Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Matthew » Chapter 27 » Verse 1-66

Matthew 27:1-66 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 When G1161 the morning G4405 was come, G1096 all G3956 the chief priests G749 and G2532 elders G4245 of the people G2992 took G2983 counsel G4824 against G2596 Jesus G2424 to G5620 put G2289 him G846 to death: G2289

2 And G2532 when they had bound G1210 him, G846 they led him away, G520 and G2532 delivered G3860 him G846 to Pontius G4194 Pilate G4091 the governor. G2232

3 Then G5119 Judas, G2455 which G3588 had betrayed G3860 him, G846 when he saw G1492 that G3754 he was condemned, G2632 repented himself, G3338 and brought again G654 the thirty G5144 pieces of silver G694 to the chief priests G749 and G2532 elders, G4245

4 Saying, G3004 I have sinned G264 in that I have betrayed G3860 the innocent G121 blood. G129 And G1161 they said, G2036 What G5101 is that to G4314 us? G2248 see G3700 thou G4771 to that.

5 And G2532 he cast down G4496 the pieces of silver G694 in G1722 the temple, G3485 and departed, G402 and G2532 went G565 and hanged himself. G519

6 And G1161 the chief priests G749 took G2983 the silver pieces, G694 and said, G2036 It is G1832 not G3756 lawful G1832 for to put G906 them G846 into G1519 the treasury, G2878 because G1893 it is G2076 the price G5092 of blood. G129

7 And G1161 they took G2983 counsel, G4824 and bought G59 with G1537 them G846 the potter's G2763 field, G68 to G1519 bury G5027 strangers G3581 in. G5027

8 Wherefore G1352 that G1565 field G68 was called, G2564 The field G68 of blood, G129 unto G2193 this day. G4594

9 Then G5119 was fulfilled G4137 that which G3588 was spoken G4483 by G1223 Jeremy G2408 the prophet, G4396 saying, G3004 And G2532 they took G2983 the thirty G5144 pieces of silver, G694 the price G5092 of him that was valued, G5091 whom G3739 they of G575 the children G5207 of Israel G2474 did value; G5091

10 And G2532 gave G1325 them G846 for G1519 the potter's G2763 field, G68 as G2505 the Lord G2962 appointed G4929 me. G3427

11 And G1161 Jesus G2424 stood G2476 before G1715 the governor: G2232 and G2532 the governor G2232 asked G1905 him, G846 saying, G3004 Art G1488 thou G4771 the King G935 of the Jews? G2453 And G1161 Jesus G2424 said G5346 unto him, G846 Thou G4771 sayest. G3004

12 And G2532 when G1722 he G846 was accused G2723 of G5259 the chief priests G749 and G2532 elders, G4245 he answered G611 nothing. G3762

13 Then G5119 said G3004 Pilate G4091 unto him, G846 Hearest thou G191 not G3756 how many things G4214 they witness against G2649 thee? G4675

14 And G2532 he answered G3756 G611 him G846 to G4314 never G3761 a G1520 word; G4487 insomuch G5620 that the governor G2232 marvelled G2296 greatly. G3029

15 Now G1161 at G2596 that feast G1859 the governor G2232 was wont G1486 to release G630 unto the people G3793 a G1520 prisoner, G1198 whom G3739 they would. G2309

16 And G1161 they had G2192 then G5119 a notable G1978 prisoner, G1198 called G3004 Barabbas. G912

17 Therefore G3767 when they G846 were gathered together, G4863 Pilate G4091 said G2036 unto them, G846 Whom G5101 will ye G2309 that I release G630 unto you? G5213 Barabbas, G912 or G2228 Jesus G2424 which G3588 is called G3004 Christ? G5547

18 For G1063 he knew G1492 that G3754 for G1223 envy G5355 they had delivered G3860 him. G846

19 When G1161 he G846 was set down G2521 on G1909 the judgment seat, G968 his G846 wife G1135 sent G649 unto G4314 him, G846 saying, G3004 G2532 Have thou G4671 nothing G3367 to do with that G1565 just man: G1342 for G1063 I have suffered G3958 many things G4183 this day G4594 in G2596 a dream G3677 because G1223 of him. G846

