Matthew 27:62-66
The enemies of Jesus seal the tomb, but they cannot seal away the resurrection promise of the King.
62 Now on the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together to Pilate,
63 saying, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise again.’
64 Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He is risen from the dead;’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”
65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can.”
66 So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone.
The enemies of Jesus seal the tomb, but they cannot seal away the resurrection promise of the King.
Matthew shows the chief priests and Pharisees securing Jesus' tomb in order to prevent a resurrection claim, while their own precautions providentially strengthen the coming witness that Jesus was truly raised.
The scene occurs on the day after Preparation Day, after Jesus has been buried and before the resurrection morning narrative.
Jesus Condemned, Crucified, Dead, Buried, and Guarded
The innocent King is condemned in place of the guilty, mocked as the Son of God while truly being the Son of God, crucified under the weight of forsakenness, and buried under guard, yet his death tears open access to God, shakes creation, fulfills Scripture, and prepares for resurrection.