Matthew 27 63

Matthew 27:63 kjv

Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

Matthew 27:63 nkjv

saying, "Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise.'

Matthew 27:63 niv

"Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.'

Matthew 27:63 esv

and said, "Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise.'

Matthew 27:63 nlt

They told him, "Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: 'After three days I will rise from the dead.'

Matthew 27 verses

Matthew 27 63 Meaning

Matthew 27:63 reveals the deep-seated antagonism and fear of the chief priests and Pharisees towards Jesus, even after His death. They approached Pilate, expressing their concern that Jesus, whom they labeled "that deceiver" (a polemic against His messianic claims), had predicted His own resurrection after three days. Their primary motive was to prevent what they believed would be a fraudulent claim of resurrection by His followers, by having the tomb secured. This verse highlights their accurate remembrance of Jesus' crucial prophecy, which ironically serves to establish its authenticity and significance.

Matthew 27 63 Context

This verse occurs the day after Jesus' crucifixion and burial, following a rapid series of events: His arrest, trial before Pilate, scourging, public mocking, and crucifixion. Having successfully ensured Jesus' death, the chief priests and Pharisees, rather than resting content, remained anxious. They had previously heard Jesus explicitly prophesy His resurrection (Matthew 16:21, 17:23, 20:19), a claim they disbelieved and feared. Their approaching Pilate reflects their heightened state of alert to prevent any perceived fraud by Jesus' followers who might attempt to steal the body and declare a resurrection, thus validating "that deceiver's" words and leading to further popular unrest or even Roman intervention. This action underscores their complete rejection of Jesus' divine authority and His claims to be the Messiah, interpreting any supernatural event surrounding Him as a deception.

Matthew 27 63 Word analysis

• "saying" (λέγοντες - legontes): A present participle indicating their speech was simultaneous with their approach to Pilate. It conveys a direct address, not a hesitant request.
• "Sir" (Κύριε - Kyrie): This is a formal, polite address to a superior in authority, like "Master" or "Lord." In this context, it signifies respect for Pilate's position as Roman governor, but not personal reverence or recognition of divinity.
• "we remember" (ἐμνήσθημεν - emnēsthēmen): An emphatic declaration. They explicitly recall Jesus' prior statement, demonstrating their accurate memory of His prophecy regarding resurrection, even as they dismissed it as the words of a "deceiver." It reveals their awareness of His specific claim.
• "that" (ὅτι - hoti): A conjunction introducing direct discourse, clarifying that they are quoting or recalling a specific statement made by Jesus.
• "that deceiver" (ἐκεῖνος ὁ πλάνος - ekeinos ho planos):
  • "that" (ἐκεῖνος - ekeinos): A demonstrative pronoun, highlighting distance and contempt. It can imply "that well-known" or "that notorious" one, signifying their utter dismissal and hostility towards Jesus.
  • "deceiver" (πλάνος - planos): This term is critical. It derives from the verb "to lead astray" or "to wander." It denotes an imposter, a fraud, a seducer, someone who misleads others from truth. By applying this epithet to Jesus, they revealed their complete rejection of His divine identity and mission, portraying Him as a dangerous charlatan. This is a direct polemic against Jesus' claims and His following.
• "said" (εἶπεν - eipen): A simple past tense verb, confirming Jesus indeed spoke these words. Their accusation inadvertently corroborates the historical fact of Jesus predicting His resurrection.
• "while he was still alive" (ἔτι ζῶν - eti zōn): This phrase emphasizes that Jesus' claims were made publicly before His death. It frames His words as those of a mere man, denying any supernatural or prophetic authority behind them, and pre-emptively dismisses any resurrection claim as a trick.
• "After three days" (Μετὰ τρεῖς ἡμέρας - meta treis hēmeras): This specifies the precise timeframe Jesus often used (though sometimes also phrased "on the third day"). It confirms their recall of His distinct timeline for His reappearance, adding an ironic layer to their attempt to prevent it.
• "I will rise again" (ἐγείρομαι - egeiromai): The Greek verb here is often interpreted as a "divine passive," implying "I will be raised (by God)," or a "middle voice" meaning "I will raise myself." The chief priests understood it as a literal return from death. Their memory of this specific declaration is key, setting the stage for the dramatic, undeniable fulfillment of Jesus' words.

Word-groups/phrases analysis:

• "Sir, we remember that...": A calculated and formal opening, feigning concern for public order to enlist Pilate's Roman authority for their own ends. It sets up their "reasonable" request to prevent what they perceived as a future deception.
• "that deceiver said...": This powerful and insulting phrase defines their view of Jesus. It is the language of slander and denigration, designed to strip Jesus of any credibility in Pilate's eyes and to justify their past and future actions against Him. This label reveals the depth of their hardened hearts and spiritual blindness.
• "while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise again.'": This direct quote of Jesus' prophecy from the mouths of His enemies is deeply ironic. They articulate the very truth they sought to suppress, providing clear evidence that Jesus truly made these predictions, thus reinforcing the validity of the resurrection when it later occurred. Their words become a critical, unwitting testimony to the historical fact of Jesus' claims.

Matthew 27 63 Bonus section

The request to guard the tomb indicates the chief priests and Pharisees did not view Jesus' resurrection prediction as mere idle boasting or metaphor. They recognized the serious, literal implication of His words and acted to prevent its outcome, which reveals a degree of "faith" in His capability (albeit fearful and inverted) not evident in many others. This pre-emptive guarding inadvertently transformed the tomb into a sealed, verifiable test site, where the subsequent miraculous event could not be plausibly explained away by their contrived theories, further bolstering the resurrection as an irrefutable act of God.

Matthew 27 63 Commentary

Matthew 27:63 reveals the deep irony and unintended testimony in the Jewish leadership's actions following Jesus' crucifixion. Having succeeded in putting Him to death, the chief priests and Pharisees remain haunted by Jesus' prophecies of resurrection. Their label "that deceiver" underscores their profound spiritual blindness and hardened hostility; they utterly rejected Jesus' identity and claims, preferring to believe Him a charlatan. Their memory of Jesus explicitly stating He would "rise again after three days" is remarkably accurate, confirming the historicity of Jesus' clear resurrection predictions throughout His ministry.

This desperate plea to Pilate, driven by fear of a "greater deception," ironically sets the stage for God's ultimate vindication of Jesus. By requesting and obtaining a guard and a sealed tomb (Mt 27:64-66), these religious leaders unwittingly ensured that any subsequent discovery of an empty tomb would be all the more inexplicable by human means, directly disproving their "stolen body" theory (Mt 28:11-15). Their meticulous precautions against a false resurrection inadvertently served to bolster the truth of the actual resurrection, providing undeniable external validation against accusations of fraud. Thus, even in their malicious opposition, they were made instruments in confirming the divine triumph.