20 But G1161 the chief priests G749 and G2532 elders G4245 persuaded G3982 the multitude G3793 that G2443 they should ask G154 Barabbas, G912 and G1161 destroy G622 Jesus. G2424

21 The governor G2232 answered G611 and G1161 said G2036 unto them, G846 Whether G5101 of G575 the twain G1417 will ye G2309 that I release G630 unto you? G5213 G1161 They said, G2036 Barabbas. G912

22 Pilate G4091 saith G3004 unto them, G846 What G5101 shall I do G4160 then G3767 with Jesus G2424 which G3588 is called G3004 Christ? G5547 They all G3956 say G3004 unto him, G846 Let him be crucified. G4717

23 And G1161 the governor G2232 said, G5346 Why, G1063 what G5101 evil G2556 hath he done? G4160 But G1161 they cried out G2896 the more, G4057 saying, G3004 Let him be crucified. G4717

24 When G1161 Pilate G4091 saw G1492 that G3754 he could prevail G5623 nothing, G3762 but G235 that rather G3123 a tumult G2351 was made, G1096 he took G2983 water, G5204 and washed G633 his hands G5495 before G561 the multitude, G3793 saying, G3004 I am G1510 innocent G121 of G575 the blood G129 of this G5127 just person: G1342 see G3700 ye G5210 to it.

25 Then G2532 answered G611 all G3956 the people, G2992 and said, G2036 His G846 blood G129 be on G1909 us, G2248 and G2532 on G1909 our G2257 children. G5043

26 Then G5119 released he G630 Barabbas G912 unto them: G846 and G1161 when he had scourged G5417 Jesus, G2424 he delivered G3860 him to G2443 be crucified. G4717

27 Then G5119 the soldiers G4757 of the governor G2232 took G3880 Jesus G2424 into G1519 the common hall, G4232 and gathered G4863 unto G1909 him G846 the whole G3650 band G4686 of soldiers.

28 And G2532 they stripped G1562 him, G846 and put on G4060 him G846 a scarlet G2847 robe. G5511

29 And G2532 when they had platted G4120 a crown G4735 of G1537 thorns, G173 they put G2007 it upon G1909 his G846 head, G2776 and G2532 a reed G2563 in G1909 his G846 right hand: G1188 and G2532 they bowed the knee G1120 before G1715 him, G846 and mocked G1702 him, G846 saying, G3004 Hail, G5463 King G935 of the Jews! G2453

30 And G2532 they spit G1716 upon G1519 him, G846 and took G2983 the reed, G2563 and G2532 smote G5180 him G846 on G1519 the head. G2776

31 And G2532 after G3753 that they had mocked G1702 him, G846 they took G1562 the robe G5511 off G1562 from him, G846 and G2532 put G1746 his own G846 raiment G2440 on G1746 him, G846 and G2532 led G520 him G846 away G520 to G1519 crucify G4717 him.

32 And G1161 as they came out, G1831 they found G2147 a man G444 of Cyrene, G2956 Simon G4613 by name: G3686 him G5126 they compelled G29 to G2443 bear G142 his G846 cross. G4716

33 And G2532 when they were come G2064 unto G1519 a place G5117 called G3004 Golgotha, G1115 that G3739 is G2076 to say, G3004 a place G5117 of a skull, G2898

34 They gave G1325 him G846 vinegar G3690 to drink G4095 mingled G3396 with G3326 gall: G5521 and G2532 when he had tasted G1089 thereof, he would G2309 not G3756 drink. G4095

35 And G1161 they crucified G4717 him, G846 and parted G1266 his G846 garments, G2440 casting G906 lots: G2819 that G2443 it might be fulfilled G4137 which G3588 was spoken G4483 by G5259 the prophet, G4396 They parted G1266 my G3450 garments G2440 among them, G1438 and G2532 upon G1909 my G3450 vesture G2441 did they cast G906 lots. G2819

