1. Introduction

Virgin Birth

• Isaiah 7:14-17 suspiciously looks like virgin mother of Jesus, but it seems to refer to the son of Isaiah's second wife, and how Israel and Aram, who were attacking Jerusalem at the time, would be conquered by the Assyrians (fulfilled around 720BC);"The virgin will be with child and you will call him Immanuel...But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste."(Isa 7:14-16 NIV). The Jews may have thought it related to the Messiah, thinking Jesus was the fulfillment of this prophesy.
  
• (Mat 2:6)"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times. Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites." (Micah 5:2-3 NIV written 750-686 BC).
  The Maggis believed that Jesus was the fulfillment of Mica 5:2. But it was referring to woman in labor symbolizing the pain the Jews must go through to be re-born (out of Babylonian exile) as they used to be, seeking their "one true God" in earnest;
  Bethlehem Ephrathah was where Racheal gave birth to Benjamin before dying (Gen 35:2). The Jewish tribe of Benjamin occupied a relatively small area which included Jerusalem. Moredcai was a Benjamite who whilst in Babylon suddenly became ruler of all Jews under King Artaxerxes, fulfilling the prophecy and rescuing them from certain peril (see Esther 2:5, 8:7-13). This occurred during the period when the Jews were being repatriated into Jerusalem.
  
• (Mat 2:15 NIV) "Out of Egypt I call my son" is a misquote from Hosea 11:1. In context it refers to the freedom of Israelites from the Egyptian exile in the time of Moses (See Hosea 11:1-2).
• (Mat 2:18 NIV) "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more". Matthew misinterprets the killing of infant boys in Bethlehem as a fulfillment of Jer 31:15, but it refers to the exile of Jews to Babylon. For the next verse says "This is what the Lord says: "Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded...they will return from the land of the enemy"(Jer 31:16 NIV).

  John the Baptist
  

• (Mat 3:3 NIV) "A voice of one calling from the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" The quote (Isaiah 40:3) in context relates to how Isaiah believed God would teach the Jewish nations a lesson by sending the Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylonians to purify the Jewish nations through servitude. "Who has stirred up the one from the East, calling him in righteousness to his service? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him....I, the Lord-with the first of them and with the last of them-I am he"(Is 41:2-4 NIV).

  The Son of God
  

• (Mat 3:17)"This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased". 'Son of God' was a term used for anyone who strives to be godly; "In the place were it was said of them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'sons of the living God.'" (Hos 1:10 NIV). King David was also called God's Son (Isa 42:1 NIV, Ps 2:7).
• (Mat 4:13,14 NIV) "Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebelum and Naphtali- to fulfill what was said by the prophet Isaiah: 'Land of Zebulum and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.'".
  Firstly, Jesus is going about doing things he feels fulfills previous prophecies he believes relate to the Messiah. He doesn't coincidentally do it but intentionally. Many others could have done the same thing, and also claimed to be the Messiah.
  Secondly, the correct interpretation of Isaiah 9:2 I believe refers the king of Assyria exiling the Jews of the Northern Kingdom of Israel starting with the area of Galilee in 732BC and 10 years later Samaria (2 Kings 15:29, 2 Kings 17:5,6). The Assyrian king brought peace to the Jewish people following many years of conflicts between their different tribes and their immoral behavior (2 Kings 19:17,18). For Isaiah’s prophecy continues "..to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders"(Isa 9:6) referring to the birth of Isaiah's son heralding the coming of a new stable government which was Assyrian (see Isa 8:3,4, Isa 8:18).
• (Mat 8:17 NIV)"He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases." Matthew claim this text from Isaiah 53:4 relates to Jesus healing many people, but in context (read from Isaiah 52) it refers to how the fortified city of Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon (supposedly inspired by God) which Isaiah believed was because of the Jew's wickedness(see Neh 1), but the city's Jews were innocent (2 Kings 24:3,4).
• (Mat 10:35,36 NIV) "For I have come to turn 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother,...-a man's enemies will be the enemies of his own household'". Jesus believes this text (Mic 7:6) refers to his ministry, but in context refers to the wickedness of the Jews prior the their overthrow and exile by the king of Babylon. In the next verse Micah writes "But as for me [Micah], I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." (Mic 7:7 NIV) Clearly, unlike Jesus, Micah doesn't think that turning a man against his father is a good thing.

