Matthew 28:13 (KJV)

What does Matthew 28:13 mean?

Matthew 28:13 records instructions given to the guards at Jesus’ tomb, telling them to say that Jesus’ disciples came during the night and stole his body while the guards were asleep. This verse shows an attempt to create a false explanation for the empty tomb.

The chief priests are speaking to the Roman guards after Jesus’ resurrection, trying to cover up what happened. They offer the guards a story to spread, aiming to prevent people from believing that Jesus had risen from the dead. The verse highlights the deliberate effort to shape public understanding of the events surrounding Jesus’ resurrection.

The Greek behind Matthew 28:13

• "Saying" (λέγοντες, legontes): This word introduces the instructions, showing that the priests are actively directing the guards on what to report.
• "Stole" (ἐκλέψαν, eklepsan): This verb means to steal or take secretly, emphasizing the accusation that the disciples acted in secret and with deception.
• "We slept" (ἡμῶν κοιμωμένων, hēmōn koimōmenōn): The phrase means "while we were sleeping," which would have been a serious admission for Roman guards, since sleeping on duty was a punishable offense. This detail underlines the desperation of the priests’ plan.

Why Matthew 28:13 matters

• Matthew 28:13 clarifies that the story of the disciples stealing Jesus’ body was not a rumor but a narrative deliberately invented by the authorities.
• The verse highlights the lengths to which the religious leaders went to suppress the resurrection story, even risking the guards’ reputations and safety.
• This verse connects to the wider passage by showing the contrast between the truth of the resurrection and the human attempts to deny or explain it away.