Mat 27:57-61 | TNotes

27:58 ^a In Roman crucifixion, the bodies of criminals were often left to rot. Deut 21:22-23 ^b prohibits a body from remaining on a cross or a gallows overnight. Joseph’s action was in accordance with Jewish law, while his motivation was probably his loyalty to Jesus.

• Pilate issued an order: Pilate was accommodating, probably because he did not believe Jesus was guilty of insurrection (see Matt 27:24-26 ^c).
Summary for Matt 27:59-60: 27:59-60 ^d Burial customs were important in Judaism, especially in contrast to the Greeks and Romans, who cremated their dead. Leaving a corpse unburied was the severest form of judgment (Deut 21:22-23 ^e; 2 Kgs 9:37 ^f; Ps 79:3 ^g; Jer 16:4 ^h, 6 ⁱ; Ezek 29:5 ^j; Rev 11:9 ^k). Death was lamented and mourned (Mark 5:38-39 ^l); the body was washed (Acts 9:37 ^m), anointed (Matt 26:6-13 ⁿ; John 12:3 ^o, 7 ^p; 19:39 ^q), and wrapped in burial cloths (Matt 27:59 ^r; see Gen 50:2-3 ^s). The body was placed in a tomb (see Matt 23:27 ^t) that had been tunneled into a rock or carved into the side of a cave wall. The entrance to a tomb was often closed with a huge stone and sealed to prevent ceremonial uncleanness or robbery.

• clean linen ... new tomb: Both reflect ceremonial purity. Joseph had purchased the tomb for his own family, but it had not yet been used.