Sealing The Stone -Matthew 27:62-66

Matthew 27:62-66 ESV
62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise. ’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

They sealed the opening of the tomb and set guard over the entrance, thinking they had secured the entrance and taken the necessary precaution to prevent this from going any further. They sealed the tomb to keep death in, and confirm their authority. They did not know the power of God, or the futility of their efforts.

The same Greek word is used when referring to God sealing us with the Holy Spirit. The difference is this seal is for life. It marks us as God's own, and blocks our return into the darkness of death. It signifies God's authority and promise. Those that reject Christ also reject the seal of the Holy Spirit. They are subject to take the mark of another. The mark of the beast will reflect a different spirit. It is present and roars like an angry lion seeking to slay as many as possible. God tells us that those who take the mark of the beast will share in its destruction.


"seal"
σφραγιζω sphragizo 15x to seal, stamp with a seal, Mt. 27: 66; Rev. 20: 3; to seal up, to close up, conceal, Rev. 10: 4; 22,10; to set a mark upon, distinguish by a mark, Eph. 1: 13; 4,30; Rev. 7: 3, 4, 5, 8; to seal, to mark distinctively as invested with a certain character, Jn. 6: 27; mid. to set one's own mark upon, seal as one's own, to impress with a mark of acceptance, 2 Cor. 1: 22; to deliver over safely to someone, Rom. 15: 28; absol. to set to one's seal, to make a solemn declaration, Jn. 3: 33 *[4972] See seal. (MCED)

Daniel 6:17
And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22
And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.