What does Matthew 27:66 mean?
"So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch." - Matthew 27:66
Matthew 27:66 in the King James Version of the Bible reads, "So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch." This verse is part of the story of Jesus' burial, which comes at the end of the chapter that describes his crucifixion.
To truly understand the significance of this verse, we need to consider its context within the larger narrative of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. In the preceding verses, we see that Jesus has been crucified, died, and then placed in a tomb. The religious leaders are concerned that Jesus' followers might try to steal his body and then claim that he has risen from the dead, which would further fuel the growing movement of Christianity. In response to this fear, the religious leaders take action to secure the tomb. They do this by sealing the stone that covers the entrance to the tomb and setting a guard to watch over it.
This act of sealing the tomb and setting a watch is significant on a number of levels. First, it reveals the depth of the religious leaders' fear and insecurity. They are so threatened by the teachings and potential resurrection of Jesus that they are willing to go to great lengths to prevent his body from being taken from the tomb. This fear is a testament to the power and influence of Jesus, even in his death.
Furthermore, the act of sealing the tomb and setting a watch serves to emphasize the finality of Jesus' death. In doing so, it appears that those who have crucified Jesus have ensured that he will not rise again. This sets the stage for the miraculous nature of Jesus' resurrection, which is one of the central tenets of the Christian faith.
The symbolism in this verse is rich and multifaceted. The sealed tomb represents the idea of closure and finality. It is a physical representation of the end of Jesus' earthly life and the depths of his suffering. However, while the sealed tomb signifies finality to those who have crucified Jesus, it also sets the stage for the miraculous and unexpected. As Christians know, the sealed tomb is merely a prelude to the resurrection and the triumph over death.
In a broader sense, the sealed tomb and set guard represent the forces of darkness and death that are ultimately overcome by the power of God. This imagery underscores the central theme of the triumph of good over evil and the victory of life over death.
The act of sealing the tomb and setting a watch also provides an opportunity for reflection on the nature of faith and belief. Even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles and overwhelming darkness, the Christian faith teaches that hope and transformation are always possible. The sealed tomb serves as a reminder that our own struggles and sufferings are not the end of the story. Just as Jesus emerged from the sealed tomb, so too can we experience new life and resurrection in our own lives.
In conclusion, Matthew 27:66 is a verse that holds deep significance within the broader narrative of Jesus' crucifixion and burial. It serves as a powerful symbol of the finality of death and the forces of darkness, while also pointing to the ultimate triumph of life and light. This verse invites us to contemplate the transformative power of faith and the hope that springs eternal, even in the face of despair.
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Matthew 27:66 - "So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch."
"So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch." - Matthew 27:66
Matthew 26:66 - "What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death."
Matthew 27:57-66 - "Matthew 27:57-66 57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. 61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. 62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch."
"What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death." - Matthew 26:66
Matthew 27:46
Matthew 27:35
Matthew 24:27
Matthew 27:26
Matthew 27:26
Matthew 27: 38
Matthew 27:27 - "Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers."
Matthew 7:24-27
Matthew 27:16 - "And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas."
Matthew 27:36 - "And sitting down they watched him there;"
Matthew 27:18 - "For he knew that for envy they had delivered him."
Matthew 22:27 - "And last of all the woman died also."
Matthew 27:39 - "¶ And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,"
Matthew 27:8 - "Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day."
Matthew 27:28 - "And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe."
Matthew 27:7 - "And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in."
Matthew 27:10 - "And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me."
Matthew 27:41 - "Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,"
Matthew 18:27 - "Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt."
Matthew 27:52 - "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,"
Matthew 27:12 - "And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing."
Matthew 27:61 - "And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre."
Matthew 20:27 - "And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:"
Matthew 27:30 - "And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head."
"Matthew 27:57-66 57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. 61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. 62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch." - Matthew 27:57-66