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Scripture • World English Bible
Matthew 28:11–15
11Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city and told the chief priests all the things that had happened.
12When they were assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers,
13saying, “Say that his disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept.
14If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry.”
15So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until today.
World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain
Reflection
The resurrection provokes a response. Some run to believe and worship; others run to protect power. Matthew records a dark afterword: soldiers bribed, a cover story invented, truth traded for money and ease. This is not ancient history alone. The temptation to smooth over, to spin a story, to protect reputation is daily. It can look like avoiding confession, rationalizing compromise, or paying silence with convenience.
Matthew’s brief account forces a question: what will you not trade for a lie? The eyewitness reality of the risen King didn’t stop human sin. Men in authority chose self-preservation over truth and paid others to lie. That choice cost victims and twisted testimony. For the disciple, the alternative is costly but clear: allegiance to Christ’s truth rather than to comfort, status, or fear.
Growing as a man of God means building habits that favor truth: humble confession, accountable friendships, and practical courage in speech. Truth spoken in love protects the vulnerable, frees the conscience, and honors the King who rose in reality, not in cover stories. Choose the hard path of honesty. It’s the path that points people to the Savior who faced falsehood and death and answered with resurrection.
Putting Faith Into Action
- Tell one trusted Christian friend about a specific doubt or question you have and ask them to pray with you this week.
- Read Matthew 28:11–15 out loud, then write three sentences naming one truth you will not trade for convenient lies.
- If you face pressure to hide or spin the truth at work or home, pause and speak a clear, honest sentence about what happened; practice this once in a low-stakes situation this week.
Prayer
King Jesus, you rose in truth and defeated death. Give me courage to refuse easy lies, clarity to see when deceit tempts me, and honesty to speak the truth in love. Protect those who suffer because of truth-telling and grant wisdom to care for victims of violence and cover-up. Strengthen my heart to repent where I have hidden or hardened, and shape me into a man of integrity who follows you. Amen.
Memory Verse
Matthew 28:15 — So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until today. (WEB)
“So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until today.”
Bible Context
Read all of Matthew 28
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Bible Context
Read all of Matthew 28
Matthew 28
World English Bible • WEB
1Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
2Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky and came and rolled away the stone from the door and sat on it.
3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
4For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men.
5The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified.
6He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying.
7Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.”
8They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.
9As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.
10Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.”
11Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city and told the chief priests all the things that had happened.
12When they were assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers,
13saying, “Say that his disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept.
14If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry.”
15So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until today.
16But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them.
17When they saw him, they bowed down to him; but some doubted.
18Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
19Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain
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