Matthew 28:15 (KJV)

What does Matthew 28:15 mean?

Matthew 28:15 describes how the guards at Jesus’ tomb took money from the chief priests and followed their instructions to spread a particular story, and that this explanation was still widely circulated among Jewish people at the time the Gospel was written. The verse highlights the deliberate spread of an alternative account about what happened to Jesus’ body.

The setting is after Jesus’ resurrection, where the chief priests bribed the guards to say that Jesus’ disciples stole his body while they were sleeping. Matthew, the narrator, is explaining to his readers that this story was still commonly told among Jewish communities. The verse points to an ongoing controversy about the resurrection and shows how the official explanation was maintained through bribery and instruction.

The Greek behind Matthew 28:15

• λόγος (logos, “saying”): This word can mean “word,” “report,” or “account.” Here, it refers to the specific story or explanation the guards were told to spread, emphasizing that it became a widely accepted narrative.
• διεφημίσθη (diephēmísthē, “reported”): This verb means “spread abroad” or “made widely known.” It underscores that the story was not just told privately but became a common report among many people.
• μέχρι (mechri, “until”): This word means “up to” or “until.” Matthew is stressing that the story was still being told even at the time he was writing, showing its persistence.

Why Matthew 28:15 matters

• Matthew 28:15 clarifies that the story of the disciples stealing Jesus’ body was not a rumor but an intentionally spread explanation, supported by the religious authorities.
• The verse shows the tension and competing narratives about Jesus’ resurrection that existed in the early years of Christianity.
• By mentioning that the story was still “commonly reported,” Matthew is addressing readers who may have heard this explanation, providing context for why such a story was circulating.