Matthew 28

Matthew 28:1

Matthew is the gospel of the Kingthe King revealed in chapters 1 through 10; the King resisted in chapters 11 through 13; the King retreating in chapters 14 through 20; the King rejected in chapters 21 through 27; and here in chapter 28the King resurrected! Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James the Less, are not coming in a spirit of expectancy or faith. Rather, they are coming to anoint the dead body of Jesus. Doctrinally, they had missed the point entirely by assuming He would still be in the tomb. But devotionally, they were right on the mark in wanting to minister to Him.

Matthew 28:2

I read about a man who was caught in a severe earthquake. “No matter where I looked,” he said, “everything was in motion. Then I looked up through the hole in my roof and saw the stars. They became my fixed points of reference.” How true! This world is constantly quaking, trembling, and shaking. We need a fixed reference pointand we have one in the bright and morning star, Christ Jesus (Rev_22:16). You see, everything I believe and everything I do must be measured by who He is. If we’re going to be stabilized in an ever-quaking, shifting world, we must fix our eyes upon the fixed One, Jesus Christthe same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb_13:8). Sometimes movies depict the angel moving the stone so Jesus could come out. Believe me, folks, Jesus did not need the help of an angel to get out of the tomb. He’s the same One who, a few hours later, would walk through walls. No, the stone was rolled away not to let Jesus out of the tomb, but to let the disciples look in and see that it was empty. When General Gordon, a godly man, discovered this tomb in 1885, he did a very wise thing. He took a jar of soil gathered from the floor of the tomb to some chemists and asked if there was any trace of decomposition in the soil. The analysis found that there was no trace of decay in the tomb. Indeed, there never was.

Matthew 28:3

Members of the finest fighting force in the known world were wiped out. Why? Because they saw the angel of the Lord draw a flaming sword? No. Because the angel spoke a word and they fell down? No. I suggest to you it was the awesome power of purity that caused these Roman soldiers to become as dead men. Gang, do you know where power truly lies? Do you know from whence effectiveness really comes? It doesn’t come from being strong and assertive, proving your point, or standing up for your rights. That’s not what Jesus taught. He said, “Blessed are the meek. The whole world will be theirs” (see Mat_5:5). Meekness, holiness, and purity are what cause the Roman soldiers of this world to collapse. When Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek, it was not so we would become lifeless doormats. No, whether it concerns your husband, your wife, your children, your employer, your relatives, or your neighbors, change comes not through asserting yourself. It comes through the power of purity.

Matthew 28:5

“Fear not” was the angelic injunction to the shepherds on the hillside at His birth, to the women at the tomb at His death, and to us today. Freedom from Fear A Topical Study of Mat_28:5-6 June 18, 1815 was one of the decisive days in world history. Napoleon had just left the island of Elba, where he had been rebuilding his army in exile. Sailing back to the mainland of Europe with him were seventy-five thousand soldiers, including the Old Guardperhaps the finest fighting men in the world. Although the Duke of Wellington, Commander -in Chief of the British forces, offered to do his best to stop Napoleon, it seemed like a futile assignment. At Waterloo, with only sixty-seven thousand allied troops, Wellington engaged Napoleon in battle. If Napoleon was indeed victorious, there would have been no stopping him in his drive to reclaim all of Europe.

The people in England waited for hours as the battle raged. Eager for news, they positioned a ship in the Channel that would signal the outcome of the contest to watchmen stationed in towers along the shores of Dover. Finally, before it became enshrouded in fog, the signal ship signaled this message to the towers: Wellington defeated. Although the hearts of the watchmen sank, they relayed the word quickly to the waiting messengers. And word spread like wildfire throughout England that Wellington had been defeated. Hopelessness and despair set in as the British knew it would only be a matter of time before Napoleon would sail across the Channel and lay claim to their country. However, when the fog lifted, the ship fired a cannon to get the attention of those in the tower and the third and final word of the message was relayed. The word was “Napoleon.” What a difference the third word made, for the completed message read: Wellington defeated Napoleon. Suddenly, the hearts of the British people rejoiced. Napoleon had been stopped. They would remain a free people. The third word filled their hearts with great joy. But the followers of Jesus experienced far greater joy and liberty on the third day when the rest of His message came through. On the third day, the fog lifted and the third word came forth: He is risen! In Hebrews 2 we see a passage that will hopefully give you new insight into the glory of the Resurrection. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.Heb_2:14 God Himself became a Man in the Person of Jesus Christ. He became like us that He might die for us and give hope to us. And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.Heb_2:15 Why did God become flesh and blood? To deliver us from the fear of death. You see, the Bible says that, although man might deny it on the surface, he is in bondage to the fear of death deep within. We don’t like to talk about death, but we know it’s inevitable. After all, the statistics on death are pretty conclusive: ten out of ten people die. Fear of Physical Death The Bible says the fear of death is bondage. Regardless of what the commercial says, we’re not getting better. We’re getting older. We can fight it with surgery. We can eat health foods all day. But the fact is, we’re not going to win. We’re dying. If you’re a believer, you’ve probably already settled the issue of physical death. Because of what Christ did for you on the Cross, you know you’re going to heaven. But maybe you’re afraid of another kind of death. I suggest this text paints a much broader picture than simply the fear of physical death… Fear of Financial Death “Will I have enough money to live comfortably after I retire?” “If inflation hits double digits again, what will happen to me?” “What if Alzheimer’s strikes me?” “How will I afford medical costs?” “Will Social Security be enough?” “Will Social Security be there at all?” Fear of Relational Death “What if he tells me he’s seeing someone else?” “What if she says she just wants to be friends?” “What if the relationship crumbles?” Fear of Vocational Death “What if I get fired?” “What if there’s a lay-off?” “What if there’s a cut-back?” “What if I can’t make the grade?” Jesus, who became like us, died for us. But it seemed like everything was hopeless and lost. Then suddenly, He came back to life. And because He conquered death, the ultimate enemy, nothing can stand in His waynot physical infirmities, not finances, not relationships, not vocations. How we need to hear the message of the Resurrection. Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. Therefore nothing can conquer Him. And guess where He is. The One who conquered death now lives in my heart by His Holy Spirit. The resurrected One now indwells me. Physically, if I get sick, the One who lives in me will see me through. He’s going to see me through. Either I’ll get well and live a few more years or I’ll go to heavenwhere I long to be. Financially, He has promised to see us through. He has promised to supply all of our needs (Php_4:19) and that no good thing would He withhold from those who walk with Him (Psa_84:11). Relationally, maybe your friends have left you or your marriage has collapsed. Know this, dear friend: Jesus is in you. He is the Resurrection. And He has promised in His Word to restore unto you the years the locust has eaten (Joe_2:25). As Jonah discovered, He is the God of the second chance. He is the One who works all things together for good (Rom_8:28). Thus, we have nothing to fear. “If Christ Jesus be not raised from the dead,” Paul said, “then we are of all men most miserable” (1Co_15:19). But if Christ is raised from the dead, we are free from the fear of death. How does this work practically? You might be saying, “I believe Jesus died for my sins. I believe He rose again and lives in me. But I am still afraid of this, that, or the other. I’m in bondage to the fear of death. What can I do?” Do what Mary Magdalene and the other Mary did. The next verse in Matthew tells us that they came to the place where Christ lay. They came to where they thought He was. They came to the tomb. Even though they thought He was dead, they longed to be with Him. So, too, if you find yourself in bondage to the fear of death, go to the place where you last saw Himeven if you’re not sure He’s still there. And like the women at the tomb, perhaps when you least expect it, you’ll feel His touch upon your shoulder and you’ll hear Him say, “You came seeking Me. Thank you. Now what can I do for you?” I’m so thankful for Jesus Christ because, like you, I have experiences of wondering. “Is this going to die? Is that going to die? What’s going to happen over here?” But then I go to the place where I last saw Him, and sure enough, I hear His voice again. And I’m free.

Matthew 28:6

“As he said.” I like that phrase. It is a subtle reminder, a gentle rebuke. In other words it’s as if the angel said, “You should have known He wouldn’t be here. Didn’t He tell you He would rise?” Notice the wording. First: “Come and see.” Then: “Go and tell.” Sincere in their desire to see missionary work accomplished or evangelism explode, many say, “We’re going to win the world for Christ.” But it won’t happen until they first “come and see.” Not until we get a clear vision of the “place where He lay"of His work on the Cross and His resurrection from the gravedo we have a message to “go and tell.” “Come and see. Then go and tell.” That is the message of the angel to these women who were first entrusted with the biggest news story in history… Being Used by Being There A Topical Study of Mat_28:8 The greatest news story in the history of humanity broke on a spring morning in A.D. 32. The news? Jesus of Nazareth, an itinerant Preacher, had risen from the dead just as He had predicted. An angel told the story and entrusted it not to an investigative journalist from 60 Minutes, not to a network anchorman, not to an editor of TIME or even Christianity Today, not to a theologian, not to one of the remaining disciples. No, the ones who were entrusted with the most profound and incredible story in all history were two women. Why? Here are some possible reasons… Because God Loves to Use the Weak to Confound the Strong Peter tells us in his first epistle that the woman is the weaker vessel (1Pe_3:7). Biblically, the concept of the “weaker vessel” speaks not of inferiority but of sensitivity. Innately, a woman has greater sensitivity than a man. Instead of using Peter, James, John, or any of the boys who hung out with Him, roughing it and sleeping on the hillsides of Galilee, God initially used two women to spread the gospel, seemingly delighting in using the weaker vessel to confound the strong. Because They Were the Last Ones at the Cross In Mat_27:55, we read that a number of women were at the Cross beholding Jesus afar off. The two Marys, mentioned at the end of chapter 27 are the same two Marys who are named at the beginning of chapter 28. It remains true, precious people, that those who go through the deepest sorrow will often be those who experience the greatest joy. Because Thousands of Years Earlier, Death Had Come by a Woman Seduced by the serpent to eat of the forbidden fruit, Eve shared with Adam in the fall of humanity. It was in a Garden that death came by a woman. Here, it is at a garden tomb that life is announced to a woman. That’s so often the way of the Lord. He takes those of us who have missed the mark or messed up in a certain area and delights in using us to minister to others at a later time. He heals the hurts. He restores, rebuilds, renews, and revives. And then He releases powerful ministry in the very area where we blew it previously. That’s Good News. That’s the gospel. Because the Greatest Love Brings the Greatest Privilege We know from John’s Gospel that when Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found it empty, she initially thought someone had moved Jesus’ body to another sepulcher. Seeing a Man she supposed to be the gardener, she asked, “Where have they laid my Lord? If you have moved Him, tell me where you have laid Him and I will take Him away,” (see Joh_20:15). How did Mary think she could move the body of Jesus all by herself? I suggest the answer is that when you love someone, you don’t weigh the heaviness of the difficulties or the obstacles. When you love someone, you just find a way. And Mary loved Jesus deeply. Women are special to God’s heart and indispensable to His church. I believe that the Lord entrusted women first with the gospel message because He delights to use the weak to confound the strong; because they suffered the deepest sorrow at the Cross and would therefore experience the greatest joy at the tomb; because death came by a woman and life was announced through women; because their great love brought great privilege. But I think there is one more reason… Because They Were There Who came to the tomb? A couple of women. So God said, “I’ll use them. They will be the first messengers of the gospel.” I believe God uses people who are there. The people who are used are the ones who gather around the body of Christ and desire to minister to the body of Christ even as these women did. Start saying, “I don’t need to pray any more with believers.

I don’t have time for fellowship. I’m doing fine by myself,“and you will increasingly miss the opportunity to move in the power of ministry and the effectiveness of revelation. If you start to pull away or kick backwatch out. Revelation will pass you by. Oh, God’s love for you will still be the same. His grace will be upon you just as much as ever.

Your place in heaven will remain secure. But your usefulness will be diminished proportionately to your moving away from the body. “But the body’s dead,” you say. That’s what the two Marys thought. When they came to the tomb to wrap Jesus’ body in spices, they had no idea He would be resurrected. They were coming to minister to His dead body. That is why I don’t believe it is ever excusable for a person to say, “I’m not going to minister at that place or to those people because they’re spiritually dead.” No, if you really want to be a servant, like the women at the tomb, you’ll minister faithfully regardless of what seems to be. Maybe you’re thinking, Let someone else have the revelation. Let someone else carry the news. I don’t care. But look at how the women left the tomb. Matthew says they left with great joy. How did the disciples, who were hiding out on their own, feel at this point? Discouraged and defeated. So you have a choice. You can live like the disciples or like the women at the tomb. If you choose to live like the discipleson your own and hidden awayyour life will abound with discouragement and defeat. But if you say, “I want to be where Jesus is, I want to be with His Body even if it seems dead. I want to be there listening and learning, serving and giving. I want to pray and worship. I want to be there"you will have a life full of great, great joy.

Matthew 28:9

“All hail” was a very common expression. Slang of that day, it meant, “Howdy.” I like that! When the women came to the tomb, their doctrine was wrong. They thought Jesus was dead. But He Himself came to them because although they were doctrinally wrong, they were devotionally right. I’m convinced a lot of us take pride in our doctrine when what the Lord desires is our affection. We are committed to precepts about Christ, but are we committed to the Person of Christ? Many believers are doctrinally right, but they’re dead right because their doctrine lacks devotion. On the other hand, your knowledge may be limited and your doctrine not perfectly accurate, but if your affection for Him is real, Jesus will appear to you time and time again, saying, “All hail! Howdy!” When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, His disciples split the scene. When He was being tried, Peter was cursing and denying he even knew Him. If you were in Jesus’ sandals, would you have said, “Go tell my brothers I’m going to meet them in Galilee"or would you have said, “Go tell those losers I’m back and they’re in hot water”? After He died, Jesus descended into hell. Then He ascended on high and gave gifts to men (Eph_4:8-9). If I went to hell for people who forsook and denied me, I would go to heaven and say, “Father, let’s deal with them. They’ve got some lessons to learn. Didn’t You say in Your Word that whom You love You chasten? Well, this is the time to chasten.” We have such a tendency to want to teach people lessons, straighten them out, shake them up, and set them right. But that’s not the heart of our Lord, our Hero, Jesus Christ. When He ascended He didn’t say, “Father, let’s punish these guys.” He said, “Father let’s give gifts to them.”

Matthew 28:11

The Roman soldiers who had stood watch at the tomb came into Jerusalem saying to the priests, “You won’t believe what happened. The earth shook. We saw an angel. The stone is gone. Things are happening!” And what did these “holy” men do?

Matthew 28:12

After employing deceitfulness, treachery, and mob psychology to bring about the death of Jesus, the chief priests and elders finally resorted to bribery to cover up His resurrection. “Here’s some money,” they said to the Roman soldiers. “We want you to say that while you slept, the disciples came and stole Jesus’ body.” This was a ridiculous lie for two reasons. First, if the soldiers were sleeping, how could they have known who took the body? Second, if these soldiers had indeed fallen asleep, they would have been executed according to Roman military law for their failure to keep watch. Far from dying, however, these guys showed up the next day driving BMWs.

Matthew 28:15

On college campuses today, some so-called intellectuals still parrot this two thousand-year-old lie. Jesus’ disciples took His body? That’s pretty hard to swallow when you realize James was sawn in half embracing the Resurrection; Thomas had his brains beaten out with a club; Peter was crucified upside down; and John was placed in a cauldron of boiling oil. To a man, the disciples died violent deaths. Many of them saw their families tortured and killed because they continued to preach the Resurrection. I don’t have enough faith to believe that eleven men suffered brutally, watched the annihilation of their families, and died violently for a lie. Certainly one of them would have cracked. If you do not believe Jesus resurrected, I challenge you to explain to me where His body went. If the Romans had stolen it, why didn’t they produce it? Christianity was ultimately the force that led to the destruction of the entire Roman Empire. If His disciples were merely hiding Jesus’ body, why did they give their lives believing He had ascended? You see, I would be a Christian even if I had no emotional feelings about it. Intellectually, when I look at all the evidence, I have no other choice. The body is not there. The Resurrection is the most analyzed event in history. I also believe it is the most provable. That’s why Jesus said, “One sign I’ll give you. Destroy this body and in three days I will rise again.” Truly, the Resurrection verifies that Jesus is exactly who He claimed to be.

Matthew 28:16

According to 1Co_15:6, it would seem this was also the time when Jesus appeared to the five hundred.

Matthew 28:17

On any given Sunday, we sense the Lord’s presence and we worship Him. But some doubt. Even then, some doubted.

Matthew 28:18

In this verse, the word “go” is a participle and literally means “as you are going.” In other words, “As you are going to the grocery store, as you are going to school, as you are going to Mexicowherever you’re goingshare the gospel.” In this light, the Great Commission takes on a much broader perspective. We’re to be sharing and teaching wherever we’re going, whatever we’re doing. Jesus didn’t say, “Baptizing them in the names of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.” He said, “Baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.” Thus, here is another picture of the reality of the great mystery called the Trinity. “As you’re going, as you’re baptizing, as you’re teaching, as you’re traveling together as disciples of Me, know that I am with you always even unto the end of the world.” That is what Jesus says to you today. That is why the Resurrection is so important. He’s with us! I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.Gal_2:20 “Christ liveth in me.” That’s the beauty of the Resurrection and the genius of Christianity.