Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Matthew » Chapter 28 » Verse 1-20

Matthew 28:1-20 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 In the end G1161 G3796 of the sabbath, G4521 as it began to dawn G2020 toward G1519 the first G3391 day of the week, G4521 came G2064 Mary G3137 Magdalene G3094 and G2532 the other G243 Mary G3137 to see G2334 the sepulchre. G5028

2 And, G2532 behold, G2400 there was G1096 a great G3173 earthquake: G4578 for G1063 the angel G32 of the Lord G2962 descended G2597 from G1537 heaven, G3772 and came G4334 and rolled back G617 the stone G3037 from G575 the door, G2374 and G2532 sat G2521 upon G1883 it. G846

3 G1161 His G846 countenance G2397 was G2258 like G5613 lightning, G796 and G2532 his G846 raiment G1742 white G3022 as G5616 snow: G5510

4 And G1161 for G575 fear G5401 of him G846 the keepers G5083 did shake, G4579 and G2532 became G1096 as G5616 dead G3498 men.

5 And G1161 the angel G32 answered G611 and said G2036 unto the women, G1135 Fear G5399 not G3361 ye: G5210 for G1063 I know G1492 that G3754 ye seek G2212 Jesus, G2424 which G3588 was crucified. G4717

6 He is G2076 not G3756 here: G5602 for G1063 he is risen, G1453 as G2531 he said. G2036 Come, G1205 see G1492 the place G5117 where G3699 the Lord G2962 lay. G2749

7 And G2532 go G4198 quickly, G5035 and tell G2036 his G846 disciples G3101 that G3754 he is risen G1453 from G575 the dead; G3498 and, G2532 behold, G2400 he goeth before G4254 you G5209 into G1519 Galilee; G1056 there G1563 shall ye see G3700 him: G846 lo, G2400 I have told G2036 you. G5213

8 And G2532 they departed G1831 quickly G5035 from G575 the sepulchre G3419 with G3326 fear G5401 and G2532 great G3173 joy; G5479 and did run G5143 to bring G518 his G846 disciples G3101 word. G518

9 And G1161 as G5613 they went G4198 to tell G518 his G846 disciples, G3101 G2532 behold, G2400 Jesus G2424 met G528 them, G846 saying, G3004 All hail. G5463 And G1161 they came G4334 and held G2902 him G846 by the feet, G4228 and G2532 worshipped G4352 him. G846

10 Then G5119 said G3004 Jesus G2424 unto them, G846 Be G5399 not G3361 afraid: G5399 go G565 tell G518 my G3450 brethren G80 that G2443 they go G5217 into G1519 Galilee, G1056 and there G2546 shall they see G3700 me. G3165

11 Now G1161 when they G846 were going, G4198 behold, G2400 some G5100 of the watch G2892 came G2064 into G1519 the city, G4172 and shewed G518 unto the chief priests G749 all the things G537 that were done. G1096

12 And G2532 when they were assembled G4863 with G3326 the elders, G4245 and G5037 had taken G2983 counsel, G4824 they gave G1325 large G2425 money G694 unto the soldiers, G4757

13 Saying, G3004 Say ye, G2036 G3754 His G846 disciples G3101 came G2064 by night, G3571 and stole G2813 him G846 away while we G2257 slept. G2837

14 And G2532 if G1437 this G5124 come G191 to G1909 the governor's G2232 ears, G191 we G2249 will persuade G3982 him, G846 and G2532 secure G275 G4160 you. G5209

15 So G1161 they took G2983 the money, G694 and did G4160 as G5613 they were taught: G1321 and G2532 this G3778 saying G3056 is commonly reported G1310 among G3844 the Jews G2453 until G3360 this day. G4594

16 Then G1161 the eleven G1733 disciples G3101 went away G4198 into G1519 Galilee, G1056 into G1519 a mountain G3735 where G3757 Jesus G2424 had appointed G5021 them. G846

17 And G2532 when they saw G1492 him, G846 they worshipped G4352 him: G846 but G1161 some doubted. G1365

18 And G2532 Jesus G2424 came G4334 and spake G2980 unto them, G846 saying, G3004 All G3956 power G1849 is given G1325 unto me G3427 in G1722 heaven G3772 and G2532 in G1909 earth. G1093

19 Go ye G4198 therefore, G3767 and teach G3100 all G3956 nations, G1484 baptizing G907 them G846 in G1519 the name G3686 of the Father, G3962 and G2532 of the Son, G5207 and G2532 of the Holy G40 Ghost: G4151

20 Teaching G1321 them G846 to observe G5083 all things G3956 whatsoever G3745 I have commanded G1781 you: G5213 and, G2532 lo, G2400 I G1473 am G1510 with G3326 you G5216 alway, G3956 G2250 even unto G2193 the end G4930 of the world. G165 Amen. G281

Commentary on Matthew 28 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 28

Mt 28:1-15. Glorious Angelic Announcement on the First Day of the Week, that Christ Is RisenHis Appearance to the WomenThe Guards Bribed to Give a False Account of the Resurrection. ( = Mr 16:1-8; Lu 24:1-8; Joh 20:1).

