THE WOMEN DISCIPLES COME TO THE TOMB AND FIND IT EMPTY APART FROM AN ANGEL. THEY LEARN THAT JESUS HAS RISEN (28:1-6). Late on the same day as the Chief Priests sealed the tomb, two of the women disciples go to survey the tomb and assess the situation. We learn from the other Gospels that it was in... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now after (or ‘late on') the sabbath day, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.' The women disciples had to wait until the Sabbath was over, because by Jewish Law they could not anoint the body of Jesus on the Sabbath. An... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat on it. They were probably somewhat apprehensive. There had been a great earthquake, following closely on the earthquake that had caused such damage on the day of cru... [ Continue Reading ]
‘His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow, and for fear of him the watchers quaked, and became as dead men.' The appearance of the angel was as lightning in its splendour, and his raiment was pure white. They would be reminded of Daniel's vision when he too had seen an angel fi... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified.” ' But the angel soon put their minds at rest. He informed them that he was aware that they had come seeking Jesus Who had been crucified, or more literally, ‘was and is crucifi... [ Continue Reading ]
‘He is not here, for he has been raised, even as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.' Then he informed them that Jesus was no longer there. He had been raised by God, just as He had promised. And he invited them to see the place where the Lord had lain. He wanted them to glory in the e... [ Continue Reading ]
“And go quickly, and tell his disciples, ‘He is risen from the dead, and lo, he goes before you into Galilee. There will you see him.' Lo, I have told you.” The angel than tells the women that they are to go with all speed and inform the disciples that Jesus is risen from the dead and that He will... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WOMEN ARE GIVEN THE TWICE REPEATED MESSAGE THAT THE DISCIPLES ARE TO GO TO GALILEE WHERE THEY WILL SEE JESUS. THEY SEE JESUS AND WORSHIP HIM (28:7-10). That Jesus' resurrection is made known first to the women comes out in all the Gospels. This is a sign of the truthfulness of the narratives. I... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FINAL TRIUMPH (28:7-20). Following this remarkable experience of the women, we now come to the climax of the Gospel, the resurrection appearances and the giving of the Great Commission. The subsection commences with an appearance to the women disciples, (a reminder of God's interest in the seem... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.' Overjoyed at this sudden change in circumstances which turned their gloom and mourning into rejoicing, but very much awed at the presence of the angel and even more by the thought of all that thi... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And behold, Jesus met them, saying, “All hail.” And they came and took hold of his feet, and worshipped him.' And as they sped on their way Jesus Himself appeared to them and greeted them. And the result was that they fell down and worshipped Him. The taking hold of His feet may have been as an in... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then says Jesus to them, Do not be afraid. Go, tell my brethren that they depart into Galilee, and there will they see me.” Jesus then repeats the message of the angel. They are to tell the disciples and all who are believers (my brethren, compare Matthew 12:48) to leave Jerusalem and go to Galile... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city, and told the chief priests all the things that had happened.' At the same time as the women were going to tell the Apostles and their fellow-believers that the tomb was empty, the guards were going to the Chief Priests for th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHIEF PRIESTS BRIBE THE GUARDS SO THAT THEY WILL SAY THAT JESUS' BODY WAS STOLEN (28:11-15). This whole Section from Matthew 26:1 onwards commenced with the Chief Priests bribing Judas so that He would betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14), prior to which was the anointing of Jesus (Matthew 26:6), now i... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave much money to the soldiers.' As a result the Chief Priests called an emergency meeting of some of the Sanhedrin in order to discuss what they should do. The conclusion that they came to was that they should bribe the so... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Saying, “Say you, ‘His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.' The story that the soldiers had to spread around was that ‘His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.' Compare Matthew 27:64 where this was actually what the High Priests had feared. This rumou... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and rid you of care. The problem with such a story for the soldiers was that it might reach the governor's ears, which would not please him very much. And they knew that they had been acting under his instructions. But they were assure... [ Continue Reading ]
‘So they took the money, and did as they were taught.' The guards accordingly took the money and spread the word that was ‘taught' to them. Note the emphasis on ‘taught'. This lie is in strong contrast with the word that the disciples will be called on to teach (Matthew 28:19). The inference is tha... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had appointed them.' In accordance with Jesus instructions the eleven Apostles finally went into Galilee to find new truth, in total contrast with the soldiers who had gone to the Chief Priests to be taught lies. And there they... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS APPEARS TO HIS DISCIPLES IN BODILY FORM AND REVEALS THAT HE HAS BEEN CROWNED AS LORD OF ALL. HE SENDS HIS DISCIPLES OUT TO PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS TO ALL NATIONS AND TO CALL ON THEM TO OBSERVE ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS (28:16-20). Jesus now appears and reveals His new heavenly Kingship, and calls o... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And when they saw him, they worshipped him. But some doubted.' It is not likely that the eleven went alone. They could hardly have disappeared from among the other brethren and the sisters without giving a hint of what was happening. And furthermore the angel is said to have declared that the wome... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.” ' ‘Jesus came to them.' They had seen Him at a distance, but now He approached them and their doubts vanished. We are not told where Jesus had been meanwhile, apart from the fact that what... [ Continue Reading ]
“Go you therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” And it is because this authority is to be seen as over the whole earth that His disciples are to go out, not spreading lies like the soldiers did, but in orde... [ Continue Reading ]
“Teaching them to observe all things whatever I commanded you.” Their mission is also to be one of teaching. They are now to fulfil their role as Scribes of the Kingly Rule of Heaven bringing forth what is new (what Jesus has brought) and what is old (the Scriptures) (Matthew 13:52). The Messianic m... [ Continue Reading ]