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Matthew 27:64
ESV 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.”
NIV So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.'
NASB Therefore, give orders for the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.'
CSB So give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come, steal him, and tell the people, 'He has been raised from the dead,' and the last deception will be worse than the first."
NLT So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.'
KJV Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

What does Matthew 27:64 mean?

Jerusalem's religious leaders are worried that Jesus' disciples might continue to tell people He is the Messiah. Even though Jesus is dead (Matthew 27:50), they remember hearing Jesus say He would rise from the dead after three days (John 2:19–22). Their concern is that His followers will steal the body and then go around telling everyone Jesus is alive. The priests and scribes insist such fraud would cause even more problems than would a still-living Jesus.

The Pharisees and priests know it is impossible to crucify someone who is already dead. It's also not possible to persecute a person who exists only in the minds of His followers. They could not reveal a ghost to be an impostor. How could they argue with a false resurrection if there is no body? Their plan is to ask the Roman government to officially seal the tomb and guard it. That will make it secure from any tampering and retain Jesus' body as proof that He was false (Matthew 27:62–63).

Though Pilate is hardly interested in religious squabbles (John 18:29–31), he will recognize the danger and agree to post a guard (Matthew 27:65–66).
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