  John the Baptist
  

• (Mat 11:10) "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your ways before you.". Jesus believes this quote from Malachi 3:1 refers to John the Baptist, however in context I believe it refers to Ezra returning to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon, to teach the Jews of Jerusalem Moses’ Law. He re-read the Law restoring Jerusalem to righteousness; "Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the book of the Law of God"(Neh 8:18 NIV) and "They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the wickedness of their fathers"(Neh 9:2 NIV). Now they knew the law, but subsequently broke it, allowing trading on the Sabbath etc.
  Nehamiah came (also from exile in Babylon) fulfilling Malachi's prophecy "...he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver" (Mal 3:3 NIV); Nehamiah writes "So I purified the priests and the Levites of everything foreign..."(Neh 13:30 NIV)

  God's Chosen One
  

• (Mat 12:18-21 NIV)"Here is my servant whom I have chosen....In his name nations will put their hope". Jesus believes this refers to him, but in context (Isa 42:1-4) I believe it refers to the Jewish race; the high regard they have with all nations following the decree of the King of the Persian Empire, which permitted them to kill all their enemies in one day and raised the Jew, Mordecia to the highest position under him (see Esther 10:1,2).

  Parables
  

• (Mat 13:14,15) "Be ever hearing but never understanding...until the land is utterly forsaken" (Is 6:9-13 NIV) Used by Jesus as the reason he spoke in parables. In context I believe it refers to the Jewish nation in Isaiah's time not changing from their wicked ways which Isaiah believed might have otherwise prevented their subsequent destruction and exile in 722-586 BC by the Babylonians, not the ignorance of the masses prior to some future day of judgment.
  He may also have misinterpreted "..seal up the law among my disciples" (Isa 8:16 NIV) which was Isaiah telling his disciples regarding the prophesies he had given, to prove his were truly prophetic (unlike many of the corrupt false prophets of the time).
• (Mat 13:35) "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."(Psalms 78:2 NIV). Matthew believed that Jesus' parables fulfill this verse from Psalms, but I feel in context it refers to what the writer was about to say reciting the history of the Jewish race and their relationship with God (see Psalms 78:1-72).

  Hades
  

• (Mat 16:18 NIV) "..and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." the word 'Hades' comes from Greek mythology. This concept is in line with the Essens who had a similar way of life to the Pythagorean. The concept of Hades may have come about following the Greek influences brought to Jerusalem following the overthrow of the Persian rulers of the city in 333 BC by Alexander the Great, especially during the reign of Philadelphus in which 72 Jewish leaders left Judea and lived with the king translating the Old Testament books into Greek; the Septuagint (see Josephus Ant 12.2.4-15).

  The Resurrection
  

• (Mat 16:21) "After two days he will revive us; and on the third day he will restore us."(Hos 6:2 NIV) Jesus may have misinterpreted this statement to mean him, rather than that Hosea believed the Jewish nation will be disciplined and then revived; returned from Babylonian exile after 70 years by King Cyrus, later another Persian king gave them many gifts and exalted them above many nations (see Esther 9:2-5, Josephus Ant.11.6).
• (Mat 17:11 NIV) "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come..". Jesus is referring to the fulfillment of "See, I will send you a prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes." (Mal 4:5 NIV). It is commonly thought this was written when Nehemia went back greet the new Persian king around 433BC, however the book refers to the intermarriage of Jews with non-Jews which Ezra claims to have corrected after his arrival (Ezr 9,10). Compare Malachi 3:18 with Ezra 10:7,8. Now with this time frame Elijah was Ezra warning people to turn back to God, and the "dreadful day of the Lord" was the day of Purim, where righteous Jews were allowed to slaughter all their oppressors in one day (see Esther).
• (Mat 19:28 NIV) Jesus primarily for the Jewish race "..you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel...will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life." His followers may have believed he would be raised back to life after his death and would become the king of Jews with his 12 disciples as governors. So they removed his body from the tomb, awaiting it's revival (an belief the Essens seem to of had). The Jews believed God had used unexpected things to raise the Jews into prosperity previously (e.g. miracles in Egypt, day of Purim). But his misinterpretation of Hos 6:2 (which referred to the Babylonian exile and repatriation of the Jews) led to his ambition not being fulfilled. Jesus said regarding himself "..and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!"(Mat 20:19 NIV).
• (Mat 20:16 NIV) "So the last will be first, and the first will be last". He may have taken this concept from Isaiah, believing it to relate to him "..Israel’s King and Redeemer the Lord Almighty: I am the first and the last; apart from me there is no God."(Isa 44:6 NIV); The Jews believed that God redeemed people through others (e.g. Nebuchanezzar and Cyrus; both non-Jews). Jesus may have been of the belief that the good deeds he was doing proved that he was the closest to God, despite the fact that he wasn't a Rabbi, but a lowly Nazarene.

