Matthew 28:14

And if this come to the gouernours eares, wee will perswade him, and secure you. Matthew 28:14 (KJV)

In order to better understand this verse, let’s explore the context in which it appears. Matthew 28:14 is found towards the end of the Gospel of Matthew, specifically in the account of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Prior to this verse, the passage describes the events that unfolded after Jesus’ resurrection. In Matthew 28:11-15 the chief priests and elders conspired with the soldiers who guarded Jesus’ tomb. They bribed the soldiers and instructed them to spread a false story, claiming that the disciples came at night and stole His body while the guards were asleep. The religious leaders promised to protect the guards from any consequences they might face because of their failure to secure the tomb.

The verse records the chief priests and elders speaking to the soldiers, saying, “If this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.” In other words, if the deception became known, they would intervene with the governor, persuade him of their fabricated story, and protect the soldiers from any adverse repercussions.

This statement highlights the lengths to which the religious leaders went to suppress the truth of Jesus’ resurrection. Their motive was to deny the reality of Jesus’ triumph over death and to prevent further spread of His teachings. Yet their attempts to cover up the resurrection only added to the evidence of its truth. From a theological standpoint, the verse reminds us that human efforts to suppress or deny the truth of God ultimately prove futile. Despite the conspiracy of the religious leaders, the resurrection of Jesus Christ could not be silenced. It remains the central event of Christian belief, demonstrating the power and victory of Jesus over sin and death.

In summary, Matthew 28:14 reveals the plot of the religious leaders to conceal the truth of the resurrection by promising to persuade the governor and secure the soldiers involved. The verse underscores the futility of human schemes against divine truth and emphasizes the undeniable reality of Jesus’ triumph over death.