Bible Study series: Matthew 28:1-10. This miracle changes the whole of human existence.
A warm welcome to this Bible study! I write to learn, so let’s learn together. I also translate to learn. The translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click on this link:
In the next link to the original chapter, I comment more and offer the Greek text. At the bottom you will find a “Summary and Conclusion” section geared toward discipleship. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10
1 After the Sabbath, when the light was dawning on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And look! A strong earthquake took place, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached and rolled away the stone and sat on top of it. 3 His appearance was like bright lightning, and his clothing was white like snow. 4 Out of fear of him, those on guard were shaken and became as dead men.
5 Answering their fear, the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he was raised, as he said. Come and see the place where he was lying.
7 Then quickly go and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead. And pay attention! He is going ahead of you into Galilee; you will see him there. Pay attention! I have spoken to you!” 8 And they quickly left the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to announce this to his disciples. 9 And look! Jesus met them, saying, “Greetings!” They came up to him and clasped his feet and bowed before him. 10 At that time Jesus said to them, “Do not fear! Go, announce to my brothers and sisters that they should depart for Galilee, and they will see me there.” (Matt. 28:1-10)
Comments:
1-10:
Osborne compiled the material about the appearances and counts eleven (p. 1054, slightly edited):
1.. Mary Magdalene (John 20:14-18
2.. A group of women (Mark 16:5-7; Matt. 28:9)
3.. Peter (Luke 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5)
4.. Two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)
5.. The disciples in Jerusalem (Luke 24:36-43; John 24:13-35)
6.. Thomas and the others, eight days later (John 20:26-29)
7.. Seven disciples on the Lake of Galilee (John 21:1-23)
8.. The Great Commission appearance on mountain in Galilee (Matt. 28:16-20)
9.. Five hundred believers at one time (1 Cor. 15:6)
10.. James (1 Cor. 15:7)
11.. The disciples at the ascension (Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:1-12)
Further, here is a supplemental table of the resurrection appearances. I hope it clarifies the main passages:
|
Resurrection Appearances |
|||
| Appearance | Place | Time | Scriptures |
| The Empty Tomb | Jerusalem | Resurrection Sunday | Mt. 28:1-10; Mk. 16:1-8; Lk. 24:1-12; Jn. 20:1-9 |
| Mary Magdalene | In a garden in Jerusalem | Resurrection Sunday | Mk. 16:9-11; Jn. 11-18 |
| Other women | Jerusalem | Resurrection Sunday | Mt. 28:9-10 |
| Two men on Road to Emmaus | Emmaus seven miles from Jerusalem | Resurrection Sunday | Mk. 16:12-13; Lk. 24:13-32 |
| Peter | Jerusalem | Resurrection Sunday | Lk. 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5 |
| Ten disciples in upper room | Jerusalem | Resurrection Sunday | Lk. 24:36-43; Jn. 20:19-25 |
| Eleven disciples in upper room | Jerusalem | Following Sunday | Mk. 16:14; Jn. 20:26-31; 1 Cor. 15:5 |
| Seven disciples | Sea of Galilee | Some time later | Jn. 21:1-23 |
| Eleven disciples on mountain | Galilee | Some time later | Mt. 28:16-20; Mk. 16:15-18 |
| More than five hundred | Unknown | Some time later | 1 Cor. 15:6 |
| James | Unknown | Some time later | 1 Cor. 15:7 |
| His disciples at his ascension | Mount of Olives | Forty days after resurrection | Lk. 24:44-49; Ac. 1:3-8 |
| Paul | Damascus | Several years later | Ac. 9:1-9, 22:3-16, 26:9-18; 1 Cor. 9:1 |
| Adapted from NIV Study Bible, p. 1754. | |||
Also see:
14. Do I Really Know Jesus? He Appeared to His Disciples
This is the great resurrection passage in Matthew’s Gospel. I have nicknamed him Matthew the Abbreviator, and this version is definitely the short and streamlined version, compared to Luke and John. Yet Matthew’s version is still powerful and clear. There is beauty and power in simplicity.
Let me now cover some of my translation.
First, Matthew goes back to Mariam, instead of Maria. Names were fluid back then. You can use both Maria or Mariam / Miriam.
The fact that Matthew writes of women being the first visitors to the tomb and the first witnesses to the effect of the resurrection—the empty tomb—has the ring of truth to it. If Matthew were making it up to impress outsiders to the Jewish Christian movement, we would expect him to say men were the first witnesses.
First day of the week is our Sunday—the Sabbath was over on our Saturday evening, at sunset.
