Matthew 28:9-15
Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.
“Notice what you notice.” Only Matthew reports that the Jewish leaders asked Pilate for a guard on the tomb, and only Matthew reports that the Jewish leaders bribed the guards to say that the body had been stolen while they were sleeping. So I wonder how Matthew would know and report on these incidents while the other writers were silent. Was it because of his tax-collector job that he knew all about bribery? Or maybe he was well connected with people in high places – especially the Roman authorities to whom the Jewish leaders had to go to protect the soldiers whom they had bribed. Whatever – it’s a strange turn of events.
…some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. (v. 11) It is again beyond belief that the soldiers could report to the Jewish leaders about an earthquake, an angel with an appearance like lightning descending and rolling back the stone, guards becoming as dead men – and the Jewish leaders still refused to believe. Their arrogance, their stubbornness, their denial – it’s impossible to believe!
Slava Bohu!
What, exactly, is impossible to believe? That the leadership would continue in unbelief? Surely, this is the easiest thing to believe, as we are surrounded by the same unbelief to this day.