Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 27:63
saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
63. said After three days I will rise ] Literally in the Greek, I rise. For this present cp. ch. Mat 24:41, Mat 26:2.
It appears from this that the priests and Pharisees understood the true import of Christ’s words, “Destroy this temple, and after three days I will raise it up,” which they wilfully misinterpreted to the people.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
We remember – They had either heard him say this, or, more probably, had understood that this was one of his doctrines.
That deceiver – One of the charges against him was that he deceived the people, Joh 7:12. By this title they still chose to designate him, thinking that his death had fully confirmed the truth of the charges against him.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 63. Sir, we remember, c.] While these wicked men are fulfilling their own vicious counsels, they are subserving the great cause of Christianity. Every thing depended on the resurrection of Christ if it did not appear that he rose from the dead, then the whole system was false, and no atonement was made. It was necessary therefore that the chief priests, c., should make use of every precaution to prevent an imposture, that the resurrection of Christ might have the fullest evidence to support it. See Clarke on Mt 27:60.
The word is here very properly translated sir, which, in many other places, is as improperly translated Lord. When a Roman is the speaker, or the person addressed, should always be translated sir when strangers address our Lord, the word is a title of civil respect, and should, in general, be translated in the same way.
After three days I will rise again.] This they probably took from his saying, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will build it up. If so, they destroyed, by their own words, the false accusation they brought against him to put him to death; then they perverted the meaning, now they declare it. Thus the wise are taken in their own craftiness. Neither the devil nor his servants ever speak truth, but when they expect to accomplish some bad purpose by it.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
63. Saying, Sir, we remember thatthat deceiverNever, remarks BENGEL,will you find the heads of the people calling Jesus by His own name.And yet here there is betrayed a certain uneasiness, which one almostfancies they only tried to stifle in their own minds, as well ascrush in Pilate’s, in case he should have any lurking suspicion thathe had done wrong in yielding to them.
said, while he was yetaliveImportant testimony this, from the lips of His bitterestenemies, to the reality of Christ’s death; the corner-stone ofthe whole Christian religion.
After three dayswhich,according to the customary Jewish way of reckoning, need signify nomore than “after the commencement of the third day.”
I will rise again“Irise,” in the present tense, thus reporting not only the factthat this prediction of His had reached their ears, but that theyunderstood Him to look forward confidently to its occurring onthe very day named.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said,…. Meaning Jesus; for no better name could they give him alive or dead, and they chose to continue it; and the rather to use it before Pilate, who had a good opinion of his innocence; and to let him see, that they still retained the same sentiments of him: , “a deceiver”, is with the Jews x,
“a private person, that deceives a private person; saying to him there is a God in such a place, so it eats, and so it drinks; so it does well, and so it does ill.”
But which can never agree with Jesus, who was not a private person, but a public preacher; and who taught men, not privately, but openly, in the temple and in the synagogues; nor did he teach idolatry, or any thing contrary to the God of Israel, or to the unity of the divine being; or which savoured of, and encouraged the polytheism of the Gentiles. The Ethiopic version renders these words thus; “Sir, remember”, c. as if Christ had said this to Pilate in their hearing, and therefore put him in mind of it.
While he was yet alive so that they owned that he was dead; and therefore could not object this to the truth of his resurrection, that he was taken down from the cross alive, and did not die:
after three days I will rise again: now, though he said to his to his disciples privately, Mt 16:21, yet not clearly and expressly to the Scribes and Pharisees; wherefore they must either have it from Judas, and lied in saying they remembered it: or they gathered it either from what he said concerning the sign of the prophet Jonas, Mt 12:40, or rather from his words in Joh 2:19, and if so, they acted a most wicked part, in admitting a charge against him, as having a design upon their temple, to destroy it, and then rebuild it in three days; when they knew those words were spoken by him concerning his death, and resurrection from the dead: they remembered this, when the disciples did not: bad men have sometimes good memories, and good men bad ones; so that memory is no sign of grace.
x Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 7. sect. 10.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Sir, we remember (, ). This was the next day, on our Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, the day after the Preparation (Mt 27:62). Ingressive aorist indicative, we have just recalled. It is objected that the Jewish rulers would know nothing of such a prediction, but in Mt 12:40 he expressly made it to them. Meyer scouts as unhistorical legend the whole story that Christ definitely foretold his resurrection on the third day. But that is to make legendary much of the Gospels and to limit Jesus to a mere man. The problem remains why the disciples forgot and the Jewish leaders remembered. But that is probably due on the one hand to the overwhelming grief of the disciples coupled with the blighting of all their hopes of a political Messiah in Jesus, and on the other hand to the keen nervous fear of the leaders who dreaded the power of Jesus though dead. They wanted to make sure of their victory and prevent any possible revival of this pernicious heresy.
