Commentary - Matthew 28:1-10

Bird's-eye view

Matthew 28:1-10 is the hinge upon which all of history turns. Everything that came before in Matthew's Gospel, from the genealogy to the Sermon on the Mount to the crucifixion, was leading to this moment. And everything that comes after, the Great Commission and the history of the Church, flows directly from it. This is not simply a story about a resuscitated corpse; it is the narrative of the new creation breaking into the old. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the ultimate validation of His identity as the Son of God and the King. The passage is marked by a series of glorious collisions: the end of the old Sabbath and the dawn of the new, the terror of the guards and the joy of the women, the majesty of the angel and the humility of the risen Christ, the command to not fear and the call to worship. This is the central fact of our faith, the event that separates Christianity from every other religion and philosophy. Without the resurrection, our faith is futile. But because He is risen, everything has changed. The tomb is empty, the King is alive, and His people have a mission.

The narrative is structured to display the absolute sovereignty and power of God. An earthquake, a celestial being whose appearance is like lightning, and battle-hardened Roman guards fainting like dead men all serve to underscore that this is a divine invasion, not a human event. The message of the angel is the core of the gospel: "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said." It is a message of fulfilled prophecy, divine power, and commissioned proclamation. The subsequent appearance of Jesus Himself confirms the angelic message and transforms the women's fearful joy into outright worship, solidifying their role as the first evangelists of the new covenant.

Outline

Context In Matthew

This passage is the triumphant climax of Matthew's entire Gospel. Matthew has painstakingly presented Jesus as the promised King, the new Moses, the fulfillment of Israel's history and prophetic hope. The book ends with the King seemingly defeated, crucified, and buried under the seal of Rome. The powers of the world, both religious and secular, have done their worst. But chapter 28 reverses everything. The crucifixion was not a defeat but a victory, and the resurrection is God the Father's public vindication of His Son. This event is the foundation for the Great Commission which concludes the book (Matt 28:18-20). Because Jesus has been raised, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. The empty tomb is the basis for the church's mission to the nations. Without the resurrection, the disciples would have remained a scattered, defeated band of followers of a failed messiah. With the resurrection, they become the vanguard of a kingdom that will never end.

Key Issues

The Stone Rolled Away

It is crucial that we understand why the stone was rolled away. It was not rolled away to let Jesus out. The resurrected, glorified Christ was not bound by physical barriers like stone doors any more than He was bound by death itself. He would later appear in a locked room (John 20:19). No, the stone was rolled away to let the witnesses in. It was an act of divine revelation, a grand unveiling. God was pulling back the curtain so that His people could see the central exhibit of all redemptive history: the empty place where the Lord had lain. The angel sitting on the stone is a picture of triumphant authority. Death's door has been kicked in, and God's messenger is using it as a throne. The powers of death and darkness have been utterly defeated, and the evidence is now open for public inspection. This act signifies that the gospel is not a secret, esoteric mystery, but a public, historical fact to be seen, verified, and proclaimed.

Verse by Verse Commentary

1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.

The timing here is theologically dense. "After the Sabbath" marks the end of the old covenant week, the week of creation that ended in rest. "As it began to dawn toward the first day of the week" marks the beginning of the new creation. Jesus rested in the tomb on the Sabbath, fulfilling the old creation pattern, and rose on the first day, inaugurating the new. This is why the Christian church, from the very beginning, has gathered for worship on Sunday, the Lord's Day. It is the weekly celebration of the resurrection. These faithful women, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (likely the mother of James and Joseph), are not coming with any expectation of a resurrection. They are coming in sorrow to perform the final duties of mourning. Their love for Jesus outlasted their hope, a poignant picture of devotion in the face of apparent tragedy.

2 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 upon it.

The word "behold" signals that something extraordinary is happening. This is not a normal morning. The "great earthquake" is a classic biblical sign of God's direct intervention in the world, a theophany. It shakes the foundations of the old order. This is followed by the cause: an angel of the Lord. This is not just any angel, but a direct emissary from the throne room of heaven. His actions are decisive and authoritative. He descends, he comes, he rolls away the stone, and he sits on it. The sitting is an act of conquest. The primary obstacle, the seal of Rome and the power of the grave, is now a seat of victory for God's messenger. The powers of man and death have been effortlessly overcome.

3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

The description of the angel is meant to convey celestial glory and holiness. Lightning speaks of terrifying power, speed, and brilliance. Whiteness like snow speaks of absolute purity and righteousness. This is a creature from an unfallen world, radiating the unfiltered glory of his Creator. His appearance is a stark contrast to the darkness of the tomb and the sin of the world that put Jesus there. He is a visible manifestation of the holiness and power of the God who has just raised His Son from the dead.

