Matthew Chapter 28

From The Open Bible Project

28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

• (1) Christ, having routed death in the tomb, rises by his own power, as the angel immediately witnesses.
• (a) At the going out of the sabbath, that is, about daybreak after the Roman manner of telling time, which considers the natural day to be from the rising of the sun to the next sunrise: and not as the Hebrews, which count from evening to evening.
• (b) When the morning of the first day after the sabbath began to dawn: and that first day is the same as that which we now call Sunday, or the Lord’s day.

28:2 Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky, and came and rolled away the stone from the door, and sat on it.

28:3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.

• (c) The beams of his eyes, and by the figure of speech called synecdoche, this is understood as the countenance.

28:4 For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men.

28:5 The angel answered the women, "Don't be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified.

• (d) The word "ye" is spoken with force to indicate that it was the women to whom he was speaking, as the soldiers were also afraid.

28:6 He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying.

28:7 Go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.' Behold, I have told you."

28:8 They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.

28:9 As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.

• (2) Christ himself appears after his resurrection, and sending the women to his disciples, shows that he has not forgotten them.

28:10 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't be afraid. Go tell my [132>]brothers[<132] that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me."

28:11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city, and told the chief priests all the things that had happened.

• (3) The more that the sun shines, the more that the wicked are blinded.

28:12 When they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers,

28:13 saying, "Say that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.

28:14 If this comes to the governor's ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry."

• (e) For it was to be feared that it would be brought to the governor’s ears.

28:15 So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until this day.

28:16 But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them.

• (4) Christ appears also to his disciples, whom he makes apostles.

28:17 When they saw him, they bowed down to him, but some doubted.

28:18 Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

28:19 Go,[133] and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

• (5) The sum of the apostleship is the proclaiming of the doctrine received from Christ throughout all the world, and the ministering of the sacraments: the efficacy of which things depends not on the minsters but on the Lord.
• (f) Calling upon the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

28:20 teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

• (g) Forever: and this refers to the manner of the presence of his Spirit, by means of which he makes us partakers both of himself and of all his benefits, even though he is absent from us in body.