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.
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The Empty Tomb Discovered

1
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. ​
2
And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. ​
3
His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: ​
4
And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5
And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. ​
6
He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. ​
7
And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. ​
8
And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
9
And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. ​
10
Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. ​

The Guard's Report and the Bribe

11
Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. ​
12
And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, ​
13
Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. ​
14
And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
15
So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. ​

The Great Commission

16
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. ​
17
And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. ​
18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. ​
19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ​
20
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. ​

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.

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