The content found in today's passage, where the chief priests and Pharisees go to Pilate and ask him to secure Jesus' tomb, is only present in the Gospel of Matthew among the four Gospels. It is a passage that best reveals Matthew's perspective; it exposes the corruption among the Jews. Pilate, too, was concerned that there might be a disturbance regarding the resurrection of Jesus, so he placed guards.
Similarly, it will be the same in the end of time. There will be a time of persecution against the church out of fear of Jesus' return. People will show no sympathy toward the persecuted church. Modern individuals might attend church, yet they dislike 'only Jesus.' They pray to God but do not engage in fervent prayer. Many anti-Bible 'scientific' ideologies have emerged to counter the Bible.
During such times, the church's task is akin to the depiction of the women in verse 51. We also hope to gaze upon and witness the resurrection of Jesus, just like those women.
Excerpt from the sermon by Pastor Lee, Jan 10, 2024.
Mat 27:62-66