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Explanation for:
Matthew
28
:
11
Who when they were departed, behold some of the guards came into the city, and told the chief priests all things that had been done.
10
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"A seismic event transpired to instill fear in the warriors, transforming them into witnesses of the miraculous. This is the account of what unfolded. The testimony of the guards regarding these occurrences is far from dubious; some phenomena were evident across the cosmos, while others were revealed discreetly to those present at the tomb. The universal sign was darkness, and the private manifestations included the appearance of an angel and a quake. When the guards reported the resurrection (and indeed, the truth shines even from the lips of its adversaries), they were bribed with silver coins to assert that, “His disciples came and stole Him away.” How could they steal Him? Oh, the folly! The truth is so evident that they struggle to fabricate their lies. Their claims are utterly implausible, lacking any credibility. Consider, how could these humble and fearful men, who hesitated to reveal themselves, manage to carry out such a theft? Was there not a seal placed upon the tomb? Was the tomb not vigilantly guarded by both soldiers and Jewish authorities? Did they not harbor the very fears they attempted to ignore, keeping watch with great care? And what motive would they have to steal? To fabricate the doctrine of the resurrection? Yet how could such concepts emerge from those who preferred anonymity? How could they move aside the sealed stone? How would they evade so many witnesses? They might disdain death, but surely they wouldn't recklessly engage in such peril amidst a multitude of guards. Their past behavior reveals their trepidation; when Christ was seized before them, they scattered in fear. But if they couldn't muster courage even upon seeing Him alive, how could they find bravery amidst a legion of soldiers at His crucifixion? Was breaking the tomb’s seal not required? Could such an act have been executed in secret, single-handedly? The stone was substantial; it necessitated many hands to shift it. They inadvertently pronounced their folly when they said, “The last deception shall be bolder than the first”—a truth they should have repented of, yet instead, they added new absurdities to their existing lies. They conspired against His blood while He lived; post-crucifixion and resurrection, they continued their deceit with financial incentives aimed at discrediting the truth of the resurrection. Observe how they entangle themselves with their own actions! Had they not approached Pilate, had they not requested a guard, they might have persisted in their deceit. However, their very actions suggested a desperate attempt to silence contenders of the truth. If the disciples struggled to remain awake with Jesus despite His rebukes, where then did they find such newfound strength? Why did they not attempt the theft previously, instead of waiting until your arrival? If they had the intent, that first night would have been their safest opportunity when the tomb was unguarded. It was only on the Sabbath that the Jews approached Pilate to secure guards, initiating their watch; initially, there were no sentries present. Moreover, what of the mercy-seat? Peter witnessed it left behind. If the disciples had intended to steal, they would hardly have done so without safeguarding the body from disgrace, and they would have taken care not to disturb any potential witnesses. The task of removing the burial garments was labor-intensive, as the myrrh adhered to both the body and the clothes much like glue. Hence, the implausibility of such an abduction becomes evident. Did they not realize the wrath of the Jews, that such an action would elicit their fury? What benefit would there have been if Christ had not risen? The Jewish leaders themselves acknowledged fabricating the entire tale when they offered the silver, declaring, “If this is divulged, we will placate the governor.” In their futile battle against the truth, they sought to propagate falsehoods, yet in their efforts to conceal the truth, they inadvertently showcased it. Their very statement, “As the disciples stole away,” corroborates the resurrection; they concede that the body was absent. If they admit that the body was indeed missing, and if the presence of the guards at the tomb alongside the fear of the disciples nullifies the likelihood of theft, then the resurrection is substantiated. Nevertheless, they shamelessly persist, attempting to silence all dissent with the ultimatum, “Speak out, and we will appease you to silence your sorrow.” Observe their conspiracy alongside Pilate, the soldiers, and the Jewish populace. Yet, do not be astonished that money swayed the soldiers. If it held such power over the disciples, how much more so over them? This narrative continues to echo to this day. Again, witness the disciples' unwavering commitment to truth! They show no shame in facing the rumors propagated about them!"},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The guards acknowledge the wonder: they rush into the city to inform the chief priests of what they witnessed, the realization of which they had been contemplating."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The sentinels relayed all the events: an earthquake had occurred, the stone had rolled away on its own, and they were filled with fear, becoming as if lifeless. Yet the leaders among the Jews, blinded neither by the wonders witnessed during the Passion nor by the soldiers’ accounts of the occurrences at the sepulcher, infected the guards with their own greed, encouraging them to utter the most blasphemous and irrational claim: that He had been taken. But, O foolish ones, how could the disciples, who were in hiding out of fear and dared not venture out, be the ones to steal Him? If they had indeed stolen Him, how could they go on to suffer death for Him, proclaiming that He had risen, enduring persecution for something false?"