CXXXVI.
SOME OF THE GUARDS REPORT TO THE JEWISH RULERS.
aMATT. XXVIII. 11-15.
a11 Now while they were
going [while Joanna and the group of women with her were on their way
to tell the apostles that they had seen Jesus], behold, some
of the guard [not all] came into the city, and told unto the chief
priests all the things that were come to pass. [Esteeming it folly
to guard an empty tomb, the soldiers went to their barracks, while their
officers returned to those who had placed them on guard to report what
had happened. They rightly judged that the plain truth was their best defense.
They could not be expected to contend against earthquakes and angels. Their
report implies that they saw Jesus leave the tomb, and after the angel
opened it.*] 12
And when they [the chief priests] were assembled with the elders,
and had taken counsel, they gave much money unto the soldiers,
13 saying, Say ye, His disciples came by [746] night,
and stole him away while we slept. [This was evidently not a full,
but a select, council of the Sanhedrin hastily summoned. They willfully
shut their eyes to the fact that Jesus had risen, and proceed to purchase
a lie to subvert the truth. Unrepentant, despite the many evidences that
they had done wrong, they proceed to further invoke the wrath of God. Their
lie is doubly apparent upon its face. 1. It would have been practically
impossible for men to have rifled such a tomb without waking a guard set
to protect it. 2. It is absolutely impossible for men to have known what
had occurred while they were asleep.]
14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and rid
you of care. [It was a capital offense for a Roman soldier to sleep
while on guard; therefore, if Pilate heard that they had done this thing,
it would require "persuasion" to make him overlook the offense. Possibly
the Jews thought that Pilate was sufficiently involved with them to be
ready to aid them to hush the story of the resurrection, especially if
they confessed to him that they themselves had invented the lie which the
soldiers told.] 15 So they took the
money, and did as they were taught [the lesson was short and simple;
the reward, large and desirable]: and this saying was spread
abroad among the Jews, and continueth until this day. [The words
seem to indicate that it was published more largely than simply within
the walls of Jerusalem. In his dialogue with Trypho, which was written
about A. D. 170, Justin Martyr says that the Jews dispersed the story by
means of special messengers sent to every country. The fear which they
expressed to Pilate (Matt. xxvii. 64), lends credibility to this statement.]
[747]
* NOTE.--We
fail to see any such implication. In our opinion Jesus had already departed
from the tomb when the angel came. The tomb was not opened to let the Lord
out, but to let the disciples in, that they might see as soon as possible
one of the chief evidences of his resurrection (John xx. 8; Matt. xxviii.
6). Jesus did not need that one open doors for him (John xx. 19, 26), but
the disciples had such a need (Mark xvi. 3). But it seems to us contrary
to Scripture precedent that these unbelieving soldiers should see the risen
Christ, for he did not appear to the unbelieving so far as the record shows,
and the implication is that the same principle which made Jesus refuse
the testimony of demons made him also decline to let unbelievers become
witnesses to his resurrection (Acts x. 40, 41).--P. Y. P.
[FFG 746-747]
