Matthew 28

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.

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.

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

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

The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified.

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

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.”

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

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

Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.”

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.

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

saying, “Say that his disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept.

If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry.”

So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until today.

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

When they saw him, they bowed down to him; but some doubted.

Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

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

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

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter records the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the angelic announcement to the women, the Lord’s appearance to them, the cover-up by the religious leaders, and the final commission Jesus gives His disciples on a Galilean mountain, where He asserts His universal authority and sends them to make disciples of all nations.

Flow.

The resurrection is revealed through an earthquake and an angel who rolls away the stone and declares Jesus’ victory over death to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary.
The women are commissioned to inform the disciples and meet the risen Jesus, who reaffirms His coming appearance in Galilee.
Meanwhile, the chief priests and elders bribe the guards to spread a false story about the empty tomb.
The chapter concludes with the eleven disciples worshipping Jesus in Galilee, where He declares His sovereign authority and issues the Great Commission.

Connections.
Following chapter 27, which ends with Christ’s burial and the guarded tomb, this chapter fulfills His predictions of resurrection and inaugurates the new era of His reign. The disciples’ worship—even amid uncertainty—prepares for the mission of the church, which the book of Acts will unfold as the outworking of the commission given here. The resurrection validates the atonement completed on the cross, and the authority Jesus now exercises shapes the identity and task of the people of God, which chapter 4 of Acts will show taking its first public steps.

What it teaches.
The resurrection is the vindication of Christ’s deity and the assurance of His victory over sin and death (WCF 8.6). Jesus’ appearance to the women confirms their faithful witness and fulfills His promise to meet the disciples in Galilee (cf. ). The Great Commission flows from Christ’s possession of all authority in heaven and earth, establishing His lordship over all creation (WCF 25.1). Baptism in the name of the Triune God marks entrance into the covenant community, and the command to disciple all nations reflects the universal scope of His saving reign (HC LD 27, BC 21). Christ’s promise to be with His people “always” assures His ongoing presence through the Spirit until the completion of the age (WCF 7.6).

Apply.
The risen Christ meets His followers as they obey His word and sends them with His authority into the world.

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