Verses 1-2 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: 2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
Notice that the verse above states that ALL the chief priests and elders were involved in the conspiracy to destroy Jesus. This group would have included members of the Sanhedrin, the 70 member supreme court in Israel. They were either at the palace all night or they arrived around day break as the Greek word translated as “morning” is “proia” and it means early or at day break. They were not wasting time as they had to take Jesus before the governor, convince Pilate to condemn Him, and then kill Him, all of which would take time. Pontius Pilate was the sixth Roman procurator of Judah and the name ‘Pontius’ means of the sea, and the name Pilate means armed with a spear.
Application: Consider the ridiculousness of a supreme court made up of 70 fallible men plus the high priest (in this case, Caiaphas), who were created by Jesus who held their breath in His hands, passing judgement upon the Judge of this world. All Jesus had to do was to let their breath leave their bodies and they would have all been very dead. But a price had to be paid so that future generations could have a way to access the throne of God and receive forgiveness of their sins and eternal life in Heaven. The LORD Jesus Christ paid that price as the sacrificial “. . . Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29 “. . . and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:” Daniel 5:23 “In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:10 “The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.” Job 33:4
Verses 3-5 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
It is not known what Judas Iscariot was really thinking. Some scholars believe that Judas truly repented of his sin and wanted forgiveness, and others believe that he repented but not for his sin, but for regret that his plans were not going as planned. Judas Iscariot knew Jesus had power and that He could take over the nation Judah, but like so many people today, Judas misunderstood Scripture and he did not differentiate between the suffering Messiah and the triumphant King. Perhaps he thought that his actions of betrayal would force Jesus to usurp the Roman government. When Jesus did not defend Himself, Judas knew that he had made a mistake and wanted to undo it by giving back the blood money he had received. Did this act and his form of repentance save him? Apparently not. Jesus stated in His prayer as recorded in John 17:12, “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition: that the scripture might be fulfilled.“ Perdition is defined as a state of eternal punishment and damnation after death – Hell.
Verses 6-10 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. 7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. 8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. 9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; 10 And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.
“And I said unto them, if ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them into the potter in the house of the LORD.” Zechariah 11:12-13 Notice the hypocrisy of the religious leaders who gave this money from the treasury to buy the betrayal and murder of Jesus and then who refused to put the money back in the treasury because of how they had used it.
Verses 11-14 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. 12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? 14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
The Jews had accused Jesus of claiming to be equal with God, so Pilate asked Jesus to clarify this accusation. Remember that the Romans were polytheistic and had many gods and were very superstitious, so this would have been a subject of interest to Pilot. Jesus answered in the positive, but did so by simply referring to Pilate’s question and not by actually stating “yes”. The Geek word translated as “sayest” is “lego” and it means to say, to speak, to affirm, to point out with words, and to teach. So in today’s English language, Jesus was basically answering the question by saying to Pilate, “You said it.” But the religious leaders continued to accuse Him of everything they could use to insure a guilty verdict. And Jesus, by not answering, impressed Pontius Pilate very much and just frustrated the Jews very much.
Application: These Jewish elite political and religious leaders had to be so full of envy and hatred that they could not see that they were trying to question the very God who formed them in their mother’s womb and who gave them life. Jesus metaphorically was/is the potter and all of mankind are merely the pots that can be useful to the Kingdom of God or can be useless and easily destroyed. “Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?” Romans 9:21 “O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.” Jeremiah 18:6 These hypocrites accusing Jesus of being who He really was and knowing full well that He fulfilled prophecy regarding the coming Messiah only wanted to advance their earthly kingdom and chose to ignore the Scripture to their peril. They were not destroyed because they were fulfilling prophecy, but they had to answer for their terrible sin when they physically died and stood before Judge Jesus.
Verses 15-18 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. 16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? 18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
The fact that the Apostle Matthew records the feast that Pilate was acknowledging as “that feast” tends to indicate that the feast was a Roman one and not the Jewish Passover. Matthew could have easily recorded these events as being during the Passover week long celebration. The Passover meal was held by Jesus with His disciples and the events in these verses occurred the next day after the Passover feast. Since the Passover celebration lasted a week, Jesus’ arrest, unlawful trial and execution went on during the week of the Passover celebration. Furthermore, the release of a criminal was never part of the Passover celebration as Mosaic law established set punishments for specific crimes.
