Bullet Point Bible - Matthew 28

The Empty Tomb and the Angel's Message

¹ Now after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.² Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it.³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.⁴ The guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him.⁵ But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.⁶ He is not here, for he has been raised, just as he said. Come and see the place where he was lying.⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there.' Listen, I have told you!"⁸ So they left the tomb quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

The timing "after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week" (Matthew 28:1) marks the beginning of a new creation and the Christian day of worship.
The women, Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary" (likely the mother of James and Joseph, see Matthew 27:56, 61), demonstrate faithfulness and courage, being the first witnesses to the empty tomb.
The "severe earthquake" (Matthew 28:2) signifies divine intervention and power, reminiscent of events at the crucifixion (Matthew 27:51-54).
The angel's appearance (Matthew 28:3) reflects heavenly glory and purity, causing terror in the Roman guards (Matthew 28:4) but reassurance to the women (Matthew 28:5).
The angel explicitly states the core message: "He is not here, for he has been raised, just as he said" (Matthew 28:6), confirming Jesus' own predictions (e.g., Matthew 16:21, 17:23, 20:19).
The empty tomb serves as physical evidence supporting the resurrection claim; the angel invites verification: "Come, see the place where he lay" (Matthew 28:6).
The women are commissioned as the first evangelists, instructed to relay the news and the promise of a Galilean reunion to the disciples (Matthew 28:7).
Their reaction, "fear and great joy" (Matthew 28:8), captures the overwhelming and paradoxical nature of encountering the divine mystery of the resurrection.
The guards becoming "like dead men" (Matthew 28:4) contrasts sharply with the proclamation of Jesus being raised from the dead.

Jesus Appears to the Women

⁹ But Jesus met them, saying, "Greetings!" They came to him, held on to his feet and worshiped him.¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. They will see me there."

This appearance confirms the angel's message and provides the women with a direct encounter with the risen Christ.
Jesus' simple greeting, "Greetings!" (Chairete in Greek, Matthew 28:9), can also mean "Rejoice!", fitting the joyful occasion.
The women's response—grasping his feet and worshiping (Matthew 28:9)—demonstrates the physical reality of the resurrection and their recognition of his divinity. This act counters any notion that he was merely a spirit.
Jesus echoes the angel's command, reinforcing the instruction to the disciples ("my brothers") to meet him in Galilee (Matthew 28:10).
Jesus' reassurance, "{{Do not be afraid}}" (Matthew 28:10), addresses the natural human reaction to the supernatural and mirrors the angel's earlier words (Matthew 28:5).
By calling the disciples "my brothers" (Matthew 28:10), Jesus affirms his restored relationship with them despite their recent abandonment and denial.
This encounter elevates the status of women as credible witnesses in a culture that often dismissed their testimony.

The Guards' Report and the Cover-Up

¹¹ While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened.¹² After they had assembled with the elders and formed a plan, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,¹³ telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came at night and stole his body while we were asleep.'¹⁴ If this matter is heard before the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble."¹⁵ So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story is told among the Jews to this day.

This section contrasts the truth of the resurrection with the deliberate falsehood propagated by the religious authorities.
The guards, initially paralyzed by fear (Matthew 28:4), report the supernatural events accurately to the chief priests (Matthew 28:11).
The authorities' reaction is not investigation but conspiracy; they choose to suppress the truth rather than face its implications (Matthew 28:12).
The bribe offered to the soldiers highlights the corruption of the leadership and their desperation (Matthew 28:12).
The fabricated story—that disciples stole the body while guards slept (Matthew 28:13)—is inherently weak: sleeping guards could not know who took the body, and admitting sleep would normally mean severe punishment for Roman soldiers.
The priests promise to protect the guards from Pilate's potential wrath, showing their influence and commitment to the cover-up (Matthew 28:14).
Matthew notes the persistence of this false rumor ("to this very day," Matthew 28:15), acknowledging the counter-narrative his readers might have encountered.
This incident fulfills Jesus' warning about rejection by the elders and chief priests (Matthew 16:21) and demonstrates the hardness of their hearts even when faced with compelling evidence.

The Great Commission

¹⁶ So the eleven disciples went to Galilee to the mountain Jesus had designated.¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted.¹⁸ Then Jesus came up and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,²⁰ teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

The disciples' obedience in going to Galilee (Matthew 28:16) contrasts with the disobedience of the religious leaders. The mountain setting often signifies revelation in Matthew's Gospel (cf. Matthew 5:1, 17:1).
Their response upon seeing Jesus is primarily worship, yet Matthew honestly includes that "some doubted" (Matthew 28:17), reflecting the struggle to comprehend the resurrection, even for eyewitnesses.
Jesus asserts his supreme authority, derived from God, over all creation ("{{All authority in heaven and on earth}}", Matthew 28:18), forming the basis for the command that follows. This echoes the vision in Daniel 7:13-14.
The core command is to "make disciples" (Matthew 28:19), indicating a process beyond simple conversion, involving teaching and lifelong learning.
The scope is universal: "of all nations" (panta ta ethnē, Matthew 28:19), fulfilling Old Testament promises of Gentile inclusion (e.g., Isaiah 42:6) and marking a shift from a primarily Jewish focus.
Making disciples involves two key actions:
The commission concludes with a promise of Jesus' enduring presence: "{{I am with you always, to the end of the age}}" (Matthew 28:20), providing assurance and empowerment for the mission. This echoes God's promises of presence to figures like Jacob (Genesis 28:15) and Moses (Exodus 3:12).
This "Great Commission" serves as the climax of Matthew's Gospel, launching the church's mission to the world, empowered by Christ's authority and presence.

The Bullet Point Bible

Matthew 28