Counterfeit Truth - Matthew 28
We are to put on the belt of truth each morning as we armor up. As I read the chapter this morning, the account of the bribing of the guards caught my attention:
11 As the women were on their way into the city, some of the men who had been guarding the tomb went to the leading priests and told them what had happened. 12 A meeting of all the religious leaders was called, and they decided to bribe the soldiers. 13 They told the soldiers, "You must say, 'Jesus' disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.' 14 If the governor hears about it, we'll stand up for you and everything will be all right." 15 So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.
I don't know why, but I never really noticed this story before. I never knew the guards were bribed to keep their mouths closed about Jesus' body in the tomb. Remember last chapter, Pilate had the tomb sealed and posted guards so the body would not be taken by the disciples. Did they actually see what happened? How could they miss it? We see they went to the priests and told them what had happened, so they DID see it.
But, because of the greed of these soldiers, many who may have turned to Jesus did not. I wonder if these men knew what an impact their little lie has had...
Put on the belt of truth today.
(that concludes our look at the book of Matthew - tomorrow join us in the 1st chapter of the book of Mark)
peace,
e
