57 And in the evening, there came a man of wealth from Arimathaea, Joseph by name, who was a disciple of Jesus: 58 This man went in to Pilate, and made a request for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate gave orders for it to be given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body, folding it in clean linen, 60 And put it in the resting-place which had been cut out of the rock for himself; and after rolling a great stone to the door of it he went away. 61 And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, seated by the place of the dead.
62 Now on the day after the getting ready of the Passover, the chief priests and Pharisees came together to Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we have in mind how that false man said, while he was still living, After three days I will come again from the dead. 64 Give orders, then, that the place where his body is may be made safe till the third day, for fear that his disciples come and take him away secretly and say to the people, He has come back from the dead: and the last error will be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said to them, You have watchmen; go and make it as safe as you are able. 66 So they went, and made safe the place where his body was, putting a stamp on the stone, and the watchmen were with them.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 27:57-66
Commentary on Matthew 27:57-61
(Read Matthew 27:57-61)
In the burial of Christ was nothing of pomp or solemnity. As Christ had not a house of his own, wherein to lay his head, while he lived, so he had not a grave of his own, wherein to lay his body, when he was dead. Our Lord Jesus, who had no sin of his own, had no grave of his own. The Jews designed that he should have made his grave with the wicked, should have been buried with the thieves with whom he was crucified, but God overruled it, so that he should make it with the rich in his death, Isaiah 53:9. And although to the eye of man the beholding a funeral may cause terror, yet if we remember how Christ by his burial has changed the nature of the grave to believers, it should make us rejoice. And we are ever to imitate Christ's burial in being continually occupied in the spiritual burial of our sins.
Commentary on Matthew 27:62-66
(Read Matthew 27:62-66)
On the Jewish sabbath, the chief priests and Pharisees, when they should have been at their devotions, were dealing with Pilate about securing the sepulchre. This was permitted that there might be certain proof of our Lord's resurrection. Pilate told them that they might secure the sepulchre as carefully as they could. They sealed the stone, and set a guard, and were satisfied that all needful care was taken. But to guard the sepulchre against the poor weak disciples was folly, because needless; while to think to guard it against the power of God, was folly, because fruitless, and to no purpose; yet they thought they dealt wisely. But the Lord took the wise in their own craftiness. Thus shall all the rage and the plans of Christ's enemies be made to promote his glory.