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Matthew 28

ScriptureDepth's study of Matthew 28

“Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.”

Matthew 28:18

Jesus speaks to the eleven disciples, stating that 'all authority' has been given to him, which establishes his divine authority for the Great Commission in this chapter.

What Matthew 28 is about

After the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to see the tomb (vv. 1-2). An angel of the Lord appears, rolls away the stone, and reassures them not to be afraid (vv. 3-5). The angel tells them that Jesus has risen, instructing them to inform the disciples that he will meet them in Galilee (vv. 6-7). The women leave the tomb with both fear and joy to deliver the message (vv. 8). As they go, Jesus meets them and tells them to rejoice, affirming their mission to inform his disciples (vv. 9-10). Meanwhile, the guards report to the chief priests, who bribe them to say that the disciples stole Jesus' body (vv. 11-15). Finally, Jesus meets the eleven disciples in Galilee, declaring that he has been given all authority and commands them to make disciples of all nations (vv. 16-19). He promises his presence until the end of the age (v. 20).

Jesus commands his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, promising his presence always.

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Matthew 28 at a glance

  1. Matthew 28:1–4The Resurrection Announcement
  2. Matthew 28:5–8Angel's Message to the Women
  3. Matthew 28:9–10Jesus Meets the Women
  4. Matthew 28:11–15Guards Report to the Priests
  5. Matthew 28:16–20The Great Commission

Key verse: Matthew 28:18

One thing to notice

In verses 5-7, the angel tells the women, 'He is not here, for he has risen.' Jesus greets the women in verses 9-10 with 'Rejoice!' and instructs them to inform his brothers. The two messages affirm the resurrection.

Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.

Chapter text

Read Matthew 28 (WEB)

The Resurrection Announcement Matthew 28:1–4

Verse 1. Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. Verse 2. Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky, and came and rolled away the stone from the door, and sat on it. Verse 3. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. Verse 4. For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men.

Angel's Message to the Women Matthew 28:5–8

Verse 5. The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. Verse 6. He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying. Verse 7. Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.” Verse 8. They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.

Jesus Meets the Women Matthew 28:9–10

Verse 9. As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying,“Rejoice!”They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.Verse 10. Then Jesus said to them,“Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothersthat they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Guards Report to the Priests Matthew 28:11–15

Verse 11. Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city, and told the chief priests all the things that had happened. Verse 12. When they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers, Verse 13. saying, “Say that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. Verse 14. If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry.” Verse 15. So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until today.

The Great Commission Matthew 28:16–20

Verse 16. But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them. Verse 17. When they saw him, they bowed down to him, but some doubted. Verse 18. Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Verse 19. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Verse 20. teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

World English Bible (public domain)

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Main themes in Matthew 28

Resurrection

In vv. 1-4, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary encounter a great earthquake as an angel rolls away the stone from the tomb. The angel announces to them, 'He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said.' This declaration serves as the pivotal moment of resurrection, moving the narrative from death to the promise of new life. The women respond with a mix of fear and joy as they realize the significance of what has happened.

Explore resurrection in the Bible →

Authority of Christ

In vv. 16-18, Jesus speaks to the eleven disciples and states, 'All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.' This assertion establishes his divine authority, empowering him as the resurrected Lord. As the chapter progresses, this authority becomes the basis for the Great Commission, demonstrating how it shapes the mission that Jesus entrusts to his followers.

Great Commission

In vv. 19-20, Jesus commands his disciples to 'Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.' This instruction forms the basis for Christian missionary activity. He emphasizes the ongoing nature of this mission with 'I am with you always, even to the end of the age,' which assures disciples of his presence as they carry out this command.

Faith and Obedience

In verses 8-10, the women respond to the angel's message with both fear and great joy, immediately running to tell the disciples. Jesus meets them on their way and reassures them with the words, 'Don’t be afraid,' directing them to inform his brothers of his resurrection. Their actions demonstrate both their faith in the message they received and their obedience to Christ’s command, as they take the initiative to spread the news of his resurrection.

Chapter outline

How Matthew 28 unfolds

  1. Matthew 28:1–4 The Resurrection Announcement

    Mary Magdalene and the other Mary come to the tomb after the Sabbath (v. 1). They witness a great earthquake and an angel rolls away the stone, causing fear in the guards (vv. 2-4).

  2. Matthew 28:5–8 Angel's Message to the Women

    The angel addresses the women, telling them not to fear, and announces that Jesus has risen from the dead (v. 5-6). He instructs them to inform the disciples of his resurrection and upcoming meeting in Galilee (vv. 7-8).

  3. Matthew 28:9–10 Jesus Meets the Women

    As the women depart, Jesus appears to them, greeting them with 'Rejoice!' and receiving their worship (vv. 9-10). He reassures them and reiterates the message to tell his brothers to meet him in Galilee.

  4. Matthew 28:11–15 Guards Report to the Priests

    Some guards report to the chief priests about the resurrection events (vv. 11-12). The priests conspire with the guards, offering money to spread the false story that the disciples stole Jesus' body (vv. 13-15).

  5. Matthew 28:16–20 The Great Commission

    The eleven disciples go to the mountain in Galilee as instructed (v. 16). Jesus declares his authority and commands them to make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them (vv. 18-20).

Key verses

  • Matthew 28:18Jesus speaks to the eleven disciples, stating that 'all authority' has been given to him, which establishes his divine authority for the Great Commission in this chapter.

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Study questions

Questions for studying Matthew 28

SummarizeObserveInterpretApply

Uses your daily Ask questions.

  1. observeIn v6, what does the angel say about Jesus' presence in the tomb?
  2. observeIn v10, what does Jesus ask the women to tell the disciples?
  3. interpretThe guards' fear described in v4: why do they become like dead men?
  4. interpretIn v19, what does Jesus mean by 'all nations' in the Great Commission?
  5. applyWhen has a moment of 'great joy' (v8) compelled you to share good news?

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Matthew 28: frequently asked questions

What is Matthew 28 about?+
After the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to see the tomb (vv. 1-2).
What is the key verse in Matthew 28?+
Matthew 28:18: “Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.”
What are the main themes of Matthew 28?+
The main themes of Matthew 28 are Resurrection, Authority of Christ, Great Commission, Faith and Obedience.

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Study Notes