New Testament · Gospel

Matthew 28

He Is Risen

An earthquake. An angel. An empty tomb. And then the most important words ever spoken: He is not here. He has risen.

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1In 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.

2And, 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.

3His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

4And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

5And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

6He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

7And 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.

8And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

9And 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.

10Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

11Now 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.

12And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,

13Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.

14And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.

15So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

16Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

17And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20Teaching 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.

Understand This

Matthew 28, explained

What Matthew 28 is saying

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary discover the empty tomb after an angel descends and rolls away the stone. The risen Jesus meets them and commissions them as the first witnesses. The guards report to the chief priests, who fabricate the stolen-body story. Jesus meets the eleven on a Galilean mountain and delivers the Great Commission: make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching, with the promise of His presence until the age's end.

The background behind it

Women as first witnesses is historically significant because female testimony was generally inadmissible in Jewish courts—no apologetic inventor would choose this. The Great Commission's Trinitarian baptismal formula and universal scope ('all nations' / panta ta ethnē) mark a dramatic expansion from the earlier Israel-only mission (10:5–6). The 'some doubted' note is remarkably honest.

Themes running underneath

Resurrection is the vindication of everything Jesus taught, did, and claimed. The commission universalizes the mission—all nations, all time—while the final promise ('I am with you always') forms an inclusio with the Gospel's opening 'Immanuel' (God with us). The already/not-yet tension of the kingdom is captured in the coexistence of authority and mission.

Why it still matters

The Great Commission is not optional for the church—it defines its existence. And the closing promise ensures that mission is never carried out alone. The risen Christ accompanies every act of disciple-making until the end of the age.

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Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.