1/25/10 Matthew 28
The Sin Continues
In the face of all the miraculous events surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection the chief priests and elders remain in their sin. This is how paralyzing sin can be in anyone’s life. When a person does not repent of his sin, then the sin continues to grow and manifest itself in the most ridiculous ways. In Mt 28:11-12 the chief priests and elders pay off the soldiers to tell a lie to anyone who may question them about what had happened to the tomb and body of Jesus. Rather than repent of their compounding sin they remain stubborn and proud, unwilling to admit that they are the ones wrong in this whole turn of events.
Their sin regarding Jesus’ final week begins with envy over the “wonderful things” Jesus was doing and the praises being shouted by the children in Mt 21:14-15. Then they become angry with Jesus as his teaching exposes their hypocrisy and they seek to devise a plan that will seize Him and kill Him in Mt 26:3-4. They see an opportunity with Judas and pay off Judas to lead them to Him at a time and a place that a riot will not ensue. The chief priests and whole council actively seek to obtain a false testimony, during a unlawful trial, to which many come forward, but none are convincing enough until one man’s testimony causes the high priest adjure Jesus regarding if He is the Christ, the Son of God or not. Jesus responds in the affirmative and the result is a verdict of the death penalty. They have been fostering lies, believing lies, and here in today’s passage crafting lies. Matthew even mentions that the lie regarding the tomb and the body of Jesus was believed widely among the Jews even during Matthews writing of his gospel.
Father, I praise you for Jesus who is the Truth. May my heart and focus be on Jesus whose life was given for me, so that I may not continue in sin and believe, foster, or craft lies. Lead me to a greater and greater knowledge of Jesus who is true. Amen