Application: The name Barabbas means “son of a father or master”. This is interesting as Barabbas was the first man in the recorded text to receive physical freedom from his sins (robbery) because of the death of the Master, the LORD Jesus Christ. Jesus had to die for Barabbas to live. Jesus had to die so that mankind could receive forgiveness and life eternal.
Verses 19-20 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
Pontius Pilate should have listened to his wife. He did not have to rule in favor of the chief priests and elders, but he did so due to political pressure. Rome was not happy when the governors of the Israeli territory did not keep the peace, and the mob atmosphere created by the Jewish leaders inciting the people could have led to Pilate losing his position and power should a riot occur. History is inconsistent regarding the final days of Pilate’s life. Some say he was ordered back to Rome by Emperor Caligula where he was either executed or ordered to commit suicide, and others report that he was exiled and as a result, committed suicide. Still others believe he converted to Christianity before he died.
Verses 21-23 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. 22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
When given a choice, the people chose a criminal over their God. Pilate did not believe that Jesus was guilty of anything that would require the sentence of death. But he had lost control of the situation and the mob was in charge.
Application: “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9 This statement by King Solomon is true. Just as the mob in Jesus’ day when given a choice between good and evil (the righteous LORD Jesus and the criminal Barabbas) chose evil, today when sharing the Gospel with unrepentant people, it is amazing to see that they will usually continue to serve that which is evil and wrong and reject that which is good and right. They choose sin, death and Hell over salvation, God and Heaven.
Verses 24-26 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. 25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. 26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
Pilate made a visible show of his displeasure in the Jewish people’s behavior and in the Jewish leadership’s corrupt accusations and demands for death of who Pilate thought was just a man that was clearly not guilty. But washing his hands did not make him innocent. He had the power and the military behind him, but he caved in to political correctness and protected his governmental position rather than dispensing just judgement. Furthermore, he released into the general public a dangerous criminal. No, his hands were not clean.
Application: The Jewish people of Jesus’ day made an agreement that the blood of Jesus be on them and on their children rather than on Pontius Pilate. And so it has been that the Jew’s lost their nation, were spread throughout the world where they have not been welcome by most nations, have experienced a degree of persecution, have no temple of record proving that they are Jews, and unless they convert to Christianity, have no hope of eternal life in Heaven. Yes, they put upon themselves and upon their children a curse and only by accepting the guilt of their sins and repenting and asking for forgiveness will they have the joy of a relationship with the God who chose them originally to be a special people unto Himself. The way to Heaven is through the LORD Jesus Christ for both the Jew and the Gentile. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
Verses 27-30 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
The disrespect and torture Jesus endured is self-explanatory in the above verses. Remember that He could have destroyed all of the players in this conspiracy and the entire nation of Israel and started over with His plan for mankind and for the Earth if He had wanted to. Back in the book of Exodus, the LORD considered destroying the Hebrew people and starting afresh with Moses and his family, but Moses talked Him out of this course of action, so He did not destroy them out of respect for Moses and it was the descendants of these people who rejected Jesus and the eternal life He offered to them. But He loved the people too much and so willingly endured the disgusting treatment given to Him.
Verses 31-32 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. 32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
The Greek word translated as “mocked” is “empaizo” and it means to play with, trifle with, or deceive. The robe the soldiers removed was a scarlet one. In Scripture, scarlet is representative of sin. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; thought they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18 By placing a scarlet robe on Jesus, the soldiers were not making fun of the accusation that He was king of the Jews, but were making fun of Him as if He was a sinner or a prostitute. Jesus’ torture at the hands of the Roman soldiers was so severe that He could not carry the wooden beam that was to be used in His execution.
Verses 33-37 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, 34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. 35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. 36 And sitting down they watched him there; 37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
The name, Golgotha, means “skull”. It is thought that this place outside of Jerusalem was called by this name because its shape or form resembled a skill.
