In the Gospel accounts of the New Testament, the role of soldiers in guarding the gravesite of Jesus is a significant event that underscores the tension and concern surrounding His resurrection. This episode is primarily documented in the Gospel of Matthew, which provides a detailed narrative of the measures taken by the Jewish authorities to secure the tomb of Jesus after His crucifixion and burial.

Context and Background

Following the crucifixion of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy disciple, requested permission from Pontius Pilate to take Jesus' body and lay it in his own new tomb, hewn out of rock (Matthew 27:57-60). This act of devotion was performed quickly due to the approaching Sabbath. The Jewish leaders, aware of Jesus' prophecy that He would rise on the third day (Matthew 27:63), were concerned that His disciples might steal the body and claim He had risen, thus perpetuating what they considered a deception.

The Request for a Guard

To prevent any tampering with the tomb, the chief priests and Pharisees approached Pilate with their concerns. They said, "Sir, we remember that while He was still alive, that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people, 'He has risen from the dead.' This last deception will be worse than the first" (Matthew 27:63-64).

Pilate responded to their request by granting them a guard of soldiers and instructing them to make the tomb as secure as they knew how. "You have a guard," Pilate said. "Go, make it as secure as you know how" (Matthew 27:65). The soldiers, therefore, went to the tomb, sealed the stone, and set a watch (Matthew 27:66).

The Role of the Soldiers

The soldiers' presence at the tomb was intended to prevent any interference with the body of Jesus. Their role was to ensure that the tomb remained undisturbed, thus quelling any potential claims of resurrection that might arise from the disciples. The sealing of the stone and the posting of the guard were measures taken to provide maximum security and to eliminate any possibility of tampering.

The Resurrection and the Soldiers' Report

Despite these precautions, the Gospel of Matthew records that on the morning of the third day, there was a great earthquake, and an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled back the stone, and sat on it. The guards were so terrified by the appearance of the angel, whose countenance was like lightning, that they "trembled and became like dead men" (Matthew 28:4).

After the resurrection, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. The chief priests, in consultation with the elders, devised a plan to explain the empty tomb. They gave the soldiers a large sum of money, instructing them to say, "His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep" (Matthew 28:13). The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed, and this account was widely circulated among the Jews (Matthew 28:15).

Significance

The presence of the soldiers at the tomb of Jesus serves as a testament to the lengths to which the Jewish authorities went to prevent any claims of resurrection. Ironically, their actions provided additional evidence for the miraculous nature of the resurrection, as the empty tomb and the soldiers' testimony became integral parts of the early Christian proclamation of Jesus' victory over death. The soldiers' role highlights the divine power that overcame human efforts to suppress the truth of the resurrection, a cornerstone of Christian faith.Matthew 27:65
Pilate said to them, You have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as you can.
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Matthew 28:11-15
Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and showed to the chief priests all the things that were done.
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