},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The holy women rushed one by one to the apostles to proclaim the joyful news of the Resurrection. So many witnesses had seen the Lord! A multitude of eyes had beheld Him! Yet, to the Apostles, their testimonies appeared to lack substance (Luke 24:11), and they were skeptical. Only St. Peter chose to sprint to the tomb again, hoping for some revelation. Upon his arrival, he found nothing new compared to what he had previously witnessed and returned, filled with wonder at the events that had transpired (Luke 24:12). At that moment, one could imagine that his spirit was particularly burdened; perhaps he thought it was not his fault that the Lord had notrevealed Himself to the other apostles. It is quite possible that during this time, the Lord made an appearance to him to comfort and soothe his heart. The apostle Paul mentions that the Lord appeared to His earthly brother James (1 Cor. 15:7). \\n\\nMeanwhile, as the holy women journeyed to see the apostles, turmoil erupted in Caiaphas’ palace. Some guards, likely the leaders of the assigned detail who were obliged to report all that occurred at the tomb, entered the city and informed those present of everything they had witnessed. This news hit the adversaries of Jesus like a bolt from the blue. No matter how much they wished to deny the momentous miracle of the resurrection, the testimonies were undeniable, and not from casual bystanders but from the very soldiers who had possibly mocked the condemned Jesus just two days prior—these hardened Roman soldiers relayed with dread the stories of the earthquake, the appearance of the radiant angel, and the sudden rolling away of the stone from the entrance of the tomb. What could the Lord's enemies possibly do? It is evident that they accepted the reality of Christ's Resurrection sooner than the apostles did, yet their faith resembled that of demons, who believe and tremble (James 2:19)."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Certain members of the guard, likely the chief of those stationed there, were responsible for reporting the events that transpired, as they were subject to Roman military law for leaving their post. These guards went to the chief priests rather than to Pilate, since their assignment was given by the chief priests, who were adversaries of Christ, not by the governor."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"As the soldiers regained their composure, they moved away from the tomb and naturally proceeded to report all that had transpired to their superiors; some of them went to the high priests who had assigned them to guard. Upon reaching the chief priests, they recounted everything they had witnessed and heard. For additional insights, refer to the discussion of Matthew 27:65."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The warriors pounded vigorously on the doors of the community’s elders, who, startled by the unexpected disturbance, quickly convened a meeting to suppress and eliminate the news forthwith. However, the fabrications they sought to use to silence the Author of Life had now deserted them. Even had they managed to silence every living witness to the miraculous resurrection, the dead themselves would still testify. Many departed souls, whose bodies had experienced a surge of new life at the moment of Christ's crucifixion, arose from their graves alongside the Prince of Life, entering the city and appearing to numerous people."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"As the joyful news of Christ's resurrection began to circulate among the faithful, His adversaries sought to muffle and distort this sacred truth. The Roman guards, frightened by the angel's appearance and the tremor of the earth, retreated into the city, where some approached the high priests to recount all they had seen at the tomb of Christ. They were acutely aware of the harsh penalties that awaited them for failing to perform their duties (cf. Acts 12:19), should the governor inquire about their abandonment of their post. In their haste, they sought refuge with the Jewish leaders, hoping to escape the repercussions of the law. The gravity of the situation prompted the convening of the Sanhedrin. It remains unclear how the Sanhedrin members interpreted the reports from the guards; they could have blamed malevolent forces, echoing the Pharisees’ claim that Christ’s miracles were due to the power of Beelzebub, the ruler of demons (Matthew 12:24), or they might have suspected deception from the guards colluding with the followers of the crucified Messiah. However, they were concerned that this extraordinary event might become known amidst a city teeming with pilgrims from across the globe, just as the soldiers had described. Rather than delve into an immediate investigation that could lead to further complications and incite public speculation, the chief priests and elders opted to distort and suppress the unwelcome news through the same voices that had delivered it."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The astonishing occurrences surrounding Christ's resurrection left the soldiers in such shock that they appeared almost lifeless. Once they regained their senses, they rushed into the city to inform the high priests of the events. In response, the priests offered the soldiers money to spread a false narrative, claiming that the disciples had stolen the body of their Lord during the night while the guards slept. To alleviate the soldiers' concerns about facing punishment for their negligence in front of the governor, the priests assured them of further compensation from the governor himself."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Simultaneously, the report of Jesus’ resurrection was relayed to His adversaries by the soldiers. The Jews encountered yet another form of skepticism, a resistance fortified against the truth. It is clear that the guards had departed prior to the unveiling of the Lord, as evidenced by Mary’s inquiry to the angels regarding the Lord's body. Had the guards been present, she surely would have posed the same question to them."}]}
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