“Look” and “Pay attention” are translated in the older versions as “behold.” It means that something startling is about to happen. A new development in the plot is happening or a serious announcement is now delivered. I believe my translations fit the context
The stone was rolled away, not to let Jesus escape from the tomb. No! It was rolled away as a witness to the visitors to the tomb.
In v. 4, Osborne quotes from another commentator (Hagner): “The irony is not to be missed: the ones assigned to guard the dead themselves appear dead while the dead now have been made alive” (Osborne, comment on 28:4).
In v. 5 “answering their fear” is implied. The verb “answer” or “respond” exists, but the context says that the angel saw their fear and responded to it. He saw the guard fallen as dead men, but he did not help them. He left them as they were. Instead, he lifted up the women with his words and urged them to go ahead and look in the tomb.
In v. 6 we find the most famous of all words in the pericope (pronounced puh-RIH-koh-pea) or section of Scripture. “He is not here! He is risen!” Commentators call the second verb the divine passive. That is, God is not named, but he is the one who raised Jesus from the dead. He is behind the scene at work, invisible, except for those who have eyes to see. It could be translated as “He has been raised up!”
“brothers and sisters”: Many women followed Jesus from Galilee (27:55), so it is easy to imagine that they too needed to hear the good news of the resurrection.
“bowed”: this verb could be translated as “worship.” It is the verb proskuneō (pronounced pros-koo-neh-oh), and it literally means “kiss toward” (kun– means to “fall” or “kneel,” and even more primitively “kus” or “kiss”; pros means “towards,” among other things). Further, it can mean, depending on the context, “(fall down and) worship, do obeisance to, prostrate oneself before, do reverence to, welcome respectfully.” Here it is worship, because one would not greet the Lord casually. He was resurrected. This is, again, high Christology in Matthew. Jesus told Satan that only God is to be worshipped (4:9-10). Here he accepts their worship. The logic is simple. He is God in the flesh—now with a resurrected body.
Bible Basics about Praise and Worship
Word Study on Praise and Worship
Renewalists believe that angels appear today, just like they did back in biblical times. God is the Lord, we are not. He can work miracles as he sees fit. He will accomplish his plans, and in this case the angel was a messenger to tell them of the resurrection. People who really see angels have the similar reaction of fear. People who are casual at the first encounter with an angel are not reliable. After they recover from the sense of awe, they can then listen respectfully.
Here is a multi-part study of angels in the area of systematic theology, but first, here is a summary list of the basics:
Angels:
(a) Are messengers (in Hebrew mal’ak and in Greek angelos);
(b) Are created spirit beings;
(c) Have a beginning at their creation (not eternal);
(d) Have a beginning, but they are immortal (deathless).
(e) Have moral judgment;
(f) Have a certain measure of free will;
(g) Have high intelligence;
(h) Do not have physical bodies;
(i) But can manifest with immortal bodies before humans;
(j) They can show the emotion of joy.
Angels: Their Duties and Missions
Angels: Their Names and Ranks and Heavenly Existence
Angels: Their Origins, Abilities, and Nature
Now let’s turn to the sequence of the passage.
The plotline is fast-flowing. Twice “quickly” is spoken. Go quickly! Don’t delay! Do it now! Obey now! And the word translated “look!” and “pay attention!” appears four times in vv. 1-10 and once in v. 11 and once in v. 20.
The sequence of events is compressed. It seems to work out like this: (1) Early in the morning when the light was breaking, the women go to the tomb. (2) Just before or just as they arrived, an angel appeared and an earthquake happened. (3) The angel rolled away the stone and sat on top of it. Sitting on top indicates triumph, like David standing over Goliath’s body (1 Sam. 17:51). (4) Jesus was already raised before the stone was rolled away, which teach us that a resurrected body is not blocked by rock. (5) The guard fell as though dead. (6) The women also reacted with fear. (7) The angel instructs them to go and announce to Jesus’s disciples. (8) On their way, Jesus meets them. (9) They clasp his feet. (10) At that moment he tells them in effect to get up and don’t clasp. This agrees with John 20:17, when Jesus told Mary Magdalene not to cling to him. (11) Jesus orders them to go and announce the resurrection to his brothers and sister and to tell them to meet him in Galilee.
The pericope ends.
Many websites and youtube videos try to reconcile the sequence of events in the four Gospels. You can look them up. Just remember that Matthew is an abbreviator, and God inspired him to trim his narrative or account to its barest elements.
