The Guards Report to the Leaders

Matthew 28:1-20

The Big Idea

People may spread an untrue story, but God’s truth is not changed by what others say.

The Bible Story

Jesus Is Risen

Matthew 28:11-15 says that while the women were going, some guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. The chief priests consulted with the elders. Together, they gave the soldiers money and instructed them to say that Jesus’ disciples came during the night and stole Jesus’ body while the guards were asleep. The soldiers followed these instructions, and this explanation was widely circulated among the Jews, according to Matthew. The passage presents this account as a false explanation arranged by the chief priests and elders, not as the truth. Matthew’s larger account says that Jesus had risen and that the women had been told to share this good news.

Themes

Jesus is risen Jesus’ authority Jesus’ continuing presence Joyful good news Making disciples among all nations The empty tomb Witness and proclamation

Bible moment

The Bible moment

Look closely

What children can notice

Some guards tell the chief priests what happened. The chief priests and elders arrange a false explanation about the missing body. Present the scene briefly, with the false report clearly shown as an untrue story.

Talk together

Talk about it

What false explanation did the leaders arrange?
Why is it important to tell what is true?

For families, church, and class

Use this page

Use this page briefly within a lesson on Matthew 28:1-20. Explain clearly that the guards’ report and the leaders’ explanation are part of Matthew’s account, while the explanation about the disciples is presented as false. Keep the tone calm and age-appropriate, then return to the good news that Jesus is risen.

Source note