The Tomb Secured by the Authorities
Matthew 27:62-66
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Matt.27.62 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- δε: CONJ
- επαυριον: ADV
- ητις: PRON,nom,sg,f,rel
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- μετα: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- παρασκευην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- συνηχθησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- αρχιερεις: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- Φαρισαιοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- προς: PREP
- Πιλατον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Matt.27:63-66 (structural): Immediate literary continuation: the chief priests and Pharisees petition Pilate to secure and seal the tomb and set a guard.
- Matt.28:11-15 (structural): Later episode showing the outcome of the Pilate/guard episode—guards report to the chief priests and the tomb‑guard story is used to explain the resurrection reports.
- John 19:31-37 (verbal): Uses the same timing formula ('day of Preparation') and recounts Jewish leaders interacting with Pilate about custody/removal of the bodies before the Sabbath.
- Mark 15:42-47 (thematic): Parallels the timing ('the day of Preparation') and the burial actions (Pilate's role in release of the body; Joseph of Arimathea buries Jesus), situating the event in the same Passion timetable.
- Luke 23:54-56 (verbal): Also frames the burial in terms of 'the day of Preparation' and Sabbath observance, providing a parallel timing and concern with Sabbath practices immediately after Jesus' burial.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now on the next day, the day after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate.
- But on the next day, that is, after the Sabbath, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate.
Matt.27.63 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- λεγοντες·Κυριε: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- εμνησθημεν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,1,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- εκεινος: PRON,dem,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πλανος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ετι: ADV
- ζων·Μετα: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m+PREP
- τρεις: NUM,acc,pl,f
- ημερας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- εγειρομαι·: VERB,fut,pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Mark 8:31 (verbal): Jesus predicts his suffering, death, and explicitly that he will 'rise again after three days'—a direct synoptic parallel to the wording cited by the priests.
- Luke 9:22 (verbal): Synoptic parallel in Luke where Jesus foretells that he will be killed and 'on the third day be raised,' matching the priests' recollection of Jesus' claim.
- John 2:19 (quotation): Jesus' saying 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up' (understood as reference to his body) provides Johannine confirmation of a three-day raising motif.
- Matt.12:40 (allusion): Jesus' appeal to the 'sign of Jonah'—three days and three nights in the belly of the fish—functions as an interpretive allusion to his forthcoming three-day entombment and vindication.
- Matt.27:64 (structural): Immediate narrative sequel: the Jewish leaders ask Pilate to secure the tomb 'until the third day,' directly responding to Jesus' prediction quoted in 27:63.
Alternative generated candidates
- They said, "Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise again.'"
- They said, "Sir, we remember that while he was still alive he said that after three days he would rise again."
Matt.27.64 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- κελευσον: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- ουν: CONJ
- ασφαλισθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ταφον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εως: CONJ
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- τριτης: ADJ,gen,sg,f
- ημερας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- μηποτε: PART
- ελθοντες: PART,aor,act,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- μαθηται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- κλεψωσιν: VERB,pres,act,subj,3,pl
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- και: CONJ
- ειπωσιν: VERB,aor,act,sub,3,pl
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- λαω·Ηγερθη: NOUN,dat,sg,m + VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- απο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- νεκρων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- εσται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- εσχατη: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- πλανη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- χειρων: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- πρωτης: ADJ,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Matt.28:11-15 (structural): Direct narrative follow-up: guards report and are bribed to say the disciples stole Jesus’ body—an explicit resolution of Pilate’s and the chief priests’ fear in 27:64.
- John 20:1-2 (verbal): Mary’s initial report that 'they have taken the Lord out of the tomb' echoes the very suspicion in 27:64 that Jesus’ body might be stolen.
- Luke 24:11 (thematic): The disciples’ initial dismissal of the women’s resurrection report as an 'idle tale' reflects the same theme of skepticism and alternative explanations (e.g., theft) surrounding the empty tomb.
- Mark 16:11 (thematic): Mark records that the disciples did not believe reports of Jesus’ having been raised—another instance of early incredulity that parallels the priests’ worry about false claims of resurrection.
- Acts 2:23-24 (thematic): Peter’s proclamation that God raised Jesus in response to hostile audiences addresses the very charge implied in 27:64 (that the disciples would invent a resurrection), offering the apostolic counterargument to such accusations.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore order the tomb to be secured until the third day; lest his disciples come by night and steal him away and tell the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last deception be worse than the first.
- Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night and steal him away and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead; and the last deception would be worse than the first.
Matt.27.65 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εφη: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Πιλατος·Εχετε: NOUN,nom,sg,m;VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- κουστωδιαν·υπαγετε: NOUN,acc,sg,f;VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- ασφαλισασθε: VERB,aor,pass,imp,2,pl
- ως: CONJ
- οιδατε: VERB,perf,act,ind,2,pl
Parallels
- Matt.27.66 (verbal): Immediate narrative continuation—the Jewish leaders take Pilate’s permission and make the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting a guard.
- Matt.28.11-15 (structural): Later Matthew episode that follows from the guard’s posting: the guards report the empty tomb and are bribed by the chief priests to spread a cover story.
- Mark.15.43-46 (thematic): Parallel burial narrative: Joseph of Arimathea petitions Pilate for Jesus’ body and buries him, paralleling Pilate’s administrative role though Mark omits a tomb-guard detail.
- Luke.23.50-56 (thematic): Luke’s burial account parallels Matthew’s burial setting (Joseph’s tomb, the burial observances) but does not include the guard episode.
- John.19.38-42 (thematic): John records Joseph and Nicodemus preparing and laying Jesus in a new tomb—similar burial circumstances though John likewise does not mention a guard.
Alternative generated candidates
- Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how."
- Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you can."
Matt.27.66 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- πορευθεντες: VERB,aor,pass,part,nom,pl,m
- ησφαλισαντο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ταφον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- σφραγισαντες: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,pl,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- λιθον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- μετα: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- κουστωδιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Matt.27.62-64 (verbal): Immediate context: the chief priests and Pharisees ask Pilate for a guard and to have the tomb sealed — directly explains why the stone is sealed and a guard posted.
- Matt.28.11-15 (structural): Narrative continuation: the guards report to the chief priests and are bribed to spread the story that the disciples stole the body — presupposes the tomb was sealed and guarded.
- Mark 15:46 (thematic): Joseph of Arimathea buries Jesus in a tomb hewn out of rock; parallels the burial setting though Mark does not mention a guard or sealing.
- Luke 23:53 (thematic): Joseph places Jesus' body in a new tomb and rolls a stone to the entrance — parallels burial and the stone being secured at the tomb.
- John 19:38-42 (thematic): John describes Joseph and Nicodemus preparing and laying Jesus in the tomb with burial spices and linen — parallels the burial details leading up to the sealed tomb.
Alternative generated candidates
- So they went and secured the tomb by sealing the stone and posting a guard.
- So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting a watch.
Now on the next day, the one after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate,
and said, "Sir, we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.'"
"Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples come and steal the body and tell the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last deception be worse than the first."
Pilate said to them, "You may take a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how." So they went and secured the tomb—sealing the stone and posting a guard until the third day.