Matthew 28:15 kjv
So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
Matthew 28:15 nkjv
So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
Matthew 28:15 niv
So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
Matthew 28:15 esv
So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
Matthew 28:15 nlt
So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.
Matthew 28 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 27:62-66 | The chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate, saying, "Sir, we remember that when that deceiver was still alive He said, ‘After three days I am to rise again.’ Therefore, give orders for the grave to be secured until the third day..." | The Jewish leaders sought to prevent any deception about Jesus' resurrection by securing the tomb. |
| Matt 28:1-10 | Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven... saying to the women, "He is not here; for He has risen..." | Angelic proclamation and Jesus' own appearances confirm the resurrection. |
| John 20:1-29 | Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb... | Independent gospel account of the empty tomb and Jesus' post-resurrection appearances. |
| 1 Cor 15:3-8 | For I handed down to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins... and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time... | Paul's comprehensive summary of the gospel, emphasizing Christ's resurrection and multiple eyewitnesses. |
| Acts 2:24 | But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. | Peter's sermon affirming God's power in raising Jesus from the dead. |
| Rom 1:4 | and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord... | The resurrection powerfully demonstrates Jesus' divine Sonship. |
| Ps 16:10 | For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. | Old Testament prophecy pointing to the resurrection of God's Messiah. |
| Prov 17:23 | A wicked person accepts a bribe from the bosom To pervert the ways of justice. | General biblical principle on the corrupting nature of bribery on justice. |
| Isa 1:23 | Your rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone loves a bribe and chases rewards. They do not do justice for the orphan, Nor does the widow’s plea come before them. | Prophetic condemnation of corrupt leaders who engage in bribery. |
| Mic 3:11 | Its leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe, Its priests teach for a price, And its prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean on the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD not in our midst? Disaster will not come upon us." | Prophecy against Israel's corrupt leaders, priests, and prophets, who misuse their authority for gain. |
| Acts 8:18-20 | Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, "Give me also this authority, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could acquire the gift of God with money!" | Illustrates the unrighteous use of money to obtain something holy or to influence God's work. |
| Exod 23:1 | "You shall not spread a false report; you shall not join hands with a wicked person to be a malicious witness." | Divine command against bearing false witness or spreading untrue rumors. |
| Deut 19:16-19 | If a malicious witness rises up against a person to accuse him of rebellion... the judges shall investigate thoroughly. And if the witness is a malicious witness and has testified falsely against his brother, then you shall inflict on him what he intended to inflict on his brother... | Legal instructions for addressing and punishing false testimony in the community. |
| Prov 19:5 | A false witness will not go unpunished, And one who speaks lies will not escape. | Proverbial wisdom on the inevitable consequences of lying and false witness. |
| Jer 9:5 | Every companion goes about as a slanderer, and they teach their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity. | Prophetic denunciation of people who consistently practice deceit and lies. |
| Rom 1:25 | For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. | Those who suppress the truth of God and embrace falsehood are described. |
| 2 Tim 4:4 | and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths. | A warning that people will choose to believe fictions over divine truth. |
| Acts 4:1-2 | As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, being very annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. | Direct opposition from religious authorities against the preaching of Jesus' resurrection. |
| Acts 5:27-28 | When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, "We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us." | The Sanhedrin's command to the apostles to cease teaching about Jesus, showing their suppression of truth. |
| 1 Pet 3:16 | but make your defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who malign your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. | Encouragement for believers facing slander and false accusations for their faith. |
| Matt 27:8 | Therefore that field was called the Field of Blood to this day. | "To this day" indicates an ongoing reality or established cultural memory, as seen with Judas' field. |
| 2 Cor 3:14 | But their minds were hardened; for to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts; it has not been removed, because it is removed in Christ. | "To this day" used to describe a continued state of spiritual blindness. |
Matthew 28 verses
Matthew 28 15 Meaning
This verse details how the Roman guards, having been bribed by the Jewish chief priests and elders, fabricated and spread the false story that Jesus' disciples stole His body while the guards slept. It exposes a deliberate campaign by the religious authorities to suppress the truth of Jesus' resurrection and to offer an alternative, dishonest explanation for the empty tomb, which continued to circulate among Jewish communities even as Matthew wrote his Gospel.
Matthew 28 15 Context
Matthew 28:15 falls immediately after the chief priests and elders concoct a scheme to bribe the Roman guards who witnessed the resurrection event. Following the angelic announcement and Jesus' appearance to the women, the guards, terrified by what they saw, reported everything to the chief priests. These religious leaders, instead of accepting the miraculous truth, chose to suppress it by offering the guards a large sum of money to fabricate a lie. This verse documents their successful bribery and the subsequent dissemination of the manufactured "stolen body" lie. It provides historical context for the Jewish opposition to early Christian belief and serves as Matthew's direct counter-argument to a widely circulated false narrative about the empty tomb at the time he composed his Gospel. The broader context of Matthew's Gospel emphasizes Jesus' Messiahship, His authority, and the establishment of His kingdom, culminating in the Great Commission, against which this Jewish rejection and fabrication serve as a stark contrast.
