Matthew 28 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Matthew 28

The Resurrection

28:1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he¹ lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

The Report of the Guard

11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

The Great Commission

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in² the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Footnotes

[1] 28:6 Some manuscripts the Lord
[2] 28:19 Or into

Commentary

v1: Matthew, like Mark, provides fewer details of Christ's post-resurrection appearances than Luke and John. Even so, we cannot escape the reality and significance of the events.

It is the same women who observed where His body was laid who arrive at the tomb. Thus any argument that they went to the wrong tomb is defeated.

v2-4: Another earthquake; Jerusalem must know that something significant is happening. The death of Jesus Christ is not like any other death in the city.

Matthew adds the detail of the angel sitting on the rock, a typically Jewish item. The image is of disdain towards the efforts of the Roman Empire to hold the Saviour of the World in a tomb.

v5-7: The angel appears to the women, bringing reassurance, not terror.

Do not be afraid;
You seek Jesus, indicating their love for Him;
He was crucified, and really died;
Come, see the place; confirming their own experience, for they had seen the place where He was laid;
Tell His disciples, bringing them encouragement also;
To Galilee; where He appears to the disciples; see v10, 16; John 21;
You will see Him; the precious promise.

v8: No wonder the women leave with fear and joy, mingled emotions.

Life is frequently like this. Our circumstances, our pain, sickness, can fill us with fear. Yet our Lord Jesus has risen from the dead. The tomb IS empty, so we are filled with joy..

v9: They quite properly worship Jesus; any lingering doubts about whether He is the Son of God are now gone.

v10: Jesus' words echo those of the angel.

v11-15: While the women go to find the disciples, the soldiers and religious leaders meet in desperate panic. Their scheme, to pay off the guards, and to promulgate a lie, is like straw in the wind. We learn, from Justin Martyr, the historian, that this became the commonly believed view amongst Jews.

v16-17: The appearance to the Eleven, proof for them that He is the Son of God.

v18-20: Jesus speaks of His authority, as Head of the Church, as Lord of all; He therefore commands the disciples; His authority is the basis of the 'Great Commission.'

The extent of the Commission is wide; to "all nations."

The content of the Commission is deep; to make disciples, baptise and teach. This is consistent with later scriptures, 1 Tim 2.4 "... and to come to a knowledge of the truth;" 2 Pet 3.9 "... but everyone to come to repentance." The early church certainly honoured this, see Acts 2.42. We are not called to simply make converts.

John Stott comments; 'I now see more clearly that not only the consequences of the commission but the actual commission itself must be understood to include social as well as evangelistic responsibility, unless we are to be guilty of distorting the words of Jesus.'

The glorious promise of the Commission; "I am with you always." Thus, He is faithful, and will enable us to fulfil what He has commanded.