Bible Study Matthew 28
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Matthew 28 · WEB

The Resurrection and the Great Commission

Listen — WEB narration 0:00 / 0:00 Narration: World English Bible (David Williams), public domain — AudioTreasure.

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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.
2Behold, 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.
3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
4For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men.
5The angel answered the women, "Don't be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified.
6He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying.
7Go 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."
8They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.
9As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.
10Then Jesus said to them, "Don't be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me."
11Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city, and told the chief priests all the things that had happened.
12When they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers,
13saying, "Say that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
14If this comes to the governor's ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry."
15So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until this day.
16But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them.
17When they saw him, they bowed down to him, but some doubted.
18Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
19Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
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Summary

Matthew 28 announces the resurrection of Jesus and the launch of his church's mission. An angel rolls away the stone, terrifies the guards, and tells the women that Jesus has risen and is going ahead to Galilee. Jesus himself meets the women, then later meets the eleven disciples on a mountain. There he claims all authority in heaven and on earth and commissions them to make disciples of every nation, promising his presence to the end of the age.

Themes

  • Resurrection victory over death
  • The gospel for all nations
  • The authority of the risen Christ
  • Worship mingled with doubt
  • Christ's continual presence with his people

Key verses

  • Matt 28:18 — “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.”
  • Matt 28:19 — “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
  • Matt 28:20 — “Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
  • Matt 28:6 — “He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said.”

Context & background

The empty tomb is located just outside Jerusalem's walls in modern Israel; the women came at first light on Sunday, the first day of the week. Galilee, where Jesus directed the disciples, is northern Israel — the region where his public ministry began and where most of the disciples were from. The Great Commission was likely given on a mountain in Galilee, possibly the Mount of Beatitudes near the Sea of Galilee. The bribery of the guards reflects the official Jewish leadership's continued resistance, while the trinitarian baptismal formula (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) becomes the foundational practice of the worldwide church.

Cross-references

  • Acts 1:8 — the disciples receive power to be witnesses to the ends of the earth
  • Daniel 7:13-14 — the Son of Man given dominion and an everlasting kingdom
  • Matthew 1:23 — "Immanuel… God with us" — bookending Matthew with God's presence
  • Psalm 16:10 — "you will not leave my soul in Sheol" — predicting resurrection
  • Romans 6:4 — believers raised with Christ to walk in newness of life

Check your reading

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  1. Observe

    Who were the first witnesses at the empty tomb, and what were they told by the angel?

  2. Observe

    In the Great Commission, what three things did Jesus command his disciples to do?

  3. Interpret

    Matthew notes that when the disciples saw the risen Jesus on the mountain "some doubted." What does this detail tell us about the nature of faith?

  4. Interpret

    How does Jesus' claim to "all authority in heaven and on earth" both ground and empower the Great Commission?

  5. Apply

    The Great Commission is given to ordinary disciples who came to a mountain in Galilee — not to a specially trained clergy. What is one concrete step you could take this week to participate in making disciples?

  6. Apply

    Jesus closes Matthew's Gospel with the promise, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Where do you most need this promise right now, and how does it change your response to what you are facing?

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