The Resurrection Announced to the Women (Mt 28:1-8).

1. In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn—after the Sabbath, as it grew toward daylight.

toward the first day of the week—Luke (Lu 24:1) has it, "very early in the morning"—properly, "at the first appearance of daybreak"; and corresponding with this, John (Joh 20:1) says, "when it was yet dark." See on Mr 16:2. Not an hour, it would seem, was lost by those dear lovers of the Lord Jesus.

came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary—"the mother of James and Joses" (see on Mt 27:56; Mt 27:61).

to see the sepulchre—with a view to the anointing of the body, for which they had made all their preparations. (See on Mr 16:1, 2).

And, behold, there was—that is, there had been, before the arrival of the women.

a great earthquake; for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, &c.—And this was the state of things when the women drew near. Some judicious critics think all this was transacted while the women were approaching; but the view we have given, which is the prevalent one, seems the more natural. All this august preparation—recorded by Matthew alone—bespoke the grandeur of the exit which was to follow. The angel sat upon the huge stone, to overawe, with the lightning-luster that darted from him, the Roman guard, and do honor to his rising Lord.

3. His countenance—appearance.

was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow—the one expressing the glory, the other the purity of the celestial abode from which he came.

4. And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men—Is the sepulchre "sure" now, O ye chief priests? He that sitteth in the heavens doth laugh at you.

5. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye—The "ye" here is emphatic, to contrast their case with that of the guards. "Let those puny creatures, sent to keep the Living One among the dead, for fear of Me shake and become as dead men (Mt 28:4); but ye that have come hither on another errand, fear not ye."

for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified—Jesus the Crucified.

6. He is not here; for he is risen, as he said—See on Lu 24:5-7.

Come—as in Mt 11:28.

see the place where the Lord lay—Charming invitation! "Come, see the spot where the Lord of glory lay: now it is an empty grave: He lies not here, but He lay there. Come, feast your eyes on it!" But see on Joh 20:12.

7. And go quickly, and tell his disciples—For a precious addition to this, see on Mr 16:7.

that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee—to which those women belonged (Mt 27:55).

there shall ye see him—This must refer to those more public manifestations of Himself to large numbers of disciples at once, which He vouchsafed only in Galilee; for individually He was seen of some of those very women almost immediately after this (Mt 28:9, 10).

Lo, I have told you—Behold, ye have this word from the world of light!

8. And they departed quickly—Mark (Mr 16:8) says "they fled."

from the sepulchre with fear and great joy—How natural this combination of feelings! See on a similar statement of Mr 16:11.

and did run to bring his disciples word—"Neither said they anything to any man [by the way]; for they were afraid" (Mr 16:8).

Appearance to the Women (Mt 28:9, 10).

This appearance is recorded only by Matthew.

9. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail!—the usual salute, but from the lips of Jesus bearing a higher signification.

And they came and held him by the feet—How truly womanly!

10. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid—What dear associations would these familiar words—now uttered in a higher style, but by the same Lips—bring rushing back to their recollection!

go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me—The brethren here meant must have been His brethren after the flesh (compare Mt 13:55); for His brethren in the higher sense (see on Joh 20:17) had several meetings with Him at Jerusalem before He went to Galilee, which they would have missed if they had been the persons ordered to Galilee to meet Him.

The Guards Bribed (Mt 28:11-15).

The whole of this important portion is peculiar to Matthew.

11. Now when they were going—while the women were on their way to deliver to His brethren the message of their risen Lord.

some of the watch came into the city, and showed unto the chief priests all the things that were done—Simple, unsophisticated soldiers! How could ye imagine that such a tale as ye had to tell would not at once commend itself to your scared employers? Had they doubted this for a moment, would they have ventured to go near them, knowing it was death to a Roman soldier to be proved asleep when on guard? and of course that was the only other explanation of the case.

12. And when they were assembled with the elders—But Joseph at least was absent: Gamaliel probably also; and perhaps others.

and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers—It would need a good deal; but the whole case of the Jewish authorities was now at stake. With what contempt must these soldiers have regarded the Jewish ecclesiastics!

13. Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept—which, as we have observed, was a capital offense for soldiers on guard.

14. And if this come to the governor's ears—rather, "If this come before the governor"; that is, not in the way of mere report, but for judicial investigation.

we will persuade him, and secure you—The "we" and the "you" are emphatic here—"we shall [take care to] persuade him and keep you from trouble," or "save you harmless." The grammatical form of this clause implies that the thing supposed was expected to happen. The meaning then is, "If this come before the governor—as it likely will—we shall see to it that," &c. The "persuasion" of Pilate meant, doubtless, quieting him by a bribe, which we know otherwise he was by no means above taking (like Felix afterwards, Ac 24:26).