36 And G2532 sitting down G2521 they watched G5083 him G846 there; G1563

37 And G2532 set up G2007 over G1883 his G846 head G2776 his G846 accusation G156 written, G1125 THIS G3778 IS G2076 JESUS G2424 THE KING G935 OF THE JEWS. G2453

38 Then G5119 were there two G1417 thieves G3027 crucified G4717 with G4862 him, G846 one G1520 on G1537 the right hand, G1188 and G2532 another G1520 on G1537 the left. G2176

39 And G1161 they that passed by G3899 reviled G987 him, G846 wagging G2795 their G846 heads, G2776

40 And G2532 saying, G3004 Thou that destroyest G2647 the temple, G3485 and G2532 buildest G3618 it in G1722 three G5140 days, G2250 save G4982 thyself. G4572 If G1487 thou be G1488 the Son G5207 of God, G2316 come down G2597 from G575 the cross. G4716

41 G1161 Likewise G3668 also G2532 the chief priests G749 mocking G1702 him, with G3326 the scribes G1122 and G2532 elders, G4245 said, G3004

42 He saved G4982 others; G243 himself G1438 he cannot G3756 G1410 save. G4982 If G1487 he be G2076 the King G935 of Israel, G2474 let him G2597 now G3568 come down G2597 from G575 the cross, G4716 and G2532 we will believe G4100 him. G846

43 He trusted G3982 in G1909 God; G2316 let him deliver G4506 him G846 now, G3568 if G1487 he will have G2309 him: G846 for G1063 he said, G2036 G3754 I am G1510 the Son G5207 of God. G2316

44 G1161 The thieves G3027 also, G2532 which G3588 were crucified G4957 with him, G846 cast G3679 the same G846 in his G846 teeth. G3679

45 Now G1161 from G575 the sixth G1623 hour G5610 there was G1096 darkness G4655 over G1909 all G3956 the land G1093 unto G2193 the ninth G1766 hour. G5610

46 And G1161 about G4012 the ninth G1766 hour G5610 Jesus G2424 cried G310 with a loud G3173 voice, G5456 saying, G3004 Eli, G2241 Eli, G2241 lama G2982 sabachthani? G4518 that G5123 is to say, My G3450 God, G2316 my G3450 God, G2316 why G2444 hast thou forsaken G1459 me? G3165

47 G1161 Some of them G5100 that stood G2476 there, G1563 when they heard G191 that, said, G3004 G3754 This G3778 man calleth for G5455 Elias. G2243

48 And G2532 straightway G2112 one G1520 of G1537 them G846 ran, G5143 and G2532 took G2983 a spunge, G4699 and G5037 filled G4130 it with vinegar, G3690 and G2532 put it on G4060 a reed, G2563 and gave G4222 him G846 to drink. G4222

49 The G1161 rest G3062 said, G3004 Let be, G863 let us see G1492 whether G1487 Elias G2243 will come G2064 to save G4982 him. G846

50 G1161 Jesus, G2424 when he had cried G2896 again G3825 with a loud G3173 voice, G5456 yielded up G863 the ghost. G4151

51 And, G2532 behold, G2400 the veil G2665 of the temple G3485 was rent G4977 in G1519 twain G1417 from G575 the top G509 to G2193 the bottom; G2736 and G2532 the earth G1093 did quake, G4579 and G2532 the rocks G4073 rent; G4977

52 And G2532 the graves G3419 were opened; G455 and G2532 many G4183 bodies G4983 of the saints G40 which G3588 slept G2837 arose, G1453

53 And G2532 came G1831 out of G1537 the graves G3419 after G3326 his G846 resurrection, G1454 and went G1525 into G1519 the holy G40 city, G4172 and G2532 appeared G1718 unto many. G4183

