Matthew 28 is the closing chapter of the first Gospel, and it answers the question that the whole story has been building toward: what happened after Jesus died? It records the empty tomb, the women who were the first to hear the news, the bribed guards, and the Great Commission, the command Jesus gives his followers to make disciples of every nation. People read this chapter for a clear account of the resurrection and for a picture of the mission Jesus left his church.
Matthew 28 Summary
The chapter opens at dawn on the first day of the week, when Mary Magdalene and another Mary go to the tomb. An angel appears, rolls back the stone, and tells the women that Jesus has risen and that they should go tell the disciples he will meet them in Galilee. On the way, Jesus himself meets them and repeats the instruction, so the women become the first witnesses of the risen Lord.
Matthew then shows the opposition. The chief priests pay the soldiers to spread a story that the disciples stole the body, and Matthew notes that this story was still being told in his own day. The focus then returns to the eleven disciples, who go up to the mountain in Galilee where Jesus had told them to meet him.
The chapter ends on that mountain. Jesus declares that all authority belongs to him, sends the disciples out to make disciples of all nations, and promises to be with them to the end of the age. The Gospel finishes with a commission and a promise rather than a farewell scene.
Background and Setting
The Gospel of Matthew is traditionally attributed to Matthew, one of the twelve apostles and a former tax collector. Most scholars date it to roughly the 80s or 90s of the first century, though earlier and later dates are argued, and the author writes primarily for a community with strong Jewish roots that is learning to live as followers of Jesus in a wider world.
Chapter 28 is the climax of the book. The earlier chapters present Jesus as the promised king and teacher, and the crucifixion in chapter 27 seems to end that story in defeat. Chapter 28 reverses that impression by revealing the resurrection and then turning the reader’s attention outward, to the mission that will carry the message beyond Israel.
Matthew 28 Section by Section
Verses 1-8: The Empty Tomb and the Angel’s Message
5 The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying. 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.”
Matthew 28:5-7 (WEB)
The women come to the tomb expecting to care for a dead body, and they are met by an earthquake, an angel, and an announcement. The angel does not ask them to take the news on faith alone. He points to the empty place where the Lord had lain and invites them to look for themselves. Their fear is mixed with joy as they run to tell the others, which is a fitting first response to a resurrection.
Matthew presents these women as the first witnesses to the resurrection, a role that carried weight in a world where women’s testimony was often discounted. The angel’s instruction to tell the disciples also restores them to the circle, since the message is meant for the men who had scattered at the arrest. The section shows that the resurrection is not a private experience but a message to be carried.
Verses 9-10: The Risen Jesus Meets the Women
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. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.”
Matthew 28:9-10 (WEB)
On the road Jesus himself meets the women, and their response is worship. They take hold of his feet, which is a gesture of reverent devotion. He speaks the same words of comfort the angel spoke, and then gives them the instruction to pass on to his brothers. The meeting confirms the angel’s report and makes the risen Lord personally present to them.
The repeated phrase “do not be afraid” echoes throughout the chapter and marks the move from fear to trust. Jesus does not rebuke them for fleeing but meets them where they are and sends them forward. His calling “my brothers” for the disciples who had deserted him shows that failure does not cancel belonging.
Verses 11-15: The Guards and the Cover-Up
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. 12 When they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Say that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
Matthew 28:11-13 (WEB)
While the women are going, some guards report to the chief priests, who respond not with repentance but with money and a plan. The guards are told to claim that the disciples stole the body while they slept. Matthew’s account makes clear that the authorities were aware of the resurrection claim and chose to suppress it rather than examine it.
This section is a sober reminder that evidence does not always produce belief. The chief priests had the facts in front of them and still preferred a convenient explanation. The guards’ compliance shows how power and money can shape a story, and Matthew records the rumor’s persistence to show that the empty tomb was not easily explained away.
Verses 16-17: The Eleven Disciples Worship in Galilee
16 But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them. 17 When they saw him, they bowed down to him, but some doubted.
Matthew 28:16-17 (WEB)
The eleven disciples go to the mountain in Galilee exactly as Jesus had directed. They see him and bow down, which is an act of worship, yet Matthew notes that some still doubted. The scene is honest about the mixture of faith and uncertainty in the church’s earliest days.
The verse does not hide the disciples’ weakness, and that honesty is part of its value. Matthew is showing that Christian mission began with people who were still learning what to believe. The risen Lord does not wait for perfect certainty before he gives them their assignment.
Verses 18-20: The Great Commission
18 Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 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, 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.
Matthew 28:18-20 (WEB)
Jesus declares that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him, and on that authority he sends the disciples out. They are to make disciples of all nations, baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything he commanded. The mission reaches past Israel to the whole world.
The chapter closes with the promise that Jesus will be with them always, to the end of the age. That promise gives the command its strength, because the work is not carried out by human effort alone. It is grounded in the presence of the one who holds all authority, and it looks forward to the church’s ongoing witness across centuries.
Key Themes in Matthew 28
- The resurrection: The empty tomb and the risen Jesus confirm that the crucified king has conquered death.
- Fear turned to joy: Again and again, the chapter moves people from fear to trust and from grief to worship.
- Witness and testimony: The women and the disciples are sent to carry the good news, showing that the message is meant to be spoken.
- Opposition and denial: The bribed guards and the chief priests show that the truth of the resurrection was resisted from the start.
- Universal mission: The Great Commission sends the church to every nation, with Jesus’ authority and presence as its foundation.
Lessons From Matthew 28 for Today
Many people today come to faith slowly, with doubts still in place. The disciples on the mountain worshiped even though some doubted, and Jesus sent them anyway. If you are carrying questions about your faith, this chapter suggests that honest uncertainty does not disqualify you from following the risen Lord. You can bring your doubts to him and still take the next step of obedience.
The chapter also speaks to the ordinary work of sharing faith. A coworker, a neighbor, or a family member may be waiting to hear what you have seen of Jesus. The women did not need to be scholars to be sent. They needed only to have met the risen Lord and to be willing to tell others. Your own story of meeting Jesus is part of the same commission, whether you speak it in a conversation, a classroom, or a shared meal.
Questions for Reflection
- How did the women’s fear and joy at the tomb compare with your own reaction to hearing good news?
- Why do you think Jesus called the disciples “my brothers” after they had abandoned him?
- What makes it hard to accept evidence that challenges a story you already prefer?
- Where in your daily life could you take one step toward making disciples of Jesus?
- How does the promise “I am with you always” change the way you approach a task that feels too big?
A Prayer From Matthew 28
Lord Jesus, you rose from the grave and you hold all authority in heaven and on earth. When I am tempted to fear or to doubt, remind me that you have already conquered death and that you meet people where they are. Give me the courage of the women at the tomb, to run with both fear and joy and to tell others what I have seen of you. Help me trust your presence in the work you give me, even when I feel unready. Thank you for going before us into every place we are sent. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the first people to see the risen Jesus in Matthew 28?
According to Matthew, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were the first to see the risen Jesus, when he met them on the road after the angel’s announcement. The angel had already told them that he had risen and sent them to tell the disciples. Matthew presents these women as the first witnesses of the resurrection.
What is the Great Commission in Matthew 28?
The Great Commission is Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:18-20 to make disciples of all nations, baptize them, and teach them to obey his teachings. It is grounded in his claim that all authority has been given to him. Many churches see it as the foundation of Christian mission.
Why did the chief priests pay the guards to lie about the tomb?
Matthew says the chief priests and elders paid the guards so they would claim the disciples stole the body while they slept. They were trying to stop the spread of the resurrection story. The account shows that the authorities had the facts in front of them and still chose to suppress them.
