The Seal

The Seal

Matthew 27:62-66, NLT

The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. 63They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ 64So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.” 65Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.” 66So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.

Setting the Scene

The day before the Sabbath was used to prepare for the Sabbath because no work was allowed from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. The Pharisees went to Pilate on the Sabbath, clearly violating their own laws.

Apparently these religious leaders knew where Jesus was buried. They also remembered he had said “after three days I will rise from the dead.” Jesus had only spoken these words to his disciples (Matthew 16:21; 17:9; 20:19), so Judas may have provided this information. The leading priests and Pharisees asked Pilate to “seal the tomb.”

The grieving disciples might have forgotten about Jesus’ promise of resurrection, but these religious leaders hadn’t. They did not believe Jesus’ claims, but they were afraid of fraud. They wanted to make sure no one would steal Jesus’ body and claim he had risen from the dead.

Hewn out of rock in the side of a hill, the tomb had only one entrance. It was made “secure” by stringing a cord across the stone that was rolled over the entrance and sealing the cord at each end with clay. Pilate gave the leaders permission to post a guard at the tomb as a further precaution. These may have been some Roman soldiers or the Temple police who were at the Jewish leaders’ disposal (see John 18:3). With such precautions, the only way the tomb could be empty would be for Jesus to rise from the dead. The Pharisees failed to understand that no power could prevent the Son of God from rising again.

Getting Personal

When have you seen others try to stop the spread of the gospel? What happened?

When have you felt opposition because of your faith in Christ?

What aspects of today’s lesson give you hope and courage?

The religious leaders thought they had the situation under control, but no tomb, rock, seal, or army could withstand God’s will and power.

Centuries later, we still encounter people, some religious, who believe they can prohibit God’s work in the world. They may be able to silence us, but they can never stop God.

Talking to God

Bring to the Lord any circumstances or relationships that seem troubled beyond resolution, remembering God’s power over every aspect of life and this world. Praise him for his power and goodness!