Matthew 28

The chapter narrates the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, the subsequent commissioning of His disciples to global mission, and the rejection of the truth by the religious authorities through bribery.

• The women arrive at the tomb, encounter an angel, and discover that the tomb is empty.
• The angel commissions the women to report the resurrection to the disciples.
• The resurrected Jesus appears to the women, confirming the message and directing the disciples to Galilee.
• The guards report the events to the chief priests, who manufacture a bribe-fueled lie to cover the truth.
• Jesus meets the disciples on a mountain, asserts His universal authority, and issues the Great Commission.

• The earthquake and the angel’s appearance
• The women's response of 'fear and great joy'
• The chief priests' use of 'large money' to fabricate a false report
• The disciples' reaction of worship mixed with doubt
• The closing promise of Christ's presence until the end of the age

This passage provides the historical climax of Matthew's Gospel, pivoting from Jesus' local ministry to the universal mission of the Church while establishing the risen Christ as the authoritative Lord.

The resurrection of Jesus is a vindicated historical reality that shifts the disciples' focus from mourning to a worldwide mission sustained by the constant presence of the King.

The narrative arc begins with the confusion and fear of the empty tomb and moves steadily toward the clarity of Jesus' authority and the certainty of His command for the global mission.

• I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:20)

• Go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen (Matthew 28:7)
• Go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee (Matthew 28:10)
• Go ye therefore, and teach all nations (Matthew 28:19)
• Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19)
• Teaching them to observe all things (Matthew 28:20)

• The role of women as primary witnesses was often viewed with skepticism in 1st-century Jewish culture, yet the text presents them as the first recipients of the resurrection news.
• The 'large money' bribe given to the guards highlights the lengths to which the Sanhedrin would go to suppress the proclamation of the resurrection.
• Matthew Henry observes that the resurrection of Christ is the joy of His friends and the terror of His enemies, noting how the guards’ fear contrasts with the women’s response.

• The Roman guard (κουστωδία) was a highly disciplined unit, making their claim to have slept on duty a confession of a capital offense, necessitating the priests' protection.
• The instruction to 'teach all nations' directly challenged the insular religious exclusivity of the religious leadership of the time.

• This chapter functions as the dénouement of the Gospel, fulfilling the specific resurrection prophecies Jesus made throughout the book.
• The 'doubt' mentioned in verse 17 is a notable detail, reflecting an honest assessment of the disciples' internal struggles even in the presence of the risen Lord.

• The claim of 'all power' in verse 18 acts as a direct fulfillment of the vision of the Son of Man in Daniel 7:14, who receives 'dominion, and glory, and a kingdom'.
• The Great Commission connects to the Abrahamic promise that all nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:3).

• Daniel 7:14: 'And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him' corresponds to Matthew 28:18.

• σάββατον (G4521): Used here to denote the weekly interval; the 'first day of the week' signals the new creation.
• ἐπιφώσκω (G2020): 'As it began to dawn,' implying a new light or beginning.
• κύριος (G2962): 'Lord,' indicating absolute authority.
• τηρέω (G5083): 'Guards' or 'to watch,' highlighting the attempt to detain Christ, which failed.

• The specific detail that some disciples worshipped while others doubted (v. 17), demonstrating that discipleship is often a path of wrestling with faith even amidst revelation.
• The command to baptize is specifically 'in the name' (singular) of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, reflecting the unity of the Godhead.

• There is ongoing scholarly discussion regarding the specific nature of the 'doubt' expressed by the disciples in verse 17, with some viewing it as initial hesitancy and others as a struggle with the reality of the resurrected body.