That deceiver ( ) they call him, a vagabond wanderer () with a slur in the use of
that (), a picturesque sidelight on their intense hatred of and fear of Jesus.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
We remember [] . Lit., we remembered : i e., it occurred to us : we have just remembered, and have come to tell you before it shall be too late.
That deceiver [ ] . The pronoun that is very picturesque; being used of distant objects, and therefore here as pointing to one who is out of the way and far removed. Planov, deceiver, is akin to planaw, to wander; and hence a vagabond imposter.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
63. We remember that that impostor said. This thought was suggested to them by divine inspiration, not only that the Lord might execute upon them just vengeance for their wickedness, (as he always punishes bad consciences by secret torments,) but chiefly in order to restrain their unholy tongues. Yet we again perceive what insensibility seizes on wicked men, when they are bewitched by Satan. They go so far as to call him an impostor, whose divine power and glory were lately manifested by so many miracles. This certainly was not to defy the clouds, but to spit in the face of God, so to speak, by ridiculing the brightness of the sun. Such examples show us that we ought, with pious and modest thoughtfulness, to direct our attention early to the glory of God when it is presented to our view, that our hardness of heart may not lead us to brutal and dreadful blindness. Now though it may appear strange and absurd for wicked men to indulge in such wicked mockery over Christ when dead, that our minds may not be rendered uneasy by this licentiousness, we ought always to consider wisely the purpose to which the Lord turns it. Wicked men imagine that they will overwhelm the whole of the doctrine of Christ, together with his miracles, by that single blasphemy, which they haughtily vomit out; but God employs no other persons than themselves for vindicating his Son from all blame of imposture. Whenever these wicked men shall labor to overturn everything by their calumnies, and shall launch out into unmeasured slander, let us wait with composure and tranquillity of mind until God bring light out of darkness.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(63) We remember that that deceiver said . . .It appears, then, that though they had deliberately stirred up the passions of the people by representing the mysterious words of Joh. 2:14 as threatening a literal destruction of the Temple (Mat. 26:61; Mat. 27:40), they themselves had understood, wholly or in part, their true meaning. We are, perhaps, surprised that they should in this respect have been more clear-sighted than the disciples, but in such a matter sorrow and disappointment confuse, and suspicion sharpens the intellect.
That deceiver.They had used the cognate verb of Him before (Joh. 7:12), and this was, perhaps, their usual way of speaking of Him.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
63. We remember It seems strange that these men should remember a prophecy of our Lord which his own disciples seemed to forget. But the disciples did not forget that our Lord made this prophecy. They were only doubtful as to its true meaning, and so practically allowed it no meaning at all. It required high faith in them to believe that he would rise on the third day; but it required little faith for these men to believe that Jesus had made this prophecy, and that his disciples might try by deception to render it apparently fulfilled. Deceiver Literally, strolling juggler.
Mat 27:63 ] we have remembered , it has just occurred to us, the sense being purely that of the aorist and not of the perfect (in opposition to de Wette).
] that deceiver (2Co 6:8 ), impostor ; Justin, c. Tr. 69: . Without once mentioning His name, they contemptuously allude to Him as one now removed to a distance , as got rid of by death . This is a sense in which ; is frequently used by Greek authors (Schoem. ad Is. p. 177; Ellendt, Lex. Soph. I. p. 559).
] present ; marking the confidence with which he affirmed it.
63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
Ver. 63. Sir, we remember, &c. ] They that had forgotten so many sweet and savoury sayings of our blessed Saviour, and written them all in the sand, could remember (but for no good purpose) that which his disciples could not so readily call to mind for their good and comfort; no, nor understand it when plainly told them, Mar 9:32 . The soul should be as a holy ark, the memory as the pot of manna, preserving holy truths for holy uses. But most men have memories like nets, that let go the clear water, catch nothing but sticks and refuse stuff; or like sieves, that retain the chaff, let go the good corn; like the creature Cervarius, that if he but look back, forgets the food he was eating, though never so hungry, and seeks for new; or Sabinus in Seneca, who never in all his life could get by heart those three names of Homer, Ulysses, and Achilles. Old songs, old wrongs, &c., they can retain sufficiently; but in matters of God, their memories serve them not.
