Matthew 28

 

The Resurrection

1Now after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 

 

Where are all of the men? When men refuse to lead, women will take up the slack.

 

2Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. 

 

This was an unusual earthquake which was created and controlled by God. This would surely wake up any sleeping guards.  And an angel came down from heaven and rolled the 4,000 pound stone away.  Yet they heard nothing.

 

3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 

 

The angel was brightly covered, possibly reflecting the Shekinah Glory of God.

 

4The guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him. 

 

The Roman guards were known for their courage, but they had never seen anything like this during their military service.

 

5But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 

 

The angel ignores the soldiers and speaks softly to the women. Women were the first to hear the good news of the resurrection.

 

6He is not here, for he has been raised, just as he said. Come and see the place where he was lying. 

 

Jesus predicted that He would be raised from the dead after three days.

 

7Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you!” 

 

Jesus told the disciples to meet Him in Galilee after His resurrection (Matt 26:32). He sent the women back to remind them of this appointment.

 

8 So they left the tomb quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 

 

The women were scared, but joyous. Their Savior was alive.

 

9 But Jesus met them, saying, “Greetings!” They came to him, held on to his feet and worshiped him. 

 

The women worshiped Jesus as God. Angels do not allow others to worship them.

 

10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.”

 

This Galilee appointment was mentioned for the third time.

 

The Guards’ Report

11 While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. 

 

The sixteen guards and the chief priests possessed the truth about Jesus. What would they do with the truth?

 

12After they had assembled with the elders and formed a plan, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came at night and stole his body while we were asleep.’ 

 

The total and depraved man hates God so much, that he will resist the truth, suppress it, and even deceive others. The sleeping guards’ argument was ridiculous, but the elders were desperate. For this argument to be true, the disciples would have to tip toe through sixteen soldiers, break the seal, move a 4000 pound rock, and then steal the wrapped body of Jesus out of a dark burial cave without waking up the soldiers.

 

14If this matter is heard before the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 

 

Guards sleeping on duty was a capital offense in Rome. The Jewish leaders would have to wield their political power to save the life of the guards. They would have to bribe them to keep them quiet.

 

15So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story is told among the Jews to this day.

 

The soldiers sold out the truth about God for money. Many people still sell out God for money. This story was spreading during the days that Matthew wrote and circulated his historical gospel.

 

The Great Commission

16So the eleven disciples went to Galilee to the mountain Jesus had designated. 

 

Jesus met the eleven disciples at a designated mountain in Galilee.

 

17When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. 

 

Man is so totally depraved and evil that he can see the resurrected Christ with his own eyes, yet he will still doubt and even disbelieve. Thomas was one of the disciples who doubted, but God later opened his eyes. Man has no hope of eternal life unless God opens his eyes.

 

18Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 

 

Jesus has been given all authority over heaven and earth.

 

19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 

 

Jesus was talking to the eleven disciples, not the modern church. The disciples were not sent out to share the gospel, but to disciple the nations. The disciples were to baptize their new disciples into the one singular name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is a Trinitarian passage. This verse also stresses discipleship, not evangelism. Discipleship and evangelism cannot be split up into two different programs.

 

20teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”