“You are to say,
The religious leaders were orchestrating a false narrative. This phrase indicates a deliberate attempt to spread misinformation. It highlights the lengths to which the authorities would go to suppress the truth of the resurrection. This act of deception is reminiscent of other instances in the Bible where truth is opposed by falsehood, such as the lies of the serpent in Genesis 3.

‘His disciples came by night
The claim that the disciples stole Jesus' body was intended to explain the empty tomb without acknowledging the resurrection. The mention of "by night" suggests secrecy and deceit, playing into the narrative that the disciples were acting unlawfully. This accusation is ironic, given that the religious leaders themselves were engaging in deceit.

and stole Him away
The idea of the disciples stealing Jesus' body was implausible, considering the Roman guard and the sealed tomb. This phrase underscores the desperation of the religious leaders to provide an alternative explanation for the resurrection. The notion of theft contrasts with the truth of Jesus' victory over death, as prophesied in scriptures like Psalm 16:10 and Isaiah 53:10-12.

while we were asleep.’
This part of the instruction is particularly problematic, as it implies negligence on the part of the guards, which would have been punishable by death under Roman law. The absurdity of the claim is evident, as sleeping guards would not have been able to witness the alleged theft. This highlights the implausibility of the story and serves to further authenticate the resurrection account by demonstrating the lengths to which the authorities would go to deny it.

The “them” refers to the Roman guards who witnessed the empty tomb. The chief priests and elders, determined to suppress the truth, immediately took charge (Matthew 28:12).

• Their reaction mirrors earlier schemes to silence Jesus (John 11:47-53).

• Instead of investigating the undeniable miracle, they marshal a cover-up, showing the hardness of unbelief even in the face of clear evidence (Luke 16:31).

• This moment fulfills Jesus’ own prediction that religious leaders would oppose the truth (Matthew 23:33-36).

A direct command: fabricate a story.

• The leaders instruct the guards to lie, violating the ninth commandment (Exodus 20:16).

• They reveal fear of the people’s faith if the resurrection story spreads (Acts 4:17-18).

• Their authority is misused to protect status rather than seek truth (Jeremiah 5:31).

Shifting blame to the disciples accomplishes two aims: discredit the followers and explain the empty tomb.

• Yet the disciples were hiding in fear that very night (John 20:19), not staging grave-robbery.

• Jesus had repeatedly foretold His resurrection (Matthew 16:21; 17:23; 20:19); the leaders knew it and had posted guards for that reason (Matthew 27:63-66).

• Darkness (“by night”) underscores the secrecy they need for their lie, opposite the open, verifiable appearances Jesus would make (1 Corinthians 15:5-7).

Theft was the only naturalistic explanation they could devise.

• The grave clothes were still orderly in the tomb (John 20:6-7), contradicting a rushed theft.

• The stone was large and sealed; moving it silently past armed guards is implausible (Mark 16:4).

• Early preaching centers on the bodily resurrection, not a missing corpse (Acts 2:32; 3:15).

• If the body had truly been stolen, producing it would have ended Christianity at once, yet no body was ever shown (Acts 5:38-39).

This part of the tale is self-defeating.

• If sleeping, the guards could not know who took the body; their testimony collapses on its own terms.

• Roman soldiers faced severe penalties, even death, for sleeping on duty (Acts 12:19 gives an example of soldiers executed for a prisoner’s escape). The bribe promised protection (Matthew 28:14), demonstrating the leaders’ willingness to manipulate both truth and justice.

• Their need to offer a large sum of money (Matthew 28:12) underscores how desperate they were to suppress the resurrection’s reality.

Matthew 28:13 records a deliberate conspiracy by the religious leaders to deny the literal, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. By bribing the guards and scripting a logically flawed cover story, they sought to maintain control and prevent the explosive spread of the gospel. The very existence of this fabricated explanation, preserved in Scripture, highlights the historical certainty of the empty tomb and, by contrast, the truth that Jesus indeed rose from the dead just as He said.