Matthew 28 15 Word analysis
- So they: Refers to the Roman guards (οἱ δὲ), implying their compliance and immediate action in response to the bribe.
- took the money: Greek
ἀργύριον(argyrion), meaning silver, money, or riches. The guards' acceptance highlights their venality and complicity in the corrupt scheme. - and did: Signifies carrying out the command, emphasizing obedience to a human, unethical instruction.
- as they were instructed: Greek
ἐδιδάχθησαν(edidachthesan), a passive verb form meaning "they were taught" or "they were commanded." This underscores that the story was a pre-meditated, carefully constructed lie dictated by the chief priests and elders, not an unprompted account from the guards. - and this story: Specifically references the fabricated narrative that Jesus' disciples stole His body while the guards slept (Matt 28:13). This points to the direct counter-narrative meticulously designed to undermine the resurrection claim.
- has been spread: Greek
διεφημίσθη(diephemisthe), a perfect passive tense, indicating a completed action with ongoing results. This signifies the widespread and effective dissemination of the lie, akin to active propaganda. - among the Jews: Greek
παρὰ Ἰουδαίοις(para Ioudaiois). This specifies the primary target audience and sphere of influence for this false narrative, highlighting the deliberate attempt to deceive Jewish communities. It also reflects the tension between early Christianity and certain Jewish circles. - to this day: Greek
ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας(heos tēs sēmeron hēmeras). This crucial phrase indicates that Matthew wrote his Gospel at a time when this particular lie was still actively circulating and believed by many among the Jewish people. It acts as an authorial assertion of the lie's persistence, reinforcing the verse's polemical thrust and confirming Matthew's direct address of a contemporary anti-Christian narrative.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "So they took the money and did as they were instructed": This phrase details the direct consequence of the bribe (Matt 28:12-14). It showcases the Roman guards' venality and immediate complicity in the deceptive scheme initiated by the chief priests and elders. Their obedience to this human, corrupt command highlights a stark contrast to the divine command of the Great Commission that immediately follows this episode. This immediate fulfillment of a dark instruction starkly contrasts with the challenges believers face in obeying divine commands.
- "and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day": This segment reveals the broad dissemination and enduring nature of the false narrative. The "story" is a deliberate fabrication designed to counteract the undeniable truth of the resurrection. Its widespread diffusion "among the Jews" indicates the specific audience intended to be deceived and reveals a key aspect of early Christian-Jewish polemics. The phrase "to this day" signifies the longevity of this lie, underscoring Matthew's aim to present the truth of the resurrection as the definitive, authentic account against prevailing falsehoods during his time of writing. This assertion functions as Matthew's apologetic argument against a known and popular alternative explanation for the empty tomb.
Matthew 28 15 Bonus section
- Polemics and Apologetics: This verse is a powerful apologetic statement by Matthew. He acknowledges and directly refutes a common anti-Christian narrative circulating during his time. By including the details of the bribe and the specific instruction given to the guards, Matthew subtly exposes the conspiratorial nature and inherent falsehood of the "stolen body" theory. His aim was to reassure early believers and convince skeptics that the resurrection was a genuine event, not a fabricated hoax.
- Authority vs. Truth: The chief priests, representing established religious authority, actively chose to suppress the truth using their influence and resources. This illustrates a recurring biblical theme where human authority, especially when driven by self-preservation or fear, often stands in direct opposition to divine truth (e.g., the Sanhedrin's attempts to silence the apostles in Acts).
- The Persistence of Lies: Despite the overwhelming spiritual evidence of the resurrection (angelic proclamation, Jesus' appearances) and the implausibility of the "stolen body" narrative (sleeping guards, rolling away a massive stone, disciples' sudden courage), this simple, financially supported lie persisted for generations. This highlights the tenacity and viral nature of false narratives, particularly when endorsed and propagated by influential figures, demonstrating the early struggle the nascent Christian community faced against deliberate misinformation campaigns.
- Historical Accuracy and Narrative Purpose: Matthew's inclusion of this seemingly mundane detail about a lie reinforces the historical context of his Gospel. It shows that he was not just recording events but was keenly aware of the alternative explanations and rumors prevalent in his contemporary world. By addressing and discrediting the main alternative explanation for the empty tomb, Matthew strengthens the claim for the historicity and authenticity of the resurrection account itself.
Matthew 28 15 Commentary
Matthew 28:15 vividly exposes a calculated conspiracy by the Jewish religious authorities to deny and suppress the resurrection of Jesus. Confronted with eyewitness testimony from their own appointed guards, these leaders chose deliberate deception over acknowledging the miraculous truth. By bribing the guards and fabricating the "stolen body" lie, they sought to manipulate public perception and prevent belief in Christ. This verse reveals the immediate consequence: the Roman guards, bought off, became instruments for propagating a widespread deception that effectively became the official Jewish counter-narrative to the empty tomb. The ongoing circulation of this lie "to this day," as Matthew noted, highlights the historical and spiritual opposition to the Gospel from its very inception, underscoring the enduring need for believers to discern and defend the truth of Christ's triumph over death. It illustrates the human tendency to reject clear evidence when it challenges deeply entrenched beliefs or positions of authority. This incident serves as a foundational example of deliberate misinformation propagated to counter divine truth.