypotheses.

The claim of the guards about the disciples stealing the body, however, falls within the scope of plausible natural explanations for the empty tomb.

Science can neither confirm nor deny such claims, as they pertain to historical events that are not repeatable or observable.

commentaries

Various biblical commentaries provide insights into this verse:

• The Pulpit Commentary notes that the dissemination of the story by the Jewish authorities was a natural attempt to prevent any credence being given to the actual resurrection.
• Matthew Henry's Commentary highlights God's providence in allowing this falsehood to prevail, as it unwittingly supplied clear evidence that the tomb was empty and the body gone.
• The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges references the ingenuity of Matthew's Gospel in showing how the very efforts to suppress belief in the resurrection served in fact to further confirm it.

Interpreters stress the early church facing significant opposition and debates the reality of the resurrection, underscoring how these challenges shaped the apologetic direction of the Gospel narratives.