FRAMEWORKS: Matthew, chapter 28

v.1-10   Jesus Has Risen

v.11-15 The Guards' Report

v.16-20 The Great Commission

     

  

v.1-10 Jesus Has Risen

   

v.1 (on the Sunday the two Mary's go to the tomb) After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

v.2 (an earthquake caused by an angel opened the tomb) There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.

v.3 (the angel shone brightly) His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

v.4 (the guards were petrified) The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

v.5 (the angel reassured the two women) The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

v.6 (.. and told them Jesus had risen) He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

v.7 (go an tell the others) Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you.”

v.8 (so they hurried off to tell the others) So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

v.9 (but found Jesus before them) Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

v.10 (he told them what was to happen) Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

    

[Comment: The events of Sunday morning when Jesus has risen.]

    

  

v.11-15 The Guards' Report

  

v.11 (the guards reported what had happened) While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.

v.12,13 (the authorities bribed the guards to lie) When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.'

v.14 (we'll see it's all right with the governor) If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”

v.15 (they took the bribe) So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

    

[Comment: The authorities pay the guards to say Jesus' disciples stole his body.]

    

  

v.16-20 The Great Commission

 

v.16 (the disciples went back up to Galilee) Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.

v.17 (when they saw him most worshipped) When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

v.18 (Jesus declared God's authority had been given to him now) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

v.19,20 (so he instructed them in what we call ‘the Great Commission) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

  

[Comment: Up in Galilee, Jesus meets with his disciples and gives them ‘The Great Commission' – to go to the whole world making disciples.]