Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

On the Sabbath day, some members of the Sanhedrin paid a visit to Pilate, politely addressing him as “Sir” (GK 3261). For discussion on the phrase “after three days,” see comment on 12:40. The enemies of Jesus certainly do not believe Jesus’ prediction; they are merely afraid of fraud. Their fears were really unfounded, because the disciples themselves disbelieved Jesus’ words about rising again, not because they could not understand the plain words, but because they had no frame of reference capable of integrating a dying and rising Messiah into their own messianic expectations. The only thing they knew was the terrible fact that their Messiah had been crucified.