  The King of the Jews Riding a Donkey
  

• (Mat 21:5 NIV) "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey'", here Jesus intentionally went about fulfilling his interpretation of prophecies, but in context (Zech 9:9) I believe it refers to Mordecai, his enemy Haman was forced to give him a glamorous crown and royal robe and led him through Susa seated on a horse, over 400 years before Jesus' birth (see Est 5:9). Mordecai and Esther persuaded the king of the empire to decree a day in which the Jews could destroy all their oppressors; the Day of Purim (see Esther 9:2-5) fulfilling the next verse; "I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem" (Zec 9:10 NIV). Ephraim representing the area which was owned by the tribe of Benjamin which contained the once fortified city of Jerusalem.

  The Son of Man between God and Creation
  

• (Mat 21:16 NIV) "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise?" from Psalms 8:2. In context this refers to followers of God in general not specifically to Jesus. He may have misinterpreted the verses that followed "what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor" (Ps 8:4,5) but if the chapter is read in full it seems clear that it relates to all mankind, the son of Adam (which translated means 'the man') dominating all of creation.

  The Capstone

• (Mat 21:42) "The Lord has chastened me severely, but has not given me over to death. Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will give thanks to the Lord...I will give thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it...With boughs in hand, join in the festival procession up to the horns of the altar."(Ps 118:18-28 NIV)
  In Matthew 21:42 (underlined above), Jesus used capstone to refer to him, but in context it seems to refer to the Jewish nation;
  1. "chastened severely"; being subdued by Babylon.
  2. "the stone the builders rejected"; were the Jews, rejected by all nations.
  3. "become the capstone"; the Jews were given high status through Esther's work.
  4. "the day the Lord has made"; the killing of Jewish oppressors on March 7.
  5. "festival procession"; the annual Purim festival celebrating the event (Esther 9:16,17).

  Who Sits at the right hand of God
  

• (Mat 22:44 NIV) "The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under my feet." Jesus believes he is superior to David using this quote, but I feel it refers the writer of the Psalm 110 referring to the king of the Persian Empire and Mordecai a Jew who became second to the king, looked up to by all nations. By the king's decree the Jews were allowed to slaughter all their enemies on one day; the day of Purim (see Esther 8:15-9:5).

  All Equal Before God
  

• (Mat 23:8-11) "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi' for you have only one master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father' for you have one father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher', for you have one teacher, the Christ [The Anointed One]"."Rabbi" is Hebrew for "my master"; Jesus described how all are equal, all are subject directly to God, and all should learn directly from himself and no other. He may have got the concept from Eze 34 "...This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?" (Eze 34:2 NIV) then later "I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another. I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them and be their shepherd."(Eze 34:22 NIV). But I believe it was referring to someone who behaved like David, showing compassion and not someone of the Davidic bloodline this would point to Mordecai (see Esther 10), or possibly Nehemia (Neh 5:1-19).

  The Resurrection
  

• (Mat 23:39 NIV) "For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" quoted from Psalm 118:26, I believe it refers to Mordecai and the day of Purim, it continues "..With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar."(Ps 118:27 NIV). The day of Purim became an annual celebration (see Est 9:23).

  Signs of the End of the Age
  

• (Mat 24:7 NIV) "Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom..." Taken from Isa 19:2 refers exclusively to Egypt, and it's how the King of Assyria would conquer them in 670BC.
• (Mat 24:8 NIV) "...All these are the beginning of the birth pains". The birth pains were mentioned in the Old Testament by Isaiah and other prophets; "Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites." (Micah 5:2-3) and "Sing O barren woman, you who never bore a child...your descendants will dispossess nations and settle desolate cities" (Isa 54:1-3 NIV). The labor is the oppression they suffered and the birth refers to the release of Jews from Babylonian exile by Cyrus king of Persia in 538-432 BC, long before Jesus was born.
• (Mat 24:14 NIV) "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and the end will come." Jesus may have taken this from Old testament prophesies which were fulfilled when Ezra read the Book of the Law of Moses to the repatriated Jews (from all Jewish nations/tribes) in Jerusalem around 445BC, before Nehemia cleanses the Jewish bloodline (see Nehemiah 10:28,29), and the day of Purim.