Why Galilee? Osborne: “… While Matthew (and Mark) do not have a symbolic meaning of Galilee in this way, Jesus probably does choose to emphasize the Galilee appearance both in the prediction of 26:32 and in the fulfillment of 28:7, 10, 16 because Galilee was the place the disciples were trained and spent most of their ministry. Furthermore, for Matthew there is another nuance, ‘Galilee of the Gentiles’ (4:15) is a major theme of the great commission (28:19) and sums up the Gentile mission in Matthew (see 1:5, 6; 2:1-12; 4:4-16, 25; 8:5-13, 28-34; 10:18; 12:21, 42, 13:38; 15:21-28, 29-31; 24:14, 31; 25:31-46; 28:10” (comment on 28:10).
Now for the commissioning of the women.
As noted, above, by a short introduction, Women were the first to the tomb. They were hopeful and keen to find out the rest of the story. Their hope drove them to be first at the tomb.
An angel himself told them to go and announce. “Pay attention! I have spoken to you!” Or “I have told you!” This looks like the pronouncements of the prophets: “The Lord has spoken” (Is. 1:2; 25:8; Joel 3:8 and so on) or “I, the Lord, has spoken!” (Num. 14:35; Ezek. 5:15, 17 and so on). The women were told to announce the resurrection. They were commissioned to be evangelists and reporters. Their ministry of being a witness is remarkable, in a culture that did not value the testimony of womankind. God through an angel was breaking down this barrier. He is lifting women up. Jesus also commissioned them. So this double commissioning was extremely important. Women can be evangelists, speaking both to women and men. (Note the wording: I am not yet addressing the office of elder; that issue is another post for another day.) Let’s not diminish their evangelistic role.
Keener writes of the women’s commissioning:
The initial dependence of the men on the testimony of the women reflects the gospel’s power to transcend gender restrictions … When the women met Jesus, they worshiped (28:9)—finally responding as the wise Gentiles had (2:2, 11), yet—again with an ironic touch—before the male disciples did (28:17. Nevertheless, Jesus does not cast off the male disciples here; he identifies the disciples to whom he is sending them as his brothers (12:50:25:40 …) (pp. 702-03)
Let’s turn to the main point of this passage: the resurrection.
The resurrection changes everything. Here is what it means:
(1) It constituted a declaration of the Father that the last enemy had been vanquished, the penalty paid, and the condition on which life was promised [was] met. (2) It symbolized what was destined to happen to the members of Christ’s mystical body in their justification, spiritual birth and future blessed resurrection (Rom. 6:4, 5, 9, 8:11; 1 Cor. 6:14, 15:20-22; 2 Cor. 4:10, 11, 14; Col. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:14. (3) It also connected instrumentally with their justification, regeneration, and final resurrection (Rom. 4:25, 5:10; Eph. 1:20; Phil. 3:10; 1 Pet. 1:3).
Source: 13. Do I Really Know Jesus? His Resurrection Changes Everything
Later in his life, here’s what Peter wrote about the resurrection:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Pet. 1:3, NIV)
We are born again or experience new birth through the resurrection. Peter grew up from his initial reaction!
Let’s dig deeper into the meaning of the resurrection. We do this by quoting from the epistles, because these writers were inspired and have the benefit of looking back on the resurrection and interpreting it for the church and our Christian lives.
First, the resurrection is essential to the core of the gospel:
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. (1 Cor. 15:3-8, NIV)
Numerous scholars believe that those above verses contain a very early creed.
Second, if Christ was not raised from the dead, then the early apostolic preaching has been useless and so is our faith: “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Cor. 15:14, NIV).
Note that Jesus appeared to five hundred at one time. Where? Either in or around Jerusalem or in Galilee.
Third, the implication for us and the dead is massive if Christ is not raised from the dead:
More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Cor. 15:15-19, NIV)
Fourth, here are the benefits when Christ has been raised from the dead, as indeed he has:
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. (1 Cor. 15:20-23, NIV).
Christ being the firstfruits means that we are next. His resurrection guarantees our own. He was first, and we follow him.
Fifth, his resurrection reveals what our bodies will be like:
42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. (1 Cor. 15:42-44, NIV)
When we are reunited with our bodies at the Second Coming, they will be transformed and glorified. They will be immortal and imperishable.
Ten Biblical Truths about Your New Body
To sum up, his resurrection changes everything. It ratifies the plan of salvation. It seals the promise that he will return to put all things right, for he is the God of justice. He can now send the Spirit into our hearts, sealing them for his second coming and our secure place in heaven. He has been restored to the glory he had before he was incarnated to a man. Now we relate to the heavenly Jesus. He can now have an intimate relationship with each of the seven billion people on the planet. That includes you.
