Matthew
28:1-20
Lesson 62
28:1-20
Lesson 62
Matthew 28:1-20
The resurrection and the Great Commission 1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. 11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. |
Margin notes:
"The other Mary." (28:1) - Per Matthew 27:56, the other Mary was "Mary the mother of James and Joses (John)." "There was a great earthquake." (28:2) - There was an earthquake when Jesus died (27:51), and this second one when He was resurrected. "Rolled back the stone from the door." (28:2) - Not so Jesus could escape the tomb, but so witnesses could get in and see it empty. "His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow." (28:3) - "His facial appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow." This angel looked remarkably similar to the angel Daniel saw six hundred years earlier (Daniel 10:5-6). "The keepers did shake, and became as dead men." (28:4) - The guards didn't just tremble with fear, they passed out. "As he said," (28:6) - Jesus said He would be resurrected in verses 12:40 and 16:21. "He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him." (28:7) - On the night of His arrest, Jesus told His disciples to meet Him in Galilee after He arose (Mark 14:28). But when Jesus died, the disciples were afraid to leave their hiding places (John 20:19), so Jesus met them in Jerusalem first (Luke 24:33-53), and in Galilee later (John 21:1-7). "Shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done." (28:11) - "Told the chief priests what had happened." "They were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel." (28:12) - "They met with the elders, and discussed what to do." "They gave large money unto the soldiers." (29:12) - "They gave a lot of money to the soldiers." They bribed the guards to deny the resurrection. "Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept." (28:13) - Just as the chief priests and Pharisees had plotted in verse 27:64 (reading 61). "We will persuade him, and secure you." (28:14) - "We'll talk to him, and protect you." If the priests don't cover for the guards, they'll be punished for saying they fell asleep on duty. "They took the money, and did as they were taught." (28:15) - "They took the money and did as they were told." "The eleven disciples went away into Galilee." (28:16) - Remember, the twelfth disciple (Judas) committed suicide. "Some doubted." (28:17) - That was the disciple, Thomas (John 20:24-29). "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." (28:18) - Jesus has complete authority over heaven and earth (11:27; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 2:8), including the power to judge mankind. "Teach all nations." (28:19) - Jesus wants His followers to spread Christianity throughout the world, to Jew and Gentile. "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." (28:20) - "Teaching them to obey the things I have taught you." "I am with you always." (28:20) - A comforting thought when we're worried, anxious, tempted, or feeling alone. It is paraphrased from God's promise not to forsake us in Genesis 28:15 and repeated in Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:5, 1 Chronicles 28:20 and touched on in Psalm 37:25. |