Book of Matthew - Chapter 28 - Verse 13

When examining the meaning of the verse "Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept," it is important to understand the context in which it is being spoken. This verse comes from the Bible, specifically the Gospel of Matthew, where the guards at Jesus' tomb are reporting to the chief priests about what happened to Jesus' body. The guards, who were tasked with keeping watch over the tomb, claim that Jesus' disciples came in the night and stole his body while they were asleep. This explanation was given by the guards as a cover-up for the supernatural events that actually took place - the resurrection of Jesus. The chief priests of the time were trying to discredit the resurrection and maintain their hold over the people, so they spread this false narrative. However, as the Gospels later reveal, the resurrection of Jesus was indeed a miraculous event that changed the course of history.

One way to interpret the phrase "disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept" is through a theological lens. Some theologians see this explanation given by the chief priests and elders in Matthew 28:13 as an attempt to cover up the miraculous resurrection of Jesus Christ. The claim that the disciples stole Jesus' body while the guards were asleep is not only implausible, but it also serves to undermine the truth of Christ's resurrection. This interpretation highlights the lengths to which some were willing to go to deny the power and divinity of Jesus. Additionally, a word study of the phrase "stole him away" reveals the underlying motives of those who spread this false narrative. The word "stole" implies deceit and dishonesty, further emphasizing the sinful nature of the chief priests and elders who were threatened by Jesus' teachings and sought to discredit His resurrection.