Matthew 28:7-10

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. In Jesus' day no one would have invented such an idea. Little account was then taken of the testimony of women. Anyone inventing such a story would have ensured that the initial appearances were to good, stolid, reliable men. But the women, because of their faithfulness to the memory of Jesus, were privileged first to see the angel, and then to see Jesus Himself in an initial encounter.

Analysis.

a “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” (Matthew 28:7).

b And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word (Matthew 28:8).

c And behold, Jesus met them, saying, “All hail” (Matthew 28:9 a).

b And they came and took hold of His feet, and worshipped Him.'

a Then says Jesus to them, Do not be afraid. Go, tell my brethren that they depart into Galilee, and there will they see me” (Matthew 28:10).

Note that in ‘a' the angel tells them to inform the disciples that He is risen from the dead and that they are to go to Galilee where they will see Him, and in the parallel Jesus Himself tells them the same. In ‘b' they leave the tomb in awe and great joy, and in the parallel they see Jesus with an awe and great joy which is expressed in worship. Centrally in ‘c' Jesus Himself meets them and greets them.