“Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.”
Introduction
In this brief verse from Matthew 28:13, we glimpse a moment of fear and false testimony surrounding the resurrection of Jesus. The passage invites readers to consider how doubt, danger, and worldly interests often contend with the truth of God’s gracious work. It is a reminder to seek the solid witness of God’s Word and to respond with faith, worship, and prayer rather than with fear or deception.
Historical-Cultural Context and Authorship
Matthew 28:13 comes from the Gospel of Matthew, written primarily to a Jewish-Christian audience in the first century. The verse records the chief priests’ attempted counter-narrative after Jesus’ resurrection, a claim that the disciples stole Jesus’ body while the guards slept. In the ancient world, the claim of a stolen body would be used to cast doubt on the resurrection and to preserve the authorities’ pride and control. The mention of “we slept” reflects the real vulnerability of the guards and the tension between eyewitness testimony and hostile interpretations. The verse preserves the ongoing encounter between the risen Christ and human skepticism, inviting readers to weigh testimony, motive, and the divine revelation that Jesus truly rose.
Characters and Places
- The guards who were posted at the tomb
- The chief priests and elders who concocted the story
- The disciples who, according to this claim, stole the body
- The tomb itself as the setting of the resurrection event
There are no other named places in this tiny verse, but the tomb’s emptiness and the surrounding temple authorities frame the ongoing drama of Jesus’ resurrection.
Explanation and Meaning of the Text
This verse records a proposed explanation for what happened to Jesus’ body: the disciples stole it while the guards slept. It reflects the fear of losing control and the willingness to obscure inconvenient truth. For the early Christian community, this claim is contrasted with the witness of the women at the tomb, the empty tomb, and Jesus’ appearances, all of which testify to the Resurrection. Theologically, the text presses readers to discern truth from rumor, to trust in God’s vindication of Jesus, and to consider how fear and self-preservation can drive falsehood. The verse also underscores the human cost of denying the risen Lord, reminding believers to respond not with retreat but with faith, repentance, and proclamation of the risen Christ.
Devotional
- In the face of fear and political pressure, the truth of Jesus remains secure. Let this remind us to anchor our faith not in what seems safe or popular, but in the steady testimony of Scripture and the risen Christ, who conquers fear with grace.
- Pray for clarity and courage to resist spreading or believing half-truths, and to become witnesses who choose truth, mercy, and trust in God’s ultimate sovereignty over all circumstances.