The vinegar offered to Jesus was thought to be made of sour wine and water and that it was a drink the Roman soldiers were accustomed to drinking. Why didn’t Jesus drink this mixture? He would have been thirsty after being tortured all night and the beverage may have dulled the pain He was experiencing. The answer is in the previous chapter of Matthew. “But I say unto you I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Matthew 26:29 Jesus was still in the world in His physical body.
Psalms 22:18 states, “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.” The Roman soldiers complimented their income by taking the possessions of the condemned. In this case, they did not want to tear up the garments Jesus owned and so they cast lots to see which one of them would get the clothing. Again, Bible prophecy is accurate and complete because it is from God who knows all things from the past, in the present, and in the future.
Verses 38-40 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. 39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
The mockers in the crowd had not understood Jesus’ statement about the temple. He was not referring to the physical structure in Jerusalem, but He was referring to His physical body. Since the Spirit of God was living inside His body, where the Spirit is so is the Temple. Jesus was referring to His death, burial, and resurrection in three days.
Application: Christian believers have the Holy Ghost/Spirit living inside their bodies. Therefore, each believer is a temple of God. In the Old Testament days, God had a Temple for His people. Now, God has a people for His Temple. “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, and holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1Peter 2:4
What do you, the reader, think would have happened had Jesus come down from the cross as these evil people were commanding. Would they finally believe Him? This writer doubts that they would have fallen to their knees and repented had Jesus come down from the cross. He had been performing huge miracles for over three years and they were still skeptical, envious and cruel in their thoughts and in their actions towards someone who had never harmed them. They were serving Satan. They were murderers. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 8:44
Verses 41-44 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 The Jewish religious leaders, the Jewish lawyers, and the Jewish governing body did not understand the very Scripture that they were supposed to guard and teach to the people. If they had, they would have understood that the Son of God, the LORD Jesus Christ, had come and was their promised suffering Messiah who had to die for their sins. But then He would resurrect and come again later as a conquering King. Being voluntarily controlled by evil spirits, these men did what they did to protect their position, power, and their purse.
Verses 45-49 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. 48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. 49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
The Jewish 24 hour day starts at 6 PM and ends at 5:59 PM. The differentiation between day and night is 12 hours each as their day starts at 6 AM and goes to 5:59 PM and then the night starts the new 24 hour day from 6 PM to 5:59 AM. So the Jewish clock goes from darkness to light as opposed to going from 12 midnight to 11:59 PM or darkness to darkness. Therefore, the sixth hour would have been today’s 12 noon and the ninth hour today’s 3 PM. This was three hours of darkness in what should have been the brightest and hottest part of the day. The number three in Scripture represents perfection. Historians writing during this time report that the darkness was not confined to Jerusalem or the nation Israel, but that it was everywhere. This author cannot confirm this at this time, but one of the stories as to why Pontius Pilate was called to Rome by Emperor Caligula is that this darkness occurred in Rome also, and their superstition was that the darkness indicated the death of a good king somewhere in the world and so this was very worrying to the leadership.
Application: Why did Jesus cry out that God had forsaken Him? This can be a very confusing point if it is not remembered that God is a single Spirit and that He inhabits everything all at the same time (which is why the man Jesus could pray to the Father), that He manifests Himself in three ways (and is not three gods: god the father, god the son and god the holy spirit), and that He chose to come to Earth and inhabit a human body of flesh so that He could relate to His created beings and be a flesh and blood sacrifice for sin. Then when the sins of the whole world were put upon Him at His crucifixion, God the Father who was living in the body of Jesus, had to leave that body of flesh as a holy, righteous God cannot be in a body that is now carrying the sins of all mankind. Jesus was/is both man and God. This is difficult for believers to understand and so this is where faith comes in.
Verses 50-53 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Notice that Jesus “yielded” or let go of the ghost. Jesus was in charge of everything from the time of His arrest to His death. The Jews and the Roman soldiers thought they were in control of the events, but they were not.
