Matthew 28:6 means that Jesus is no longer in the tomb, because God raised him from the dead exactly as Jesus had said he would. The angel is inviting the women to look for themselves at the empty place where Jesus had been laid, so they can see the evidence with their own eyes. The words are spoken by an angel at the empty tomb early on the first day of the week, addressed to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary who had come to see the grave.
He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying.
Matthew 28:6 (WEB)
What Matthew 28:6 Means
The angel begins with “He is not here,” which is a plain statement of fact. The tomb holds a body that is gone, so the women cannot expect to find Jesus among the dead. The reason follows in the phrase “for he has risen,” which names the resurrection as the explanation. The word “risen” describes what God did, raising Jesus back to life in a body that could no longer be held by death.
The phrase “just like he said” ties the event to Jesus’ own promises. Earlier in Matthew he had told his followers that he would be killed and would rise on the third day, so the empty tomb fulfills words they had heard from him. The angel then invites the women to “come, see the place where the Lord was lying,” which asks them to examine the evidence instead of simply trusting a report.
The verse does not explain every detail of how the resurrection happened or what the resurrected body was like in full. It also does not describe the events that followed in the other Gospels. What it does establish is that the grave is empty, that God acted as Jesus said he would, and that the women are welcome to confirm it themselves.
The Context of Matthew 28:6
Matthew was traditionally attributed to the apostle of that name, a former tax collector who wrote largely for a community that knew Jewish scripture well. He arranged his account to show that Jesus fulfilled the hopes of Israel, so the resurrection scene is written with that backdrop in view. Verses 3 and 4 describe the angel’s brightness and the terror of the guards, which signals that something of heavenly significance has taken place at the tomb.
Just after verse 6, the angel sends the women to tell the disciples that Jesus will meet them in Galilee, and in verse 9 Jesus himself appears to them on the road. Seen in that sequence, the verse is the hinge between the empty tomb and the living presence of Jesus. It moves the women from grief to a message of hope, which is why the sentence reads as an announcement rather than a mere observation.
Key Phrases in Matthew 28:6
1 Corinthians 15:20
But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep.
(WEB)
Paul calls the risen Christ the firstfruits of those who have died, which links the empty tomb in Matthew to a larger promise about what happens to all who belong to him. Reading it alongside Matthew 28:6 shows that the resurrection is both a historical event and the pattern for the future life of believers.
Luke 24:6
He isn’t here, but is risen. Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee…
(WEB)
Luke records a very similar angelic message at the tomb, reminding the women of Jesus’ earlier teaching. Comparing the two accounts helps you see how each Gospel writer emphasizes the same central fact from a slightly different angle, which strengthens the testimony of the early witnesses.
A Short Prayer From Matthew 28:6
Lord God, thank you that the tomb is empty and that you did exactly what Jesus said you would do. When I face situations that feel closed or final, help me remember that you are still able to act in ways I cannot predict. Give me the courage to come and look at the evidence of your faithfulness in my life, and let that look lead me to joy rather than fear. Teach me to trust your word the way the women finally did, and help me to share that hope with someone today. Amen.