  The Abomination that cause Desolation
  

• (Mat 24:15) "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation..'". The Jews believed that God managed their welfare according to their observance of Moses' Laws; teaching them a lesson by being conquered or harmed (e.g.. the exile of Jews and destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (see Neh 1)). Therefore, anything that caused many to stumble would cause desolation in their eyes.
  When the book of Daniel describes the 'abomination that causes desolation' it's likely that it was referring to the Greek god Zeus installed in place of Jerusalem's altar in 168 BC (see Josephus Ant.7.5.4). This occurred long before his Jesus was born.
• (Mat 24:22 NIV) "If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive", Jesus may have taken this concept from Isaiah which referred to the Babylonians destroying Jerusalem; "For a little while your people possessed your holy place, but now our enemies have trampled down your sanctuary. We are yours from of old; but you have not ruled over them, they have not been called by your name." (Isa 63:18,19 NIV) A remnant of the Jewish race survived the battles and exiles of the Assyrians and Babylonians, these events occurred over 500 years prior to Jesus' birth (Ezra 9:8,9).
• (Mat 24:24 NIV) "For false Christ’s and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect". Jesus may have got this from Isaiah 23:13 "Among the prophets of Samaria I saw a repulsive thing: They prophesied to Baal and led my people Israel astray"(NIV), referring to the wickedness of Israel prior to their cleansing they believed God enacted through the Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.
• (Mat 24:29,30 NIV)"Immediately after the distress of those days 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations on earth will mourn."
  The quote is from Isaiah 13:10. Now reading Isaiah 13 and 14 it is clear that it refers to the defeat of the Babylonians by Cyrus (king of Persia) in 539BC (about 160 years after the prophecy), and is not a literal account of the event, but an analogy of the belief that God's wrath would be channeled through the Persian forces. Note (Isa 13:7 NIV)"Because of this all hands will go limp, every man's heart will melt." this is another analogy and can't be taken literally (human hearts can't melt).
• (Mat 25:1-13) The parable of the Ten Virgins; Could be interpreted as meaning people who did good deeds ('oil') prior to Jesus' return as king of the Jews (in flesh), would hold a high status within his office and those that waited for him to return first before doing good deeds would be rejected.
• (Mat 24:1-25:46) Jesus removes authority from the religious leaders of the time, saying they only look after themselves. This concept which includes a sheep and goat analogy is very similar to Ezekial 34. "I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the Lord have spoken" (Eze 34:24 NIV). This would reaffirm his former claim that no one would be between God and his flock (no Rabbis), but Jesus would teach and guide them.
  However in the context Ezekial 34 (read 35 and 36 also) it refers to the many individual Jewish tribe leaders being replaced by a single leader (the role king David had). This was fulfilled when, following the return of the Jews from exile, all Jewish tribes were mixed together (the remnants), and subsequently triumphed over their oppressors through Mordecai (see Esther)and Nehemia (see Neh 10:28,29).
• (Mat 26:2) "As you know, the Passover is two days away-and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."(Mat 26:2 NIV). It seems Jesus believed that he would become the ruler of the Jewish land of king David’s era, which would be handed over to him after he returned from death to fulfill what he believed to be prophecies about him, e.g.. Isaiah 53:5 "But he was pierced for our transgressions.." (symbolicaly refering to Jerusalem's demise rather than literally to a person), he sought to be crucified and publicized the event, expecting to take up the position of ruler of the Jews as was the king-priest Melchizedek (Gen 14:18). This future king-priest was prophesied in Psalms 110 and Ezekiel 34:23, however I believe they were referring to Mordecai or possibly Nehemia.
  Jesus’ followers were to find out however, that he wouldn’t be revived from death and this led to confusion amongst his followers.
• (Mat 26:24) Jesus says "The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him...". Jesus plainly states that his future is to follow an interpretation of Old Testament prophecies (I claim these were incorrect interpretations).
• (Mat 26:29) Jesus says "I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom" (NIV) Now this occurred in Bethany (vs. 6), 2 miles east of Jerusalem, on the other side of the Mount of Olives. Afterwards heading towards Jerusalem; he went to the Mount of Olives (vs. 30), then to Gethsemane (were they pressed the olives). His "Father's kingdom" could mean David's kingdom i.e. Jerusalem. He planned to head in that direction and did, but was unexpectedly confronted by Judas and a mob at Gethsemane. What he had planned to do after arriving back in Jerusalem? Who knows? His free passage was interrupted by Judas.
• (Mat 26:31) "Then Jesus told them, 'This very night you will fall away on account of me, for it is written: "'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'" (NIV).

  The quote refers to Zechariah 13:7;

  "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones. In the whole land,' declares the Lord, ' two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one third will be left in it."(Zech 13:7,8 NIV)

  Now since Jesus believed this referred to him, it must also mean that his disciples must have been the sheep. If that were so, they would hardly have been referred to as little ones. Secondly, it would mean that eight of his disciples would subsequently perish together, but this never occurred.
  In context I believe the quote refers to the attack on Jerusalem by Antiochus and the subsequent fleeing of the Jews from the city, many of whom were killed by Antiochus' army (see Josephus Ant.5.1-6.2). I also believe that this wasn't said by Jesus, but added later.
• (Mat 26:52) "...Jesus said to them 'for all who draw the sword will die by the sword'"(NIV). This is a saying but like most sayings doesn't hold true on every occasion; not everyone who kills someone is killed in return. I highlight this to show that Jesus' literal word is not the absolute truth.
• (Mat 26:64) "...Jesus replied 'But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Might One and coming on the clouds of heaven.'"; Jesus may have taken this idea from Psalm 110:1 "The Lord says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.'" (NIV) But I believe that this the Psalm refers to what the King of Persia said to Mordecai, supporting him in killing of the oppressors of the Jews (see Esther 8:11-17). Note Psalm 109 refers to Haman, Mordecai's accuser (which is 'satan' in Hebrew)"let an accuser stand at his right hand" (Ps 109:6) ;Haman accusing Mordecai of not supporting the king (Esther 3:5,8). "May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership" (Ps 109:8); Haman was hung by the king after being exposed (Esther 7:10), Mordecai replaced him as the highest noble under the king (Esther 10:3). "He who loved to pronounce a curse-may it come on him." (Ps 109:17 NIV); the decree Haman persuaded the King of Persia to agree to permitting the killing of the all Jews was in effect reversed, enabling the Jews to kill their oppressors (Esther 8:5-8).
• (Mat 27:9)"Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: 'They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me.'" (NIV) nowhere in Jeremiah is this written verbatim, however Jeremiah does mention being given a prophecy to purchase a field in Jeremiah 32:6 despite the fact that he was imprisoned by his king for giving prophecies about the Babylonians conquering Jerusalem. He seals the deeds in a clay jar (vs. 13-15) and becomes a free man following the success of the Babylonians, remaining in Jerusalem and fulfilling the prophecy about his personal success (Jer 40:5,6).
• (Mat 27:45)"From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over the land."(NIV); Matthew may have felt this fulfilled Amos 8:9 "In that day,' declares the Sovereign Lord, 'I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight" (NIV) but in context I feel this verse relates to King Antiochus destroying the religious temple and books within Jerusalem, replacing them with the Jupiter (Zeus) of the Greek religion (see Josephus Ant.7.5.4), for it follows "The days are coming," declares the Sovereign Lord, 'when I will send a famine through the land - not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord."(Amos 8:11 NIV).
• (Mat 27:52)"The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people." (NIV) Why wasn't this noticed by non-Christians at the time? Why did they wait until Jesus resurrected before entering the cities? Where did these resurrected people go to? This states that they were in their physical bodies. This may have been written to add credence to their belief that Jesus was the Messiah, to fulfill their misinterpretation of "So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up to their feet-a vast army" (Eze 37:10 NIV) and "Then you, my people will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them."(Eze 37:13) However Ezekiel is using this analogy of dead people being restored to symbolize the restoration of the Jews to their land following their exile and the destruction of Jerusalem by the Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylonian (see Ezra 2:1,2) which seemed impossible.
• (Mat 28:2)"There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it." (NIV) People of that time must have thought heaven was up in the sky somewhere. But with the knowledge of science we can see that there is no heavenly cloud which carries angels and other godly beings. So was this fact or fiction? Obviously a bit of mystical fiction.
• (Mat 28:13)"When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them ,'You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.'...So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this is story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day."(NIV)
  Now the question is who is telling the truth? Well, I have already detailed how desperate Jesus and his followers were to convince others of their beliefs, using many Old Testament quotes and misinterpreting them to suite; Matthew 2:6, 2:15, 2:18, 10:35-36, 13:35, 21:42, 26:31, 27:9, 27:45. Not to mention Jesus intentionally going around finding ways to fulfill his interpretations of Old Testament text; Matthew 4:13-14, 21:15.
  Now we do know that around this time the Romans placed the death penalty on anyone that broke into tombs and removed bodies¹. What may have occurred is that his followers came and took the body so it couldn't be mutilated by someone else, anticipating Jesus would come back to life, taking Ezekial 37:10 literally (see my comments on Matthew 27:52). The pandemonium that followed resulted in the Romans quelling further chaos amongst the Jews by decreeing the death penalty on anyone who interfered with the graves. The Jewish leaders taking the brunt of the blame, since Jesus and his followers were always cautious to not criticize the ruling Romans (Matthew 22:17-18).