The veil (spelled vail in the Old Testament) was made by Moses according to God’s specifications for the purpose of separating the place where the ark of the covenant was positioned and the rest of the Tabernacle. Curtains were made for the walls and doors of the Tabernacle as it was a tent and needed to be portable when the Hebrew people traveled in the wilderness, but the vail was an item of separation that kept the people from the presence of God. It was a barrier. It separated a Holy God from sinful man. The high priest would enter once a year, but no one else was allowed in this place referred to as the Holy of Holies as they would die. The high priest had bells sewn into the hem of his garment so that should he be struck dead as evidenced by no tinkling of the bells, his body could be removed by pulling on a rope attacked to his ankle or waist. “And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.” Exodus 26:31 & 33 It was beautiful and it was reported to be very thick. It was estimated to be 60 feet long and 30 feet wide and it was so heavy that it took 300 or so priests to manipulate it. It was designed that way to protect the people from accidentally falling against it and into the Holy of Holies where they would instantly die. Therefore, the renting of the veil was a supernatural event by God as no man could have torn it from the top to the bottom. When it was torn apart, the people could then see that the ark of the covenant was not there. It had been taken by the Babylonians and was never returned. Hence the Jewish people had been worshiping a false religion perpetuated by the religious elite. They had been lied to. By crucifying Jesus, the Jewish elite exposed their own lie. “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.” Luke 12:2
Application: This tearing of the veil signified that as a result of the crucifixion of Jesus, there was no longer a barrier between God and man. No longer was there needed a priest or mediator as the people could access directly the throne room of God through prayer and the reading of His Word. This is all part of the New Covenant. Part of Hebrews chapter 10 is included here as it deals with the veil and the significance of this historical event.
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) Hebrews 10:1-23
The earthquake opened graves and, after the resurrection of Jesus, dead people came out of those graves and were recognized by those who were living. Rocks split apart also. This indicates tremendous force. The physical death of Jesus not only affected mankind, but it affected the very Earth upon which mankind lives. This resurrection of the bodies of the saints proved to the world that Jesus’ words were true and that His death gave/gives life, both physical and spiritual.
Verses 54-56 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. 55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: 56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.
Put yourself in the place of the soldiers. They were following orders as they wanted a paycheck just like any other working man. It did not matter what their personal feeling was towards Jesus and His teachings or towards the Jews and their behavior. The job was just a job. Then all of a sudden things happen in the natural world that were not natural. It was not natural to be in the dark for three hours. A solar eclipse only lasts for a short time. It was not natural for the extent of the hatred these soldiers were seeing on the faces of the crowd towards a man who really had not broken any laws. It was not natural for an earthquake of that magnitude to strike at the very minute Jesus died. It was not natural for rocks to just split apart and for graves to open up. This was a very frightening time. So being superstitious, of course they decided that Jesus was really the Son of God. Only a god had such power. Whether these soldiers understood the significance of what they were saying is not known. What is known is that the chief priests, scribes and Jewish elders saw and felt all of these things also and did not repent. They continued to deny their Messiah.
Verses 57-61 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he 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 great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. 61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
John 19:38 records that this Joseph of Arimathaea, “. . . being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus:” The Jews were the main persecutors of Jesus and His disciples and then the main persecutors of the Church as it formed and spread throughout the world. Joseph, even though a rich man and therefore a man with a certain amount of power, was afraid of them enough to not openly declare his following of Jesus. Notice that the Marys were at the crucifixion and then they apparently followed the body of Jesus to the sepulchre. They had ministered to Jesus when He was physically alive and they were ministering to Him now that He was physically dead.
Verses 62-66 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. (Matthew 27)
Projection is when a person accuses another person of doing, saying or being something that they themselves are guilty of doing, saying, or being. The chief priest and Pharisees referred to Jesus as “that deceiver”, the Greek word translated as deceiver being “planos” which means misleading, leading into error, an imposter, or a corrupter. These were the very traits that these Jewish leaders possessed. Jesus did not have these traits as He was/is without sin, yet they put or projected their own traits upon Him when speaking to Pontius Pilate. Notice also that they stated Jesus said He would rise after three days. Jesus was accused of saying “. . . I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.” Matthew 26:61 The Jewish leadership at the time of the fake and unlawful trial did not acknowledge that they understood Jesus was referring to His physical body, and yet in their statement to Pilate, they understood. So to prevent the possibility of His resurrection, they thought they could seal the stone and post a guard and that would take care of their apprehension.