The Bribing Of The Guards
Or
Rehearsing A Fabricated Report
Sunday Sept. 17, 2023
Scripture To Consider:
“Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, ‘Tell them, His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.”
“So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is currently reported among the Jews until this day.” Matthew 28.11-15
Something To Consider:
The earth-shaking news of an empty tomb was not celebrated by the chief priests and religious leaders. Quite the contrary, for if news of Jesus rising from the dead was to reach the masses, all the previous deceitfully devised plans of these men in earthly religious and extremely powerful positions would be shattered and of less importance. They could not let that happen.
So, because the love of money is the root of all evil, according to 2 Timothy 6.10, and because it seemed to work earlier in their plot to capture Jesus, they offered the guards money. We are told that the religious leaders gave the guards a large sum of money. Another translation described the amount of money as considerable. It must have been an enormous amount of money, because the penalty for falling asleep at a soldier’s post was death.
Therefore, the bribing of the guards and the rehearsing of a fabricated false report appeared to be successful. Can we relate to the bribing of guards, political leaders, governors, military officials, main-stream media, and the list is a long list that reaches into the pockets of many religious so-called leaders. Therefore, there is nothing new under the sun!
Something Else To Consider:
The bribing of the guards was probably not a usual method within the corrupted circle of these so-called religious leaders of that day. The high priests were continually receiving their portion of the excessive and immoral amounts of profit being made on the money exchange and the overpriced animal sacrifices worshippers were being forced to purchase in the temple.
These evil practices were the igniting force that justly kindled the anger of Jesus on at least two occasions during His ministry. But to the hypocritical play-acting preachers of religion, it was everyday business as usual. And as mentioned above, there is nothing new under the sun or among many greedy so-called religious leaders lining their own pockets and financial portfolios.
So, with the supplying of a large sum of hush money in order to bribe the soldiers who guarded the tomb, a fabricated false story was decided on and reported both then and even up until the time of Matthew writing his gospel. And so, the father of lies was present in the bribing of the guards and in the fabrication of a false report, just as he is present to cast his net of fabricated tales around true end time believers.
Think for a moment what the world has been forced to endure due to lies, corruption, and the abounding lawlessness that Jesus rightly predicted in Matthew 24. The writer of Proverbs 19.5 reported, “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he [or she] who speaks lies shall not escape.” There is a day of reckoning for liars and false witnesses. Therefore, let us make sure we are not among them by our confessing our sins as needed, me included!
Something More To Consider:
In other words, the treacherous shall eventually be dealt with by God! For treachery is a violation of trust, faith, and confidence. It was through such deceit and falsehood that Jesus was arrested, falsely tried, wrongfully convicted, and cruelly crucified. This lack of allegiance to all that was good and honorable was second, if not first nature to the likes of these guilty and spiritually corrupted leaders.
And yet, what is so shameful and amazing is that the spiritual offspring of these evil inclined leaders are alive and well in the earth today. Not only are there men with some of the same shameful character traits alive and well in the earth, but many are in places of power around the world. They are in essence furthering the work of the father of lies in places such as the governments and shadow governments behind the scenes of most countries, and also within the so-called educational systems, and religious organized institutions.
Many are still rehearsing fabricated false reports in order to disqualify or discredit Jesus Christ of Nazareth and His enduring to the end work and workers in every generation since. But, it did not work then, and it sure will not work now, or in the future. Justice will be served and righteousness will prevail at least at the end of this age!
The prophet Micah asked a most enlightening question, and then quickly answered his own question in Micah 6.8. “What does the LORD require of you [and of me], but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.” How is that working out in our daily lives in this end time 21st century generation?
Those in political, civil, and military positions of power in this generation and in past generations, will be found guilty of the bribing of guards and the many rehearsing and implementing of false fabricated reports. In their evil attempts to cover their tracks, their wicked actions are in full view of an Almighty and just God. Will we be found guilty as well? Or will we be found completely innocent in and through the confession and repentance of our sins by way of the precious blood of Jesus?
A Few Final Words:
In the midst of such unending injustice and near overwhelming corruption in the seat of so many governments and religious institutions, it is difficult to maintain a proper godly hope-filled attitude. And yet, we must endure the end time mixture of the extreme wickedness of both man and Satan. And in doing so, we will be honoring our heavenly Father as well as the Word of God! And is that not our spiritual goal while alive here on planet earth?
The bribing of the guards and the rehearsing of fabricated reports is very often because of the love of money. As in our Scripture to consider, these falsehoods are usually found to be an evil attempt to disprove or discredit the Word of God’s claim to Jesus rising from the dead. Do not believe the lie!
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, firmly fasten our faith in Jesus that it can never be shaken loose by any rehearsed report or bribe as we enter these end times. Continue to reveal the whole truth of the Word of God of whom is Jesus. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 