The Passion: The Bribe and the Cover-Up — Satan Uses Money to Silence the Resurrection
Study The Word
Matthew 28:11–15
Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
Something happened immediately after the resurrection of Jesus Christ that you need to know about. Something that reveals the tactics of the enemy and exposes the schemes that Satan uses against the gospel even to this day. The soldiers who had been posted at the tomb — the guards that the chief priests and the Pharisees had sent to secure the sepulchre, to make sure Jesus stayed dead and buried — those soldiers witnessed the resurrection. They saw the angel descend. They felt the earthquake. They saw the stone rolled away. And the Bible says they became as dead men. They fainted from fear. They saw it all.
αργύριον argyrion money – silver, pieces of silver, money; used of payment for betrayal and bribery
And what happened next? Those soldiers went into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. They told them everything. The chief priests now knew. The elders now knew. They had firsthand testimony from their own soldiers that Jesus Christ had risen from the dead. But instead of repenting, instead of falling on their knees and acknowledging that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, instead of accepting the truth that was staring them in the face — what did they do? They assembled with the elders, took counsel, and gave large money unto the soldiers. They bribed them. They offered them a payoff to lie.
“Say this: His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we slept.” That was the script. That was the cover story. That was the lie that money purchased. And if the governor finds out, don’t worry — “we will persuade him and secure you.” They had it all worked out. The bribe, the lie, and the cover-up. And the Bible says, “So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.” That lie spread. That lie was repeated. That lie became the commonly reported explanation for the empty tomb. And it was all purchased with money.
ψευδομαρτυρία pseudomartyria false witness – false testimony, lying evidence, fabricated witness against the truth
Now here’s what I want you to see: every time you see a betrayal or an attack against the resurrection, against the gospel of Jesus Christ, against the power of God — just know that money was involved. Satan does not use any new tricks. He used money to betray Jesus through Judas. And immediately after the resurrection, he used money again to silence the soldiers and cover up the truth. Money. Bribes. Brown envelopes. That’s Satan’s method. He offers people money to speak lies about the gospel of Christ. He offers people money to discredit the resurrection. It was happening in Jesus’s day, and it is still happening today.
αλήθεια aletheia truth – truth, verity, reality; the unveiled reality that stands in contrast to deception and falsehood
So when people start to accuse you falsely, when they start to attack you for your faith, when they try to discredit you because you are declaring the resurrection of Jesus Christ — don’t cry. Don’t say, “Oh, what’s going on in my life?” Don’t be shocked. It’s a part of the calling. It’s a part of the package. Just know that there are incentives and brown envelopes being moved around. Why? Because you are so strong, so fervent, and the power of God is upon your life and you’re witnessing and there’s great power and miracles and you’re declaring the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Satan will come and try to offer people incentives, gifts and money to discredit you. But listen to me: no amount of money can silence the resurrection. They bribed the soldiers, they spread the lie, and yet here we are two thousand years later still preaching that Jesus Christ is risen! Haha! The bribe failed. The cover-up failed. The truth of the resurrection cannot be bought, silenced, or stopped. Glory to God!
Pray The Word
Heavenly Father, I thank You that no bribe, no lie, and no cover-up could stop the truth of the resurrection. I thank You that I stand on the truth that Jesus Christ is risen, and no amount of money or deception from the enemy can change that reality. I declare that the gospel is unstoppable, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Speak The Word
No bribe can silence the resurrection! No money can cover up the truth that Jesus Christ is alive. Satan’s schemes of deception have failed for two thousand years, and they fail in my life today. I boldly declare the resurrection of Jesus Christ without fear, without shame, and without apology. The truth cannot be bought. The gospel cannot be stopped. I am a witness of the risen Christ, in the name of Jesus Christ!