Matthew 27:60Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, his bravery becomes particularly evident. He boldly faced death in public, having incited the animosity of many due to his love for Jesus. He not only requested the Savior's body but also dared to take it before burial. Moreover, he not only ensured a proper interment but also placed it in his own newly hewn tomb, demonstrating both his affection and his fortitude. This act was deliberate, as it was crucial that it be known that no one had taken the place of the crucified one.

Jealousy pursued David, much like it pursued the Son of David with animosity. David took refuge in the cave (1 Sam. 22:1), while the Son of David lay in the tomb. Although David seemed to be condemned and the Son of David appeared to be overcome, it was Saul who faced condemnation and was rebuked, ultimately defeated and vanquished—death itself. David called out, “King, where is your spear?” (cf. 1 Sam. 26:16), just as the Son of David proclaimed, “Death, where is your victory?” (cf. 1 Cor. 15:55)...

The spiritual interpretation of Scripture reveals that the Lord’s body was meant to be covered with unblemished linen, not with gold, jewels, or luxurious fabrics. This can also signify that the individual who laid Jesus in this pure garment approached Him with a heart free from impurity. His body was laid to rest in a freshly hewn tomb, ensuring that after the Resurrection, it would not be assumed that one of the bodies previously interred there had come back to life. In this context, the new tomb can also represent the holy womb of the Virgin Mary. A great stone was placed at the entrance of the burial site, illustrating that the tomb could not be accessed without assistance from others.

Only this evangelist states that the tomb was owned by Joseph, while the others do not identify its owner. John notes, "But in the place where they were crucified there was a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid" (John 19:41). It is likely that the garden containing the tomb was Joseph's. Through Divine Providence, it was designed for the tomb to remain untouched and new, ensuring that it was evident no one else could have risen from it after the Savior did. A large stone was placed at the entrance with Nicodemus's assistance. The tomb itself was carved out like a cave.

They placed Him in a fresh tomb where no one had ever been laid, sealing its entrance with a large stone. This symbolizes that when the mind is liberated from all earthly distractions and enters a state of rest, it is already in a new era—a realm of profound understanding that focuses on the eternal and contemplates the everlasting. As for other matters, “where the body is, there the eagles will be gathered” (Luke 17:37).

The location of Joseph's tomb close to Golgotha was significant for Jesus' followers, as the approaching Sabbath required the faithful of Israel to act swiftly in their burial customs. The tomb was situated just 108 steps from where the Savior was crucified. Joseph had prepared this burial place in his garden, reflecting on the uncertainty of where he might meet his end — whether in Arimathea or in Jerusalem, which he frequented due to his status. Being a man of means, he had crafted the tomb with great care. It was hewn from solid rock, rather than being excavated from soft earth or constructed from stones, and it resembled a spacious living area, so tall that a man standing would struggle to touch the ceiling. This tomb was newly made, and no one had ever been laid to rest in it.

Joseph placed the sacred body of his Master in the newly carved tomb he had created from the rock. After securing a large stone at the entrance of the tomb, he left. The mouth of the cave was firmly sealed with an enormous stone, too heavy for even a group of men to shift. This measure was deemed necessary in Judea, where wild animals and scavenging birds were prevalent; however, it was hardly needed for the One who remained the Sovereign of heaven and earth, even in death. Thus, our Lord was laid to rest with profound honor and reverence. The fulfillment of the prophecy by Isaiah in this act is astonishing: “He was appointed a coffin with evildoers, but He is buried with the rich man!” (Isaiah 53:9). It is as if the prophet himself stood at Calvary, documenting what he beheld and experienced: he chronicled both the depths of human wickedness and the overwhelming love directed towards Jesus Christ.

Nearby Golgotha, there was a garden owned by Joseph, which contained a tomb hewn from rock, intended for himself—a cave that had never housed a burial before. In this tomb, Joseph and Nicodemus laid the body of Jesus, which they had lowered from the cross, according to customary practices for interring wealthy individuals. They washed the body with clean water, anointed it with fragrant spices, wrapped it in linen, covered the head with a cloth, secured everything with cords, and placed it in the tomb. After completing the burial, they rolled a large stone to seal the entrance of the cave and departed.

His bravery inspired courage in another follower of Christ, Nicodemus, a wealthy man who arranged an opulent burial, adorned with various colors, reminiscent of the funerals of the kings of Israel. However, the approaching Sabbath limited the completion of all the burial rituals. They removed the body from the cross, and after quickly wrapping it in fine white linens, they laid it in a newly hewn tomb that Joseph had prepared for himself in a nearby garden, which he now dedicated to his beloved Lord.

Carved from the stone, as was customary for tombs among the Jewish people, this burial place was situated in a garden close to the location of the Lord's crucifixion. A large stone was placed at its entrance to prevent any wild animals or scavenging birds from entering.