"THE DISHONESTY"

Proposition - As we look to our text this morning we are going to learn about: 1) the catastrophe, 2) the consultation, and 3) the conclusion.

Interrogative question - What have you done with the Gospel message?

1. The catastrophe - vs. 11

Matthew 28:11 NASB95

11 Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.

What do you think the word “guard” refers too?

What has happened to Jesus’ body?

What do you think the mindset of the guards was at this point?

2. The consultation - vs. 12-13

Matthew 28:12–13 NASB95

12 And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’

What do the religious leaders do?

Why do you think they do this?

What were the guards told to do?

How does this make any sense?

What a silly story don’t you think?

Harmony of the Gospels (Sec. 175: The Soldiers Are Bribed to Lie)

Mt 28:13 stole Him while we were sleeping: It is difficult to believe that Pilate’s soldiers would admit to falling asleep since that could result in a penalty of death.

Mt 28:15 this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day: To the very day that Matthew was writing these words this rumor was being circulated. Even today nonbelievers propagate this indefensible theory.

3. The conclusion - vs. 14-15

Matthew 28:14–15 NASB95

14 “And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.” 15 And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.

How are they going to keep the guards out of trouble?

Does their story make any sense?

What was the purpose of the money?

How were they going to not get in trouble?

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 28

Faced with the reality of Jesus’ resurrection, the religious leaders are forced once again (cf. 26:3–5) to conspire together in order to preserve their religious and political influence. The soldiers faced possible execution for dereliction of guard duty, one of the most severe offenses while occupying foreign territory. In cooperating with the Jewish religious leaders, they at least have a chance to save themselves.

CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 28

Wide circulation of this story probably led to the emperor’s edict in the Nazareth Inscription (likely dated ca AD 41–54) that threatened death to anyone who removed an entombed body. Several aspects of the soldiers’ story make no sense. If the soldiers were all asleep, they could not have known that it was Jesus’s disciples who removed his body. Furthermore, it is extremely unlikely that all of the soldiers would have slept at the same time. Finally, soldiers were severely punished or even executed for sleeping on duty.

SO WHAT?

What have you done with the Gospel message?