Matthew 27:66 (WEB)
So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone.
As quoted in the map (KJV)
Matthew 27:66 (KJV)
So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
Key words
- σφραγίσαντες τὸν λίθονsphragisantes ton lithon · Greek
- 'sealing the stone' — the tomb is officially sealed and guarded.
- κουστωδίαkoustōdia · Greek
- 'a watch' — a Roman guard, from the Latin custodia.
Why it matters
The tomb is sealed and guarded, and on Easter morning the stone is still in place when the angel arrives (28:2). Pitre draws on Ephrem, who saw the sealed tomb as a witness to the sealed womb (p 137): Jesus passed out of the closed tomb as he came out of the virginal womb. The resurrection is a kind of birth, and the virgin birth a sign of the resurrection.
Fathers and councils · 4
Augustine of Hippo
“That sepulchre was therefore as it were the house: to guard which the government of the Jews sent, when guards were set to the sepulchre of Christ.” — editor's note: Matt. xxvii. 66.
Read the whole comment“So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxvii. 62–66.
Read the whole comment
John Chrysostom
“And they made it sure, sealing the sepulchre, and setting the watch.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxvii. 65, 66. [The only peculiarity is indicated in the above rendering; for “made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone.” R.V., “guard” for “watch,”…
Read the whole comment
Jerome
“(Matt. xxvii. 66; John xx. 1–8.)” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment