Matthew 28:14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
They were assembled urgently because they would have to do one out of two things: [1] They could admit it. They could leave the truth intact, just as the soldiers had related the facts. However, if they were to go with the raw facts in the matter, they would implicate themselves in a crime that would rock the nation to its core, because they would incur the guilt of having killed The Son of God for no reason.
They would now have to face the music and confess to the nation that they were wrong, and as a result, they could face the death penalty, according to the law of God. This then would have serious ripple effects right up the chain of command because it would implicate Pilate who gave the final order to slay Christ, and if this were to come to the officials at Rome, he could then be deposed from his high office.
Another satellite problem would also surface with their practice of pardoning a convicted felon for no valid reason. Therefore, rather than fess up, and go to God for pardon, they determine to hide the facts in the case through coverup bribes and hush money. They also offered immunity to those who had been witnesses of the facts in the case just in case it came to court for redress. If it sounds familiar it’s because there is nothing new under the sun.
Matthew 28:15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!