Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 27:62-64

"Now on the morrow, which is [the day] after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while he was yet alive, After three days I rise again. 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 27:62-64 (ASV)

These punctilious priests and Pharisees, who were so scrupulous about keeping the Sabbath, did not mind profaning the day of rest by holding a consultation with the Roman governor. They knew that Christ was dead and buried, but they still dreaded His power. They called Him a “deceiver” and they even pretended to “remember” what “He said, while He was still alive.” At His trial, their false witnesses gave another meaning to His words, but they knew all along that He was speaking of His resurrection, not of the Temple on Mount Zion.

Now they are afraid that, even in the sepulchre, He will bring to nothing all their plans for His destruction. They must have known that the disciples of Jesus would not steal Him away and say to the people, “He is risen from the dead;” so they probably feared that He really would come forth from the tomb.

Whatever conscience they had made great cowards of them, so they begged Pilate to do what he could to prevent the rising of their victim.

Those punctilious priests and Pharisees, who were so scrupulous about keeping the Sabbath, did not mind profaning the day of rest by holding a consultation with the Roman governor. They knew that Christ was dead and buried, but they still stood in dread of his power. They called him a "deceiver," and they even pretended to "remember" what "he said, while he was still alive." At his trial, their false witnesses gave another meaning to his words, but they knew all the while that he was speaking of his resurrection, not of the Temple on Mount Zion. Now they are afraid that, even in the tomb, he will bring to nothing all their plans for his destruction.

They must have known that the disciples of Jesus would not steal him away, and say to the people, He is risen from the dead; so they probably feared that he really would come forth from the tomb.

Whatever conscience they had made them great cowards; so they begged Pilate to do what he could to prevent the rising of their victim.