Source:
11. Do I Really Know Jesus? He Was Resurrected from the Dead
For further inquiries into what he did between his death and resurrection (or between his death and ascension), please click on this post:
10. Do I Really Know Jesus? Did He Descend into Hades to Preach?
David L. Turner has a magnificent section in his commentary on “Without the resurrection” (pp. 683-84), which I modify here:
Without the resurrection…
Jesus’s redemptive act of dying for sinners would not have divine endorsement. The Father would not declare that Jesus’s death was victorious and the blood shed on the cross to initiate the new covenant would be effective (Rom. 4:25).
His promise that he would rise from the dead (12:40; 16:21; 17:9; 20:19; 26:32) would be empty, and his death would be scorned or pitied, but not believed or obeyed (1 Cor. 15:16-19)
Jesus could not save people from their sins, just as the angel had promised (1:21), for he would be cursed with infamy because he hanged on a tree or wooden pole (Deut. 21:22-23; Gal. 3:13).
There would be no apostolic foundation of the church (16:18), since the apostles deserted him at his arrest and death. Yet his resurrection turned them back and restored them and made them into disciples (26:27-29; 28:7, 10, 16-20).
There would be no complete model of sacrificial living. By dying to self, you gain your soul. Genuinely abundant living occurs when one gives up one’s own life, but without the resurrection the new orientation is short-circuited (10:38-39; 16:24-26; 20:26-28; 23:12; cf. Rom. 6:1-11).
There would be no eschatological shalom to rectify all earthly wrongs and renew the world (19:28). Shalom means peace and prosperity and wellbeing, and this will happen at the end of the age. But it would not happen without the resurrection.
The martyrs whose blood cries out from the ground would experience no justice or vindication (23:35; Rev. 6:9-11). Those who commit violence would not be held accountable without an ultimate reckoning (13:37-42; Dan. 12:2). “Satan would win the cosmic battle.”
People could not hope for their own resurrection and reward (13:43; 16:27; 25:31-40; 27:51-52). Jesus’s ethical teaching said that there would be judgment and reward in the coming kingdom (4:17; 5:12; 7:1-2, 21). What would become of the thrones of the twelve apostles and the rewards Jesus promised to all his disciples (6:9-21; 13:43; 19:27-29; cf. Dan. 12:3; Rev. 2:26-27; 3:21)?
The kingdom would never come to earth and be implemented fully, as it is in heaven (6:10, 33).
Jesus’s “climatic saving act of dying for sinners by crucifixion would lack interpretation and proof of divine acceptance.” The preaching of the cross (Gal. 6:14; 1 Cor. 18-25; 1 Pet. 1:19; Heb. 2:9, 14; 9:12-14; Rev. 5:6-9) would be insignificant and meaningless.
To sum up, the gospel must include the cross and the resurrection, side by side. The gospel must be communicated with the saving power of the cross, and the proof of the saving power of the cross comes through the resurrection. “Any ‘gospel’ that does not place Jesus’s resurrection alongside Jesus’s death is not the authentic message of Jesus and the apostles.”
Scriptures for the resurrection:
Acts 2:32; 3:15, 26; 4:2, 10, 33; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30-37; 17:18, 31; 23:6; 24:21; 25:19; 26:8, 23
Rom. 1:4; 4:25; 6:4-5; 8:11; 10:9
1 Cor. 15:3-8, 12-23, 32, 42.
2 Cor. 4:10, 14; 13:4
Gal. 1:1
Eph. 1:20; 2:5; 4:10
Phil. 2:8-9
Col. 2:12; 3:1-4
1 Thess. 4:14
1 Tim. 3:16
Heb. 1:3; 10:12; 12:1
1 Pet. 1:21; 3:18-22
Rev. 1:5, 18; 2:8; 5:6-10
Thus, the apostolic community, some of whom were infallibly inspired to write the NT, believed that the resurrection was the foundation of their faith. So it should be the foundation of our faith too. Are we better than their generation?
GrowApp for Matt. 28:1-10
1. He is risen! Hallelujah! An angel and Jesus commissioned the women to report the resurrection. How do you communicate what the risen Lord has done in your heart?
2. Study 1 Cor. 15:17. How crucial is the resurrection for your faith?
3. Study Eph. 2:1-6. How have you been personally “resurrected” from the dead?
RELATED
9. Authoritative Testimony in Matthew’s Gospel
1. Church Fathers and Matthew’s Gospel
2. Archaeology and the Synoptic Gospels
14. Similarities among John’s Gospel and the Synoptic Gospels
1. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Introduction to Series
SOURCES AND MORE
To see the bibliography, please click on this link and scroll down to the bottom. You will also find a “Summary and Conclusion” for discipleship.