This deceiver said ] “Men muse as they use.” Quis tulerit Gracchos? Who could have tolerated the Gracchi brothers. Who can endure to hear the devil taxing God of envy, as he did to our first parents? or these deceitful workers calling “the faithful and true witness,” , a deceiver, a cheater, one who doth profess an art of cozening men to their faces? for so the Greek word signifieth. We must look to hear all that nought is, either while alive, or when dead. Melancthon mortuus, tantum non ut blasphemus in Deum, cruci affigitur, saith Zanchy; and all because he pleased not, in all points, the peevish Lutherans. In like manner many lewd opinions were fathered upon John Wycliffe, after he was dead; yea, some that were monstrous and diabolical, as that men ought, yea, that God himself ought to obey the devil. (Speed.) And this famous doctor dying of a palsy, hath this charitable eulogy or epitaph bestowed upon him by a monk, The devil’s instrument, church’s enemy, people’s confusion, heretic’s idol, hypocrite’s mirror, schism’s broacher, hatred’s sower, lie’s forger, flattery’s sink; who at his death despaired like Cain, and stricken by the horrible judgment of God, breathed forth his wicked soul to the dark mansions of the black devil (Tho. Walsingham). The servant is not greater than his master. Him they called Beelzebub, Samaritan (that is, conjuror), traitor, and here deceiver. But what a mouth of blasphemy opened that pseudo-Christian, Emperor Frederick the Second, who was heard often to say that there had been three notorious impostors who had cheated the world, viz., Moses, Christ, and Mahomet! Oh base!
Mat 27:63 . : contemptuous reference, as to one not worthy to be named, and far off, a thing of the past removed for ever by death. : a wanderer in the first place, then derivatively, from the character of many wanderers, in N. T. a deceiver. , present for future, expressing strong confidence.
Sir. See App-98.
remember = [have been] reminded.
deceiver = impostor.
After three days. They had heard the Lord say this in Mat 12:39, Mat 12:40. This is how they understood the “three days and three nights”. See App-144 and App-166,; compare “after” in Mat 27:53.
Mat 27:63. , , saying, my Lord) They cringe to Pilate: they had not addressed him so before.-, that) They already desired Jesus to be obliterated from the memory of all.-, I am raised) The present tense.
After three days
See, Mat 16:21; Mat 17:23; Mat 20:19; Mat 26:61; Mar 8:31; Mar 10:34; Luk 9:22; Luk 18:33; Luk 24:6; Luk 24:7; Joh 2:19
that deceiver: Luk 23:2, Joh 7:12, Joh 7:47, 2Co 6:8
After: Mat 16:21, Mat 17:23, Mat 20:19, Mat 26:61, Mar 8:31, Mar 10:34, Luk 9:22, Luk 18:33, Luk 24:6, Luk 24:7, Joh 2:19
Reciprocal: Exo 9:5 – a set time 1Sa 30:12 – three days Psa 21:11 – are not Psa 41:8 – and Psa 59:12 – For the Psa 69:12 – They Psa 119:42 – So shall Pro 19:21 – many Isa 53:3 – despised Jer 29:27 – which Dan 3:19 – than Mat 12:40 – so Mat 15:32 – three Mat 26:32 – I am Mat 28:6 – as Mar 9:9 – till Luk 2:34 – for a Luk 2:46 – after Joh 20:2 – They have taken Act 2:24 – God Act 4:10 – whom God Act 5:23 – The prison Act 16:23 – to keep 1Co 15:4 – he rose Jam 2:7 – blaspheme
7:63
The Jews reminded the governor of the claim of Jesus that he would rise from the dead after three days. Yes, Jesus did declare such a thing, and the Jews had no misunderstanding of the words. But when they had a wicked motive prompting them, they perverted them to serve their hypocrisy (chapter 26:61).
Mat 27:63. We remember, etc. Comp. chap. Mat 12:40; Joh 2:19. Even if the meaning of the saving was hid from the disciples; enmity was quick to apprehend it
That deceiver. The language of triumph, despite their request. Friends and foes were both busied about the dead Christ.
Verse 63
This indicates that they had understood what Jesus meant, by the language recorded, (John 2:19,) on which they founded their false accusation of blasphemy. (Matthew 26:61.)
Jesus was in the tomb only about 36 hours, but because these hours included parts of three days the Jews viewed the period as three days long (cf. Mat 12:40). The fact that Jesus’ prediction of His resurrection had reached the ears of these men reflects badly on the disciples’ lack of faith. They should have understood and believed that Jesus would arise since knowledge of His prediction of this event was so widespread. These Sanhedrin members did not believe Jesus would rise. They wanted to guard against any plot that His disciples might concoct alleging that He arose. The Jews needed Pilate’s approval for any military action.
Jesus’ first "deception" from their viewpoint was His messiahship, and His last (second) was His claim that He would rise from the dead. The chief priests and Pharisees wanted to protect the people from deception. Matthew viewed their action as self-deception designed to deceive others. They had formerly accused Jesus of being a deceiver (Mat 26:4).
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)