4 And the guards quaked from fear of him and became like dead men.

Here we see the reaction of the world's power in the face of God's power. These are Roman soldiers, the embodiment of secular, military might. They are not easily frightened. Yet at the sight of one angel, they are paralyzed by terror. They who were guarding a dead man become like dead men themselves. This is a beautiful irony. The power of the state, which thought it had contained the Son of God, is shown to be utterly impotent and fragile. When confronted with the reality of God's kingdom, the proudest human institutions collapse in fear.

5 And the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.

The angel's first words to the women are a stark contrast to the effect he had on the guards. To the enemies of God, he is a terrifying sight. To the friends of God, he brings a message of comfort. "Do not be afraid" is a constant refrain in Scripture when a divine messenger appears to mortals. This fear is not the cowering terror of the guards, but the awe-filled reverence of a creature before a celestial being. The angel shows he understands their mission; he knows their hearts. They are looking for Jesus, and he specifies "who has been crucified," linking the horror of the cross to the glory that is about to be announced. He does not gloss over the suffering; he includes it as part of the victory.

6 He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.

This is the central proclamation of all Scripture. Three short phrases that changed the world. "He is not here" declares the fact of the empty tomb. "For He has risen" declares the reason for it, the divine miracle. "Just as He said" declares the fulfillment of Christ's own prophecies. This was not an accident or a surprise; it was the plan all along. The resurrection validates every word Jesus ever spoke. The angel then invites them to verify the evidence for themselves: "Come, see the place." The Christian faith is not a blind leap; it is based on verifiable, historical evidence. The empty tomb is the first piece of that evidence.

7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”

The proclamation immediately becomes a commission. Good news is not meant to be hoarded; it is meant to be shared. The women are made the first apostles, the first "sent ones," of the resurrection. Their task is urgent: "go quickly." The message is specific: tell the disciples He is risen and that He is going ahead of them to Galilee. This points back to Jesus' own promise in Matthew 26:32. Galilee was the place where their ministry began, and it will be the place where it is relaunched in the power of the resurrection. The final "behold, I have told you" is a stamp of angelic authority on the message.

8 And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.

The women's response is immediate obedience, fueled by a potent and appropriate mixture of emotions. "Fear and great joy" is the proper response to the resurrection. The fear is holy awe at this display of divine power. The joy is the explosion of relief and wonder that their Lord is alive. It is not one or the other; it is both together. This is the emotional texture of true worship. And their worship is not static; it propels them into mission. They run. The news is too good to walk.

9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.

As they are obeying the angel's command, they are met by the Lord Himself. The angelic messenger gives way to the King. His first word, "Greetings!" is a simple, common salutation, but coming from the risen Lord, it is packed with meaning. It is a word of peace and restored fellowship. The women's response is instantaneous and physical. They grab His feet, proving He is not a ghost or a vision, but a tangible, resurrected body. And they worship Him. Seeing the risen Christ leaves no other possible response. He is not just their teacher; He is their Lord and their God.

10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and report to My brothers to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Jesus echoes the angel's command to not be afraid, calming their holy awe. He then confirms and personalizes the commission. He calls the disciples "My brothers," a term of incredible grace and endearment, especially considering they had all deserted Him just days before. The resurrection is the basis of a restored and deepened relationship. He reaffirms the plan: go to Galilee. The reunion is set. The King has risen, and He is gathering His men to launch the conquest of the world.

Application

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not a dusty historical fact to be believed, but a present reality to be lived in. The same power that brought Jesus forth from the tomb is the same power that is at work in us by the Holy Spirit. This means, first, that we need not fear. We need not fear death, because Christ has conquered it. We need not fear the power of the state, because the guards at the tomb showed how flimsy that power is before God. We need not fear our own sin and failure, because the one who calls us "brothers" has been raised for our justification.

Second, our response to this good news must be the same as the women's: a mixture of fear and great joy that results in running to tell others. We must cultivate a holy awe for the risen King, recognizing His majesty and power. But this awe must be coupled with an inextinguishable joy. The tomb is empty! Our sins are forgiven! Our King reigns! This joyful awe should make us restless. It should give us an urgency to "go quickly and tell." The gospel is a message to be proclaimed, not a feeling to be cherished privately. Every Christian is commissioned by the empty tomb to be a witness.

Finally, we must worship Him. The women fell at His feet, acknowledging His deity and lordship. True worship is not about singing songs for an hour on Sunday; it is about orienting our entire lives around the reality that Jesus is the risen King. It is about grabbing hold of His feet in submission and adoration in every area of our lives, from our families to our work to our politics. Because He is risen, He has all authority, and our only proper response is to bow down and worship.