Matthew 28:11-15
The hush money paid to the soldiers was an outrage, but even more outrageous was the soldiers’ and chief priest’s disbelief. The soldiers had to have known about the prediction that Jesus would rise from the dead, and certainly we know from Scripture that the chief priests and Pilate were aware. But despite their foreknowledge, the chief priests and the soldiers refused to believe – even their own eyes. Being witnesses, they willfully resisted the plain truth in order to cover it up. A very small crack in the door might be left open for the religious ruler’s stubborn refusal to accept Jesus’ miracles and sinless life, but no longer. Now not only did the chief priests and Pharisees resist the supernatural proof that Jesus was the Messiah, they paid a large sum of money to Gentile soldiers to cover it up.
The hypocrisy here is thick and deep. Pharisees are distinguished from their theological competitors, the Sadducees, primarily for believing that God will raise souls from the dead and that angels existed. Here at the Resurrection, we see both proofs: the Messiah rising from the dead and angels affirming that he had risen. What more proof did these men need that Jesus was the Messiah? He confirmed their most precious beliefs. He demonstrated an unimaginable supernatural feat despite their attempts to stop him. Why didn’t plain reason lead them to repent and believe? Why weren’t the chief priests at least rejoicing at the affirmation that their core religious beliefs were proven true?
The chief priests, set aside their ‘religious purity’ by using Gentile unbelievers to assist their cover up of the Resurrection. They not only paid a large sum of money for the soldiers to lie, but they promised to “satisfy and keep [them] out of trouble” should their paid lies get them in trouble with the governor. This is an amazing revelation. The chief priests of Israel were willing to satisfy, willing to make atonement for Gentile sinners who were paid to sin by Jewish priests, in order to appease a Gentile ruler. From the standpoint of the Law, the priests’ actions could not be more despicable. And the soldiers, in fear for their lives, were only too happy to comply.
But not all of the soldiers went to the chief priests. There were some affected enough by what they saw. Christ had risen from the grave. Jesus was alive. And grace was now being extended to persons of faith beyond the borders of Israel. And no lie could ever cover over such a great truth.
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