57 When it was evening , there came a rich man from Arimathea , named Joseph , who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus . 58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus . Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth , 60 and laid it in his own new tomb , which he had hewn out in the rock ; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away . 61 And Mary Magdalene was there , and the other Mary , sitting opposite the grave .
62 Now on the next day , the day after the preparation , the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate , 63 and said , "Sir , we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said , ' After three days I am to rise again .' 64 "Therefore , give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day , otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people , 'He has risen from the dead ,' and the last deception will be worse than the first ." 65 Pilate said to them, "You have a guard ; go , make it as secure as you know how ." 66 And they went and made the grave secure , and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone .
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.