15. So they took the money, and did as they were taught—thus consenting to brand themselves with infamy.

and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day—to the date of the publication of this Gospel. The wonder is that so clumsy and incredible a story lasted so long. But those who are resolved not to come to the light will catch at straws. Justin Martyr, who flourished about A.D. 170, says, in his Dialogue with Trypho the Jew, that the Jews dispersed the story by means of special messengers sent to every country.

Mt 28:16-20. Jesus Meets with the Disciples on a Mountain in Galilee and Gives Forth the Great Commission.

16. Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee—but certainly not before the second week after the resurrection, and probably somewhat later.

into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them—It should have been rendered "the mountain," meaning some certain mountain which He had named to them—probably the night before He suffered, when He said, "After I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee" (Mt 26:32; Mr 14:28). What it was can only be conjectured; but of the two between which opinions are divided—the Mount of the Beatitudes or Mount Tabor—the former is much the more probable, from its nearness to the Sea of Tiberias, where last before this the Narrative tells us that He met and dined with seven of them. (Joh 21:1, &c.). That the interview here recorded was the same as that referred to in one place only—1Co 15:6—when "He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remained unto that day, though some were fallen asleep," is now the opinion of the ablest students of the evangelical history. Nothing can account for such a number as five hundred assembling at one spot but the expectation of some promised manifestation of their risen Lord: and the promise before His resurrection, twice repeated after it, best explains this immense gathering.

17. And when they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted—certainly none of "the Eleven," after what took place at previous interviews in Jerusalem. But if the five hundred were now present, we may well believe this of some of them.

19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations—rather, "make disciples of all nations"; for "teaching," in the more usual sense of that word, comes in afterwards, and is expressed by a different term.

baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost—It should be, "into the name"; as in 1Co 10:2, "And were all baptized unto (or rather 'into') Moses"; and Ga 3:27, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ."

20. Teaching them—This is teaching in the more usual sense of the term; or instructing the converted and baptized disciples.

to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I—The "I" here is emphatic. It is enough that I

am with you alway—"all the days"; that is, till making converts, baptizing, and building them up by Christian instruction, shall be no more.

even unto the end of the world. Amen—This glorious Commission embraces two primary departments, the Missionary and the Pastoral, with two sublime and comprehensive Encouragements to undertake and go through with them.

First, The Missionary department (Mt 28:18): "Go, make disciples of all nations." In the corresponding passage of Mark (Mr 16:15) it is, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." The only difference is, that in this passage the sphere, in its world-wide compass and its universality of objects, is more fully and definitely expressed; while in the former the great aim and certain result is delightfully expressed in the command to "make disciples of all nations." "Go, conquer the world for Me; carry the glad tidings into all lands and to every ear, and deem not this work at an end till all nations shall have embraced the Gospel and enrolled themselves My disciples." Now, Was all this meant to be done by the Eleven men nearest to Him of the multitude then crowding around the risen Redeemer? Impossible. Was it to be done even in their lifetime? Surely not. In that little band Jesus virtually addressed Himself to all who, in every age, should take up from them the same work. Before the eyes of the Church's risen Head were spread out, in those Eleven men, all His servants of every age; and one and all of them received His commission at that moment. Well, what next? Set the seal of visible discipleship upon the converts, by "baptizing them into the name," that is, into the whole fulness of the grace "of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," as belonging to them who believe. (See on 2Co 13:14). This done, the Missionary department of your work, which in its own nature is temporary, must merge in another, which is permanent. This is

Second, The Pastoral department (Mt 28:20): "Teach them"—teach these baptized members of the Church visible—"to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you," My apostles, during the three years ye have been with Me.

What must have been the feelings which such a Commission awakened? "We who have scarce conquered our own misgivings—we, fishermen of Galilee, with no letters, no means, no influence over the humblest creature, conquer the world for Thee, Lord? Nay, Lord, do not mock us." "I mock you not, nor send you a warfare on your own charges. For"—Here we are brought to

Third, The Encouragements to undertake and go through with this work. These are two; one in the van, the other in the rear of the Commission itself.

First Encouragement: "All power in heaven"—the whole power of Heaven's love and wisdom and strength, "and all power in earth"—power over all persons, all passions, all principles, all movements—to bend them to this one high object, the evangelization of the world: All this "is given unto Me." as the risen Lord of all, to be by Me placed at your command—"Go ye therefore." But there remains a

Second Encouragement: "And lo! I am with you all the days"—not only to perpetuity, but without one day's interruption, "even to the end of the world," The "Amen" is of doubtful genuineness in this place. If, however, it belongs to the text, it is the Evangelist's own closing word.