Matthew 28:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Their statements lack credibility, and their deception is entirely implausible. How could the disciples, who were poor and timid men, have carried this out when they were afraid to show themselves? Was there not a seal placed on the tomb? Were not the burial site and its entrance secured by a contingent of soldiers and Jews? Did they not harbor the same fears, watching vigilantly? And what motive would they have had to steal the body? To fabricate the concept of resurrection? How could they have thought of such an idea when they preferred to live in secrecy? How did they roll away the heavy stone? How could they escape such a large number of guards? Let them defy death; but surely, they would not willingly step into danger with so many soldiers present. Their previous actions illustrate their fear; when Christ was taken in their view, they all fled. If they were afraid to act even when He stood alive before them, how could they face an army of soldiers at His crucifixion? Was it not necessary to break the seal? Could this have been done silently, perhaps even alone? The stone was massive, requiring many hands to move it. Thus they rightly declare, "And the last flattery shall be prouder than the first," which they directed at themselves; rather than repenting for their folly, they add new absurd tales. They purchased His blood while He lived, and after His death and resurrection, they again attempted to distort the truth with silver. See how their actions ensnare them on all fronts! If they had not approached Pilate, if they had not requested guards, they might have remained unashamed; now, however, they act as if desperate to silence their own lips. If the disciples couldn’t stay awake with Jesus, even when chastised, how did they suddenly gain such resolve? Why did they not take action previously, but only after they arrived? If they had wished to do so, the first night—when there were no guards—would have provided a safer opportunity. It was only on the Sabbath that the Jews sought guards from Pilate and began their watch; on that first night, no prowlers were present. Moreover, what about the linen wrappings? Peter saw them lying there. If the disciples had intended to steal, they wouldn’t have left the body exposed; not only to avoid dishonor but because undressing it would risk waking anyone who might stop them. Moreover, removing the spices from the body would have taken time, as they adhere like glue. Hence, the implausibility of the theft becomes clear. Did they not recognize the fury of the Jews, that such an act would invite their wrath? What benefit would they gain if Christ had not risen? The Jews confessed their fabrication when they paid the soldiers, saying, “If this comes to light, we will persuade the governor.” In their futile attempts against the truth, they only served to amplify it. Their very assertion that "the disciples stole the body" verifies the resurrection; they concede the body was absent. If they admit to that absence, and the presence of guards and the cowardice of the disciples disproves their claims of theft, then the reality of the resurrection is irrefutably established. And yet, they act shamelessly; while they silence others, they proclaim, “Speak out, and we will placate you, relieving your concerns.” Note how they have conspired with Pilate, the soldiers, and the Jewish populace to suppress the truth. Do not be astonished that monetary influence subdued the soldiers; if it could sway the disciples, certainly it could overpower them. This narrative persists even to this day. Observe once more the disciples' love for the truth! How they do not shrink from admitting that such allegations have been levied against them!

The soldiers received a substantial sum and were instructed to say, "His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we slept; and if this reaches the governor, we will persuade him and absolve you of any responsibility." They accepted the payment and acted according to their teachings; this tale has circulated among the Jews to this day, and among Christians as well. What they concealed in Judea beneath gold has instead shone brightly and powerfully throughout the world. The disciples discovered Christ, but did not take Him away. You have traded in treachery, yet you did not seize the truth. But Christ is risen — and you have forfeited your riches.

Surely not one of them awakened when it was necessary to move a large stone to access the body, a task requiring several men and significant noise in the darkness.” It is hard to conceive that Roman soldiers would fall asleep on duty. Would they not have positioned themselves at the entrance to the tomb, which was even stronger than the stone itself? Their lives depended on maintaining the integrity of the seals placed by the Sanhedrin.

St. Chrysostom further questions why the disciples would commit such an act of theft. “Did they intend to fabricate the doctrine of the Resurrection? How could they devise such a story for those who preferred to dwell in darkness? And who would have moved the stone, which was sealed and guarded?”

Filaret, the Metropolitan of Moscow, queries who verifies the theft of the body. “The very guards who allegedly slept and heard nothing are the witnesses testifying to something they did not observe. Who would have the audacity to claim such a tale? The disbelieving Jews. And who would be foolish enough to believe it? Those without faith.”

“Let us ponder once more: how could the disciples of Jesus, who fled at the first hint of peril, muster the courage to undertake the seemingly impossible task of taking the body of their deceased Master from a sealed tomb, heavily protected?” Unbelief does not reason; it spreads like wildfire, fueled by sentiments of denial. Yet, if a theft indeed occurred under government guard and the perpetrators are known, would not the guards and thieves face judgment? Certainly not. The commander of the guards is unconcerned, the guards are unguarded, and the supposed kidnappers remain in Jerusalem for days without facing any strict inquiry from Jewish authorities over such a significant crime.