54 Now G1161 when the centurion, G1543 and G2532 they that were with G3326 him, G846 watching G5083 Jesus, G2424 saw G1492 the earthquake, G4578 and G2532 those things that were done, G1096 they feared G5399 greatly, G4970 saying, G3004 Truly G230 this G3778 was G2258 the Son G5207 of God. G2316

55 And G1161 many G4183 women G1135 were G2258 there G1563 beholding G2334 afar off, G575 G3113 which G3748 followed G190 Jesus G2424 from G575 Galilee, G1056 ministering G1247 unto him: G846

56 Among G1722 which G3739 was G2258 Mary G3137 Magdalene, G3094 and G2532 Mary G3137 the mother G3384 of James G2385 and G2532 Joses, G2500 and G2532 the mother G3384 of Zebedee's G2199 children. G5207

57 When G1161 the even G3798 was come, G1096 there came G2064 a rich G4145 man G444 of G575 Arimathaea, G707 named G5122 Joseph, G2501 who G3739 also G2532 himself G846 was G3100 Jesus' G2424 disciple: G3100

58 He G3778 went G4334 to Pilate, G4091 and begged G154 the body G4983 of Jesus. G2424 Then G5119 Pilate G4091 commanded G2753 the body G4983 to be delivered. G591

59 And G2532 when Joseph G2501 had taken G2983 the body, G4983 he wrapped G1794 it G846 in a clean G2513 linen cloth, G4616

60 And G2532 laid G5087 it G846 in G1722 his own G846 new G2537 tomb, G3419 which G3739 he had hewn out G2998 in G1722 the rock: G4073 and G2532 he rolled G4351 a great G3173 stone G3037 to the door G2374 of the sepulchre, G3419 and departed. G565

61 And G1161 there G1563 was G2258 Mary G3137 Magdalene, G3094 and G2532 the other G243 Mary, G3137 sitting G2521 over against G561 the sepulchre. G5028

62 Now G1161 the next day, G1887 that G3748 followed G2076 G3326 the day of the preparation, G3904 the chief priests G749 and G2532 Pharisees G5330 came together G4863 unto G4314 Pilate, G4091

63 Saying, G3004 Sir, G2962 we remember G3415 that G3754 that G1565 deceiver G4108 said, G2036 while he was yet G2089 alive, G2198 After G3326 three G5140 days G2250 I will rise again. G1453

64 Command G2753 therefore G3767 that the sepulchre G5028 be made sure G805 until G2193 the third G5154 day, G2250 lest G3379 his G846 disciples G3101 come G2064 by night, G3571 and steal G2813 him G846 away, G2813 and G2532 say G2036 unto the people, G2992 He is risen G1453 from G575 the dead: G3498 so G2532 the last G2078 error G4106 shall be G2071 worse than G5501 the first. G4413

65 G1161 Pilate G4091 said G5346 unto them, G846 Ye have G2192 a watch: G2892 go your way, G5217 make it as sure G805 as G5613 ye can. G1492

66 So G1161 they went, G4198 and made G805 the sepulchre G5028 sure, G805 sealing G4972 the stone, G3037 and setting G3326 a watch. G2892

Commentary on Matthew 27 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 27

Mt 27:1-10. Jesus Led Away to PilateRemorse and Suicide of Judas. ( = Mr 15:1; Lu 23:1; Joh 18:28).

Jesus Led Away to Pilate (Mt 27:1, 2).

For the exposition of this portion, see on Joh 18:28, &c.

Remorse and Suicide of Judas (Mt 27:3-10).

This portion is peculiar to Matthew. On the progress of guilt in the traitor, see on Mr 14:1-11; Joh 13:21-30.

3. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned—The condemnation, even though not unexpected, might well fill him with horror. But perhaps this unhappy man expected, that, while he got the bribe, the Lord would miraculously escape, as He had once and again done before, out of His enemies' power: and if so, his remorse would come upon him with all the greater keenness.

repented himself—but, as the issue too sadly showed, it was "the sorrow of the world, which worketh death" (2Co 7:10).

and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders—A remarkable illustration of the power of an awakened conscience. A short time before, the promise of this sordid pelf was temptation enough to his covetous heart to outweigh the most overwhelming obligations of duty and love; now, the possession of it so lashes him that he cannot use it, cannot even keep it!

4. Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood—What a testimony this to Jesus! Judas had been with Him in all circumstances for three years; his post, as treasurer to Him and the Twelve (Joh 12:6), gave him peculiar opportunity of watching the spirit, disposition, and habits of his Master; while his covetous nature and thievish practices would incline him to dark and suspicious, rather than frank and generous, interpretations of all that He said and did. If, then, he could have fastened on one questionable feature in all that he had so long witnessed, we may be sure that no such speech as this would ever have escaped his lips, nor would he have been so stung with remorse as not to be able to keep the money and survive his crime.

And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that—"Guilty or innocent is nothing to us: We have Him now—begone!" Was ever speech more hellish uttered?

5. And he cast down the pieces of silver—The sarcastic, diabolical reply which he had got, in place of the sympathy which perhaps he expected, would deepen his remorse into an agony.

in the temple—the temple proper, commonly called "the sanctuary," or "the holy place," into which only the priests might enter. How is this to be explained? Perhaps he flung the money in after them. But thus were fulfilled the words of the prophet—"I cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord" (Zec 11:13).

and departed, and went and hanged himself—For the details, see on Ac 1:18.

6. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury—"the Corban," or chest containing the money dedicated to sacred purposes (see on Mt 15:5).

because it is the price of blood—How scrupulous now! But those punctilious scruples made them unconsciously fulfil the Scripture.

9. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying—(Zec 11:12, 13). Never was a complicated prophecy, otherwise hopelessly dark, more marvellously fulfilled. Various conjectures have been formed to account for Matthew's ascribing to Jeremiah a prophecy found in the book of Zechariah. But since with this book he was plainly familiar, having quoted one of its most remarkable prophecies of Christ but a few chapters before (Mt 21:4, 5), the question is one more of critical interest than real importance. Perhaps the true explanation is the following, from Lightfoot: "Jeremiah of old had the first place among the prophets, and hereby he comes to be mentioned above all the rest in Mt 16:14; because he stood first in the volume of the prophets (as he proves from the learned David Kimchi) therefore he is first named. When, therefore, Matthew produceth a text of Zechariah under the name of Jeremy, he only cites the words of the volume of the prophets under his name who stood first in the volume of the prophets. Of which sort is that also of our Saviour (Lu 24:41), 'All things must be fulfilled which are written of Me in the Law, and the Prophets, and the Psalms,' or the Book of Hagiographa, in which the Psalms were placed first."

Mt 27:11-26. Jesus Again before PilateHe Seeks to Release Him but at Length Delivers Him to Be Crucified. ( = Mr 15:1-15; Lu 23:1-25; Joh 18:28-40).

For the exposition, see on Lu 23:1-25; Joh 18:28-40.

Mt 27:27-33. Jesus Scornfully and Cruelly Entreated of the Soldiers, Is Led Away to Be Crucified. ( = Mr 15:16-22; Lu 23:26-31; Joh 19:2, 17).

For the exposition, see on Mr 15:16-22.

Mt 27:34-50. Crucifixion and Death of the Lord Jesus. ( = Mr 15:25-37; Lu 23:33-46; Joh 19:18-30).

For the exposition, see on Joh 19:18-30.

Mt 27:51-66. Signs and Circumstances Following the Death of the Lord JesusHe Is Taken Down from the Cross, and BuriedThe Sepulchre Is Guarded. ( = Mr 15:38-47; Lu 23:47-56; Joh 19:31-42).

The Veil Rent (Mt 27:51).

51. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom—This was the thick and gorgeously wrought veil which was hung between the "holy place" and the "holiest of all," shutting out all access to the presence of God as manifested "from above the mercy seat and from between the cherubim"—"the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest" (Heb 9:8). Into this holiest of all none might enter, not even the high priest, save once a year, on the great day of atonement, and then only with the blood of atonement in his hands, which he sprinkled "upon and before the mercy seat seven times" (Le 16:14)—to signify that access for sinners to a holy God is only through atoning blood. But as they had only the blood of bulls and of goats, which could not take away sins (Heb 10:4), during all the long ages that preceded the death of Christ the thick veil remained; the blood of bulls and of goats continued to be shed and sprinkled; and once a year access to God through an atoning sacrifice was vouchsafed—in a picture, or rather, was dramatically represented, in those symbolical actions—nothing more. But now, the one atoning Sacrifice being provided in the precious blood of Christ, access to this holy God could no longer be denied; and so the moment the Victim expired on the altar, that thick veil which for so many ages had been the dread symbol of separation between God and guilty men was, without a hand touching it, mysteriously "rent in twain from top to bottom"—"the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was NOW made manifest!" How emphatic the statement, from top to bottom; as if to say, Come boldly now to the Throne of Grace; the veil is clean gone; the mercy seat stands open to the gaze of sinners, and the way to it is sprinkled with the blood of Him—"who through the eternal Spirit hath offered Himself without spot to God!" Before, it was death to go in, now it is death to stay out. See more on this glorious subject on Heb 10. 19-22.

An Earthquake—The Rocks Rent—The Graves Opened, that the Saints Which Slept in Them Might Come Forth after Their Lord's Resurrection (Mt 27:51-53).

51. and the earth did quake—From what follows it would seem that this earthquake was local, having for its object the rending of the rocks and the opening of the graves.

and the rocks rent—"were rent"—the physical creation thus sublimely proclaiming, at the bidding of its Maker, the concussion which at that moment was taking place in the moral world at the most critical moment of its history. Extraordinary rents and fissures have been observed in the rocks near this spot.

52. And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose—These sleeping saints (see on 1Th 4:14) were Old Testament believers, who—according to the usual punctuation in our version—were quickened into resurrection life at the moment of their Lord's death, but lay in their graves till His resurrection, when they came forth. But it is far more natural, as we think, and consonant with other Scriptures, to understand that only the graves were opened, probably by the earthquake, at our Lord's death, and this only in preparation for the subsequent exit of those who slept in them, when the Spirit of life should enter into them from their risen Lord, and along with Him they should come forth, trophies of His victory over the grave. Thus, in the opening of the graves at the moment of the Redeemer's expiring, there was a glorious symbolical proclamation that the death which had just taken place had "swallowed up death in victory"; and whereas the saints that slept in them were awakened only by their risen Lord, to accompany Him out of the tomb, it was fitting that "the Prince of Life … should be the First that should rise from the dead" (Ac 26:23; 1Co 15:20, 23; Col 1:18; Re 1:5).

and went into the holy city—that city where He, in virtue of whose resurrection they were now alive, had been condemned.

and appeared unto many—that there might be undeniable evidence of their own resurrection first, and through it of their Lord's. Thus, while it was not deemed fitting that He Himself should appear again in Jerusalem, save to the disciples, provision was made that the fact of His resurrection should be left in no doubt. It must be observed, however, that the resurrection of these sleeping saints was not like those of the widow of Nain's son, of Jairus' daughter, of Lazarus, and of the man who "revived and stood upon his feet," on his dead body touching the bones of Elisha (2Ki 13:21)—which were mere temporary recallings of the departed spirit to the mortal body, to be followed by a final departure of it "till the trumpet shall sound." But this was a resurrection once for all, to life everlasting; and so there is no room to doubt that they went to glory with their Lord, as bright trophies of His victory over death.

The Centurion's Testimony (Mt 27:54).

