Matthew28

At dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary found Jesus' tomb empty. An angel announced His resurrection and instructed them to tell the disciples to go to Galilee. Jesus then appeared to the women and later to the eleven disciples in Galilee, where He gave them the Great Commission to teach and baptize all nations.
Listen to this chapter
0:00 0:00

The Empty Tomb Discovered

1
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. ​
2
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it. ​
3
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ​
4
The guards trembled in fear of him and became like dead men.
5
But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ​
6
He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay. ​
7
Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ See, I have told you.” ​
8
So they hurried away from the tomb in fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples.
9
Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him. ​
10
“Do not be afraid,” said Jesus. “Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see Me.” ​

The Guard's Report and the Bribe

11
While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. ​
12
And after the chief priests had met with the elders and formed a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money ​
13
and instructed them: “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ ​
14
If this report reaches the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”
15
So the guards took the money and did as they were instructed. And this account has been circulated among the Jews to this very day. ​

The Great Commission

16
Meanwhile, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain Jesus had designated. ​
17
When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted. ​
18
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. ​
19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, ​
20
and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” ​

Study Notes for Matthew 28

Verse 1

The phrase 'end of the sabbath... began to dawn toward the first day of the week' establishes the timing of the resurrection on Sunday morning, which became the principal day of Christian worship.

Verse 2

The earthquake and the angel’s descent demonstrate divine power. The stone was rolled back not to allow Jesus out (as he had already risen), but to allow the witnesses entry and confirmation of the empty tomb.

Verse 3

The description of the angel uses traditional apocalyptic imagery (lightning and snow), emphasizing the awe-inspiring and terrifying nature of divine glory.

Verse 5

The angel's words, 'Fear not ye,' distinguish the women from the terrified Roman guards, assuring them that this encounter is one of salvation and good news.

Verse 6

He is risen, as he said. This statement confirms the central claim of the Christian faith and validates all of Jesus' prior prophecies concerning his death and resurrection (cf. Matt 16:21).

Verse 7

The women are commissioned as the first messengers of the resurrection. The instruction to go to Galilee fulfills Jesus' promise made before the crucifixion (26:32), emphasizing his reliability.

Verse 9

Jesus’ immediate appearance to the women confirms the reality of the resurrection. Their act of holding his feet affirms the physical, tangible nature of his resurrected body.

Verse 10

Jesus calls the disciples 'my brethren.' This signals the restoration of their relationship despite their recent failures and denial, establishing a new intimacy in the post-resurrection community.

Verse 11

The report of the Roman guard provides an independent, hostile witness to the miraculous events, further confirming the impossibility of a natural explanation for the empty tomb.

Verse 12

The Jewish leaders’ decision to pay 'large money' (a bribe) shows their desperation to suppress the truth, prioritizing their political and religious power over acknowledging divine action.

Verse 13

The fabricated story is internally inconsistent; if the guards were asleep, they could not possibly know who had stolen the body. This narrative was designed to offer a counter-explanation to the empty tomb.

Verse 15

This editorial comment by Matthew indicates that this counter-narrative was still actively circulating among Jewish communities at the time his Gospel was written, highlighting the persistence of opposition.

Verse 16

The meeting place in Galilee, specifically on a mountain, recalls other significant moments of divine revelation and authority in Matthew’s Gospel (e.g., the Sermon on the Mount).

Verse 17

The phrase 'some doubted' is a powerful reminder that faith often coexists with human uncertainty, even when faced with overwhelming evidence.

Verse 18

All power is given unto me: The resurrection grants Jesus universal, absolute authority (*exousia*) over the cosmos, which serves as the foundation and justification for the global mission that follows.

Verse 19

This is the Great Commission, the definitive command to the Church to evangelize globally. Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost establishes the Trinitarian formula for Christian initiation.

Verse 20

The promise, 'I am with you alway,' is the final, comforting word of the Gospel. It assures the disciples of Christ's continual, powerful presence through the Holy Spirit as they carry out the mission until the end of the age.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Options