Matthew 28
The Resurrection This section tells the story of Jesus’ resurrection, one of the most important events in the Christian faith. After His death and burial, Jesus rises from the dead, just as He promised. The account describes the visit of the women to the tomb, the appearance of the angel, and the first encounters with the risen Christ. It shows that Jesus has conquered death and brings hope of eternal life to all who trust in Him.v. 1: Early on the first day of the week, just as the Sabbath ended and dawn was breaking, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to visit the tomb (Matthew 28:1 a). This establishes the time of Jesus’ resurrection—it was the third day after His death, as He had foretold (Matthew 12:40 b). The fact that the women went to the tomb shows their devotion to Jesus, even after His death. Their visit demonstrates that the resurrection was unexpected, as they went to mourn, not to find the risen Lord. v. 2–4: Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, and an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled back the stone from the tomb, and sat on it (Matthew 28:2-4 c). The angel’s appearance was bright like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow, showing heavenly glory and purity. The guards at the tomb were so terrified that they shook and became like dead men. The earthquake and the angel’s actions were signs that something extraordinary had happened—Jesus had risen! The rolling back of the stone was not to let Jesus out, but to show that He was already risen. – – v. 5–7: The angel spoke to the women, telling them not to be afraid. He knew they were looking for Jesus, who had been crucified. The angel announced, “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.” He invited them to look at the place where Jesus had been laid, then told them to go quickly and tell the disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead and would meet them in Galilee (Matthew 28:5-7 d). The angel’s message fulfilled Jesus’ promises, and the empty tomb was proof of His resurrection. The women were given the honor of being the first witnesses to this good news. – – v. 8: The women hurried away from the tomb, filled with both fear and great joy. They ran to tell the disciples what they had seen and heard (Matthew 28:8 e). Their reaction shows how overwhelming and wonderful the news of Jesus’ resurrection was. They were the first to share the message that Jesus was alive. v. 9–10: On their way, Jesus Himself met them and greeted them. They came to Him, held His feet, and worshiped Him. Jesus told them not to be afraid and instructed them again to tell His brothers to go to Galilee, where they would see Him (Matthew 28:9-10 f). This personal encounter confirmed the angel’s message and showed that Jesus was truly alive, not just a vision or spirit. Jesus’ greeting, “Do not be afraid,” reassured them and encouraged them to trust in Him. – The Resurrection.This section describes what happened after Jesus rose from the dead. The soldiers who guarded the tomb became witnesses to the resurrection, even though they were enemies of Jesus. Their report to the chief priests gave strong evidence that Jesus truly rose, because they saw the events themselves. However, instead of believing, the religious leaders tried to hide the truth. This passage shows both the power of Jesus’ resurrection and the stubbornness of those who refused to accept it.v. 11: While the women were on their way to tell the disciples about Jesus’ resurrection, some of the soldiers went into the city to report to the chief priests everything that had happened. They told them about the earthquake, the angel coming down, the stone being rolled away, and Jesus coming out of the tomb alive. The soldiers’ testimony was clear and strong, because they were eye-witnesses and not friends of Jesus. This should have convinced the priests to believe in Jesus, but instead, they were ashamed and refused to accept the truth (Nehemiah 6:16 g).v. 11–15: Meanwhile, some of the guards went into the city and reported everything to the chief priests. The religious leaders gave the soldiers money to spread a false story that Jesus’ disciples had stolen His body while they were asleep (Matthew 28:11-15 h). This shows that Jesus’ enemies tried to cover up the resurrection, but the truth could not be hidden. Despite the lies, the reality of the empty tomb and the risen Christ would become known throughout the world. v. 12: The chief priests called a meeting with the elders to decide what to do. They did not want to believe that Jesus had risen, and they wanted to stop others from believing it too. They realized that if people believed in the resurrection, it would prove they were wrong to put Jesus to death. So, they planned to cover up the truth, even if it meant committing more sins (Psalm 69:27 i). v. 13: The leaders gave the soldiers a large amount of money and told them to say, “His disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept” (Matthew 28:13 j). This was a weak and foolish lie. If the soldiers were asleep, they could not know who took the body. If any of them were awake, they would have stopped it. The story did not make sense, but the priests were desperate to hide the truth. It is wrong to pay people to lie, especially about something so important as Jesus’ resurrection. This was a serious sin, because it tried to deny the work of the Holy Spirit. v. 14: The priests promised the soldiers that if the governor heard about them sleeping on duty, they would protect them and keep them out of trouble (Acts 12:19 k). This showed that the priests did not really believe the soldiers’ story, because if it were true, they would have wanted the soldiers punished. They cared more about hiding the truth than about justice or honesty. v. 15: The soldiers took the money and did as they were told. They spread the false story among the Jews, and it became widely believed. Many people were willing to accept the lie, and it was repeated for a long time. Even though the soldiers had seen proof of Jesus’ resurrection, they chose money over truth. This shows that even the strongest evidence cannot change people’s hearts unless God’s Spirit works in them. Lies can spread quickly and do much harm, but the truth about Jesus’ resurrection remains for those who are willing to believe. v. 16: The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain Jesus had chosen for their meeting, as He had instructed them (Matthew 28:16 l). Although they had already seen Jesus in Jerusalem after His resurrection, they obeyed His command to travel to Galilee, demonstrating their trust and willingness to follow Him even when it required effort and faith. This gathering on the mountain prepared the way for a significant public meeting where Jesus would give His final instructions to His followers.v. 16–20: At this meeting in Galilee, Jesus gave the Great Commission to His disciples, commanding them to make disciples of all nations, baptize them, and teach them to obey everything He had commanded (Matthew 28:16-20 m). He also promised His continual presence, saying, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” This final instruction affirms Jesus’ authority over all things and establishes the mission of the church to spread the gospel worldwide. The resurrection of Jesus confirms His victory over death and fulfills God’s promises, bringing hope and assurance to all who trust in Him. v. 17: When the disciples see Jesus, they worship him. Some believe immediately and honor him as the risen Lord. But some are still unsure and hesitate; they doubt. This shows that even among Jesus’ closest followers, there was still confusion and weakness in faith. It also proves that the disciples were not easily fooled—they questioned what they saw until they were completely convinced. Later, all their doubts are removed, and they become bold witnesses. v. 18: Jesus comes closer and speaks to them. He says, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." This means Jesus is now the King and ruler over everything—both in the spiritual world and in this world. He has the right to command his followers and to send them everywhere. Jesus’ power comes from God the Father, and he uses it to save people and to guide his church. This statement also shows that Jesus is truly God’s Son and the promised Savior. v. 19: Jesus gives his disciples a command: "Go and make disciples of all nations." He tells them to baptize new followers in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This means the good news about Jesus is for everyone, not just for Jews. The disciples must teach people everywhere about Jesus, invite them to believe and be baptized, and help them become part of God’s family. Baptism is a sign that someone belongs to God and trusts in Jesus. It is done in the name of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—showing the unity of God. v. 20: Jesus tells his disciples to teach new believers to obey everything he has commanded. Being a disciple is not just about believing; it also means learning to live the way Jesus taught. Christians must follow Jesus’ teachings and help each other grow in faith and obedience. Jesus also promises, "I am with you always, to the end of the world." This means he will never leave his followers alone. Jesus will be present through his Spirit, helping, comforting, and guiding them until the very end. This promise gives Christians courage to do God’s work, knowing Jesus is always with them.
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