54. Now when the centurion—the military superintendent of the execution.

and they that were with him watching Jesus, saw the earthquake—or felt it and witnessed its effects.

and those things that were done—reflecting upon the entire transaction.

they feared greatly—convinced of the presence of a Divine Hand.

saying, Truly this was the Son of God—There cannot be a reasonable doubt that this expression was used in the Jewish sense, and that it points to the claim which Jesus made to be the Son of God, and on which His condemnation expressly turned. The meaning, then, clearly is that He must have been what He professed to be; in other words, that He was no impostor. There was no medium between those two. See, on the similar testimony of the penitent thief—"This man hath done nothing amiss"—Luke 23. 41.

The Galilean Women (Mt 27:55, 56).

55. And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus—The sense here would be better brought out by the use of the pluperfect, "which had followed Jesus."

from Galilee, ministering unto him—As these dear women had ministered to Him during His glorious missionary tours in Galilee (see on Lu 8:1-3), so from this statement it should seem that they accompanied him and ministered to His wants from Galilee on His final journey to Jerusalem.

56. Among which was Mary Magdalene—(See on Lu 8:2).

and Mary the mother of James and Joses—the wife of Cleophas, or rather Clopas, and sister of the Virgin (Joh 19:25). See on Mt 13:55,56.

and the mother of Zebedee's children—that is, Salome: compare Mr 15:40. All this about the women is mentioned for the sake of what is afterwards to be related of their purchasing spices to anoint their Lord's body.

The Taking Down from the Cross and the Burial (Mt 27:57-60).

For the exposition of this portion, see on Joh 19:38-42.

The Women Mark the Sacred Spot that They Might Recognize It on Coming Thither to Anoint the Body (Mt 27:61).

61. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary—"the mother of James and Joses," mentioned before (Mt 27:56).

sitting over against the sepulchre—(See on Mr 16:1).

The Sepulchre Guarded (Mt 27:62-66).

62. Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation—that is, after six o'clock of our Saturday evening. The crucifixion took place on the Friday and all was not over till shortly before sunset, when the Jewish sabbath commenced; and "that sabbath day was an high day" (Joh 19:31), being the first day of the feast of unleavened bread. That day being over at six on Saturday evening, they hastened to take their measures.

63. Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver—Never, remarks Bengel, will you find the heads of the people calling Jesus by His own name. And yet here there is betrayed a certain uneasiness, which one almost fancies they only tried to stifle in their own minds, as well as crush in Pilate's, in case he should have any lurking suspicion that he had done wrong in yielding to them.

said, while he was yet alive—Important testimony this, from the lips of His bitterest enemies, to the reality of Christ's death; the corner-stone of the whole Christian religion.

After three days—which, according to the customary Jewish way of reckoning, need signify no more than "after the commencement of the third day."

I will rise again—"I rise," in the present tense, thus reporting not only the fact that this prediction of His had reached their ears, but that they understood Him to look forward confidently to its occurring on the very day named.

64. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure—by a Roman guard.

until the third day—after which, if He still lay in the grave, the imposture of His claims would be manifest to all.

and say unto the people, he is risen from the dead—Did they really fear this?

so the last error shall be worse than the first—the imposture of His pretended resurrection worse than that of His pretended Messiahship.

65. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch—The guards had already acted under orders of the Sanhedrim, with Pilate's consent; but probably they were not clear about employing them as a night watch without Pilate's express authority.

go your way, make it as sure as ye can—as ye know how, or in the way ye deem securest. Though there may be no irony in this speech, it evidently insinuated that if the event should be contrary to their wish, it would not be for want of sufficient human appliances to prevent it.

66. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone—which Mark (Mr 16:4) says was "very great."

and setting a watch—to guard it. What more could man do? But while they are trying to prevent the resurrection of the Prince of Life, God makes use of their precautions for His own ends. Their stone-covered, seal-secured sepulchre shall preserve the sleeping dust of the Son of God free from all indignities, in undisturbed, sublime repose; while their watch shall be His guard of honor until the angels shall come to take their place.