Matthew 28:14

14 They assured them, "If the governor hears about your sleeping on duty, we will make sure you don't get blamed."

Matthew 28:14 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 28:14

And if this come to the governor's ears
Not the governor of the watch, but Pontius Pilate the governor of Judea: if this should be told him, and should be heard by him; or this matter should come before him, and be under his examination, and there should be any danger of punishment; for to sleep on the watch was severely punished by the Romans:

we will, persuade him;
that this is the true state of the case, and intercede with him, and make use of all our interest, not to punish for it: or will persuade him, that though this is a false account, yet it will be much better that it should go in this way, for his own peace, and the peace of the nation, and the security of the Roman government; since, should it spread among the people, that this person was really raised from the dead, they would, one and all, believe he was the true Messiah, and would set him up as a king, and seize upon the government in favour of him:

and will secure you;
indemnify you, bear you harmless, keep you from punishment; so that you need not be under any care, or concern on this account.

Matthew 28:14 In-Context

12 They called a meeting of the religious leaders and came up with a plan: They took a large sum of money and gave it to the soldiers,

13 bribing them to say, "His disciples came in the night and stole the body while we were sleeping."

14 They assured them, "If the governor hears about your sleeping on duty, we will make sure you don't get blamed."

15 The soldiers took the bribe and did as they were told. That story, cooked up in the Jewish High Council, is still going around.

16 Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion.