Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 27:64

"Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest haply his disciples come and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: and the last error will be worse than the first." — Matthew 27:64 (ASV)

Until the third day—The phrase is worth noting, as it indicates the meaning the priests attached to the words “after three days.” They were looking for the fraud they anticipated would likely be attempted at the beginning of the third day from the death.

The last error—A better translation is deceit, which connects the word, in English as in the Greek, with the “deceiver” of Matthew 27:63.