Matthew 27:55–66: “That He was Buried…”
Introduction
Since the moment Jesus first appeared in the Gospel of Matthew, the Lord has walked with perfect poise and control in every situation. Even when all the powers of hell and Satan himself raged against him, Jesus confidently endured whatever was required of him. Only in the garden of Gethsemane do we see him in crisis, and then we immediately see him submit his fears to his Father, growing in confidence for the task appointed to him. Now that Jesus’ work is done after his death on the cross, there is no work for him left to do. He becomes a passive player, as his body must be removed from the cross, buried in a tomb, and guarded by Roman soldiers. Even in our Lord’s death, the details around him conform to God’s perfect plan. Here, we see the tremendous truth that Jesus was buried in accordance with the Scriptures.
Discussion Questions
1. Who are the women who are witnesses to Jesus’ crucifixion (v. 55–56)? In comparison to Mark 15:40 and John 19:25, who do you think that “Mary the mother of James and Joseph” may be? How might the “mother of the sons of Zebedee” be related to Jesus? How does the courage and faithfulness of these women compare with the cowardice of the disciples who abandon their master in his hour of need?
2. What time was the “evening” of v. 57? That is, what time was the “evening sacrifice” offered and the Passover lamb slaughtered” (Ex. 12:6; 29:39)? How does this time align with the moment when Jesus himself died on the cross? How does Jesus’ death at 3:00pm, the time of the evening sacrifice, contribute to our understanding of his work? How does this clarify the timeline of the actions of Joseph of Arimathea to bury Jesus’ body before the Sabbath?
3. What day do the chief priests and Pharisees come to negotiate with Pilate (v. 62)? What do they call Pilate when they address him (v. 63)? How do these actions undercut their feigned righteousness through the rest of the Gospel of Matthew? What actions do they seek to take, and why? What does Pilate do to accommodate their request? How do these actions only serve to further confirm the historical reliability of the resurrection of Jesus?
4. Why do the chief priests and Pharisees scheme against Jesus throughout his life? Why does the death of Jesus finally give Joseph of Arimathea freedom to advocate for Jesus openly? How does Joseph’s faith lead to his faithfulness toward the law, including the law related to the Sabbath? Why does the legalism of the chief priests and Pharisees lead them to disobedience and sin? Are you living by faith—that is, living without scheming (Warren Wiersbe)?