Moreover, when the apostles are brought before trial for preaching Christ, the Sanhedrin does not even hint at the accusation of body theft. Would not the bishops have taken the opportunity to charge them with this if they themselves had not recognized the absurdity of such a claim? “Look,” St. Chrysostom observes, “how they are ensnared by their own actions. If they had not approached Pilate or set up guards, they might have escaped unscathed. Instead, they took every measure as though attempting to silence any dissent. Had the disciples truly wished to steal the body, they would have done it on the first night when no guards were present; it would have been simple and secure. If they intended to steal, would they have taken the body without its garments, to not only maintain its dignity but also to avoid stirring anyone who might confront them? Removing the linen would have been difficult and time-consuming, as the myrrh clung tightly to both the body and the fabric.

The very improbability of such an act is evident. Did they not understand the fury of the Jews and the risk of incurring their wrath? What would be the benefit of standing up for a deceased person if Christ had not risen? The Jews themselves acknowledge that the body was not in the tomb. Therefore, the falsehood and implausibility of the alleged abduction are evidenced by the guards’ presence, the fear of the disciples, and the undeniable reality of the Resurrection. Nevertheless, they continue to act with shameful audacity.

If any malice exists, it is found here. The judgment and excesses of the populace were of little concern to those ignorant of the law; even more fearsome was Pilate, who could retaliate against the scribes for condemning Jesus by revealing a truth they found alarming. Nonetheless, gold proved mightier than any truth in the Roman courts; thus the chief priests communicated boldly to the guards, aware that Pilate would soon depart Jerusalem for Caesarea and likely pay no attention to the rumors when they reached him.

They assured the soldiers that if Pilate learned of this, they would advocate on their behalf. Once they concluded this arrangement, the chief priests provided the soldiers with money (Matthew 28:12) to ensure their compliance. The soldiers accepted the bribe and followed the instructed course of action. This account circulated among the Jews and has remained well-known even to the time of the Gospel's compilation by the Apostle Matthew. For further insights, refer to the commentary on Matthew 27:65.

They “gave sufficient money to the soldiers and instructed them, ‘Say that His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we slept. And if this report reaches the governor, we will persuade him, and we will prevent any trouble for you.’” The soldiers accepted the bribe and followed their orders. Greed triumphed over integrity. The soldiers began to spread the fabricated story, and “this word has spread among the Jews even to this day,” declares the evangelist.

It was not challenging for this falsehood to gain traction. The announcement of Christ’s resurrection is so monumental, so merciful, and so uplifting that some could momentarily reject it joyfully, as some of the disciples did. Yet, it remains impossible to deny its truth without driving oneself into stark contradiction with the entirety of history, rebelling against compelling evidence, forsaking common sense, and extinguishing the last remnants of a sense of historical accuracy. If one can entertain the notion that the Roman Emperor Tiberius never existed, or that there was a Jewish nation that scattered like dust after crucifying Christ, or that the powerful and refined deities of Greece and Rome crumbled before the preaching of fishermen, tax collectors, and carpenters, then the astonishing miracle of Christ’s resurrection—celebrated each year and even each week by the best among humanity—stands as the most credible and indisputable truth of all.

How could they have evaded such a large number of guards? What benefit would it have been for them if Jesus Christ had not risen? When we were asleep, the guards, of course, faced punishment for their negligence according to the law, but the Lord's adversaries promised to manage the situation.

If they had not approached Pilate or requested guards, they could have spread such slander; yet they did everything in this manner, seemingly attempting to silence their own fears.’ How could the disciples possibly have taken the body of Christ with guards present when they were frightened to the core by a maid’s inquiry (Matt. 26:69-72) and had fled at the sight of an armed mob just prior (Mark 14:50)? Moreover, is it conceivable that they could have stealthily stolen Christ’s body at night while the guards were asleep? How could they have approached the tomb, broken the seal, rolled away the massive stone from the entrance, entered, and taken the body without awakening at least one of the soldiers? Even if they had somehow accomplished the improbable—gaining access to the grave without being noticed—would they have lingered there, instead of swiftly removing the body, only to neatly unwrap the tightly bound linens and the headscarf and place them in an orderly fashion (John 20:6, 7)? Finally, if the guards were indeed asleep, how could they have known and testified to what they had not witnessed? These contradictions, evident upon reflection, led to further perplexities. The guards were responsible for staying awake and ensuring the safety of the body, and for failing in this duty, they should have faced severe consequences. Why, then, were they not punished but instead left unharmed and even rewarded? Additionally, the supposed kidnappers ought to have faced even harsher punishment: why was there no pursuit, no judgment, and no punishment for them? Consequently, the adversaries of Christ, rather than uncovering the truth through unbiased inquiry, attempted to obscure the divine action with a crude mix of falsehoods and deception, driven by a blind hatred and resolute disbelief.