Matthew 27:57-66

Matthew 27:57-66

The burial of Jesus is portrayed with two key elements in mind. First, that Jesus was in fact dead. Second, the tomb is certainly secured. Burial was not a customary Roman treatment for the crucified. Typically, the bodies were removed and thrown down. This was an affront to Jewish sensitivities and so they would provide burial in a pauper’s grave. The burial by Joseph was unusual and extravagant. This was a fulfillment of Isaiah 53:9. New tomb is a reference to a tomb that as yet was unused. Joseph’s going to Pilate and burying Jesus was a clear break from his peers in the Sanhedrin and a clear indication of his love and loyalty to the Lord. He would have become ritually unclean for the Passover. Joseph has rejected the position of power out of loyalty to Jesus. He has taken Jesus in as a family member and is careless about the social and career consequences.

In verse 62, Matthew describes the Sabbath morning without mentioning the Sabbath. Why this avoidance of saying “Sabbath”? Perhaps it is emphasis that the old way has now been updated and the new has been enacted on the cross. Whatever the reason, Matthew points out that the delegation that came to Pilate was made up of both the Chief Priests and the Pharisees. They remain united in opposing Jesus even after His death. How did they know that Jesus would have claimed to rise again? Matthew 12:40 is Jesus’s only public reference to the resurrection. Perhaps Judas or another informant told them. While they did not believe Him they admitted that He had made the claim. They thought He was a deceiver and this could be a postmortem deception. Providentially in their efforts to prevent false claims of a resurrection they, by securing the tomb, provide greater evidence for the resurrection when it did occur.

We see Pilate wanting to be done with the whole situation. His compliance seems to be that of someone who, rather than excited to join in, is willing to do whatever it takes to get this issue to go away.

The secret plans and schemes of man, all the plots and sub-plots, the wheels inside of wheels are nothing before the hand of God. Their careful schemes laid out to secure their agenda were actually going to work out the will of God-the absolute opposite of what they wanted and planned.

"Give me faith Lord, to trust in what You are doing even if all I see are the actions of the wicked. AMEN"