Matthew 28
Big idea: He is not here, for he has risen: the earthquake angel, the running women, the bribed guards' counter-story — and on a Galilean mountain, all authority, all nations, and 'I am with you always' close the Gospel where it began: God with us.
Every thread resolves: the predictions ('as he said'), the Galilee promise, the Emmanuel inclusio, and the mission that chapters 1-27 built — now handed to eleven worshiping, wavering disciples.
28:1-10 — The empty tomb: as he said
At dawn on the first day, the two Marys come to see the tomb. A great earthquake: an angel descends, rolls the stone away, and sits on it, lightning-faced, snow-white — the guards shake and become like dead men. To the women: don't be afraid; you seek the crucified Jesus — he is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come see, then go quickly: he goes before you into Galilee. They run with fear and great joy — and Jesus himself meets them: 'Rejoice!' They hold his feet and worship; he sends them: tell my brothers to go to Galilee.
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. 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. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men. 5 The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying. 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.” 8 They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word. 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. 10 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.”
28:11-15 — The bribed guards' story
While the women run, some of the guard report everything to the chief priests. Assembled with the elders, they pay the soldiers a large sum to say 'his disciples came by night and stole him while we slept,' with a promise to manage Pilate. The soldiers comply, and this story spread among the Jews 'and continues until today.'
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. 12 When they were assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Say that his disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept. 14 If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until today.
28:16-20 — The Great Commission: all authority, all nations, always
The eleven meet Jesus on the appointed Galilean mountain; seeing him, they worship — and some doubt. Jesus comes to them and speaks the Gospel's final words: all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore 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 that I commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
16 But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them. 17 When they saw him, they bowed down to him; but some doubted. 18 Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 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.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).