I think I have an explanation: Background first: The 1st verse deals with the bureaucrats discussing putting gaurds around Jesus' tomb. The 2nd is a part of a description of guys making false idols from wood (v. 18-20 provide that context). The 3rd is a prohibition against setting up similarities to pagan worship (tree groves in this case - apparantly practiced by pagans at that time). Maybe it is a veiled reference to some Catholic practices? Protestants sometimes chide Catholics for having the statues that they pray to (all theological debates aside here) and the first reference could refer to Jesus eventually being raised from the dead, and no longer in the tomb. The fact that Catholics have Jesus continually depicted on the cross (and not risen) has been the source of criticism by some Protestants. Maybe someone passed that to a Catholic years ago to start a debate of sorts.