Matthew 28:1–20

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Dean, School of Christian Studies, University of Mobile

DO YOU SHARE THE GOOD NEWS?
Matthew 28:1–20

Eagerly (1–7)
Dawn was breaking on the first Easter Sunday when the two Marys made their way to Joseph’s tomb where Jesus’ body had been laid. By the time the pair arrived, however, a tremor had shaken the earth and an angel of the Lord had rolled away the stone that blocked the entrance and sat upon it. His appearance had terrified the guards posted at the tomb and rendered them unconscious. The angel reassured the women that there was no need for them to fear because the crucified Jesus had risen just as He had promised. If the Marys looked inside the tomb, then they would see that He was not there. Without delay, said the angel, they must run to the disciples, report the good news and remind the disciples that the risen Lord would meet them in Galilee just as He previously promised (Matt. 26:32).

Joyfully (8–10)
The two left the tomb and went with some fear but great joy to report what they had found to the disciples. On their way, they met the risen Jesus and fell at His feet in worship. He bade them fear no more but go and tell his “brethren,” either His siblings or the larger circle of His followers, to meet Him in Galilee. Galilee was a district of great importance in the Gospel of Matthew. It was in “Galilee of the nations,” i.e. heathen Galilee, that the people who sat in darkness would see the great light of salvation (Matt. 4:15–16). And it was to Galilee that the disciples were summoned to receive the commission from the Lord to take that message to all the world.

Universally (11–20)
When the guards reported to the chief priests what happened at the tomb, the Jewish officials bribed them to spread the rumor that Jesus’ disciples had stolen His body while they slept at their posts. The priests promised that should the governor hear of their “crime” of falling asleep on duty, the Jewish leaders would persuade him to do nothing about it. The guards accepted the bribe and spread the story widely. It was still circulating among the Jews when Matthew wrote this Gospel.

On the designated mountain, the 11 met Jesus and worshiped Him. There He gave what is now known as the Great Commission.

At the outset of His public ministry, Satan had tempted Jesus with “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory” (Matt. 4:8–9). Precisely because He rejected the tempter’s offer and remained loyal to the Father who had sent Him, because He had not shrunk from walking the way of the cross, He now possesses full lordship over the entire universe, “heaven” as well as “earth.” “Therefore” He sent His disciples not, as earlier in His ministry, on a limited mission “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 10:5) but to “all the nations.” They were to make disciples, mark them with baptism and help them to mature by teaching them to obey His commands.

Because Jesus had already spoken frequently of the Father, of Himself as Son and of the Spirit, it is not surprising that He brought all three together here. “In the name of” implies “placing them under the authority of.”

The risen Master assured His followers that, come what may, He would be with them (in the person of the Spirit) “always, even until the end of the age.” Whether translated “age” (NASB) or “world” (KJV), the meaning is roughly the same: “until the end of the present age,” when the age to come begins; or “until the end of the present world,” when appears a new heaven and a new earth.

At a meeting of ministers in Northamptonshire, England, in 1791, William Carey suggested they discuss “whether the command given to the Apostles to teach all nations was not obligatory on all succeeding ministers to the end of all the world, seeing that the accompanying promise was of equal extent.” Those who claim Christ’s continuing presence must also recognize His continuing commission to the end of the age.

Do not ask how God’s global mission fits into your life right now. Ask, rather, how your life at present fits into God’s global mission. That is the right question.