Matthew 28.
Verse 1. “The end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn (really dusk) toward the first day of the week.” The Jewish day begins about sundown, so that this was Saturday, near evening. Those women showed their devoted affection and came to the grave to see it. It was all quiet and not opened. Jesus’ body still lay in death.
Verses 2-10. This is not consecutive; verse 5 is in the morning. We are not told when the earthquake took place, nor when the angel rolled away the stone and sat upon it. But early in the morning the women saw it was rolled away when they came again. The soldiers shook with fear and became as dead men. The angel comforts the women, “Fear not ye. I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified. He is not here; He is risen, as He said Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him; lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear, and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples word.”
But they are to have more reward for their devotedness than seeing an empty grave or hearing an angel’s word, for “as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail, and they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.” They see and hear and hold Him; they know He is risen now; it is made plain to their senses. And this is in keeping with this gospel that presents Him as the Messiah. It is not the ascended One as we now know Him by faith, as in John 20:17-2317Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. 18Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. 19Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. (John 20:17‑23), and where His God and Father is our God and Father.
It is the risen Messiah rejected at Jerusalem, but known and recognized by the believing remnant; and who promises to be with them to the end of the age in which Jesus lived on earth, which continues again after the present church period is finished.
Verses 11-15. What perfidy and antagonism are seen in the leaders of Israel? The soldiers witness to them that Christ is risen. They try to hide it by giving bribes to the soldiers to say, “His disciples came by night, and stole Him away while we slept.” And they promised to corrupt the governor also if it was needed for their object. All to blind the eyes of those who did not want to see.
Verses 16-18. Galilee is the place where He met His disciples to instruct them; it is the poor of the flock now. The Holy Spirit records that “when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.” After satisfying them that it was Himself, He said: “All power is given unto Me in heaven and on earth.” What comforting words these are, and must have been to them. He was still the rejected One, but all resources are in His hand, and nothing can happen to them without His permission. This is just as true for us now as for them.
Verses 19-20. “Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
There are two distinct testimonies sent out by the Lord in Matthew’s Gospel: One to the house of Israel only (Chapter 10:5, 6) and before this one is completed the Son of Man will have come (Chapter 10:23). Then Matthew 24:1414And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:14) is a message to the nations, or Gentiles, “And then shall the end come.” Here in Matthew 28 we find the disciples sent with the authority of their risen Messiah to receive the nations (Psa. 2:8-128Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 10Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. (Psalm 2:8‑12)). And they were to baptize them to the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit; as such the God of Israel— Jehovah—was now fully revealed. The teachings of the great prophet (Deut. 18:1818I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. (Deuteronomy 18:18)), which they had heard in His lifetime, were what they were to give to the nations for their obedience.
This is not Paul’s commission, it is not the church, nor do we find that they are children of the Father having the spirit of adoption, nor are they members of the body of Christ, nor temples of the Holy Spirit. Paul could say “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.” And the gospel Paul preached was the gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Cor. 4:44In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4)); those who receive it belong to Christ in heavenly glory. Paul’s converts were baptized, but it was individuals called out of the world. Here it is nations, and is the preparation for the setting up of Christ’s earthly kingdom, the kingdom of the Son of Man.
The Ministry in Acts is the continuation of Luke’s Gospel. Paul preached to every creature (Col. 1:2323If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; (Colossians 1:23)). His was more fully ministry of an ascended and glorified Saviour, to which the church belongs. This in Matthew stands alone; the disciples are not sent to Jews. Jerusalem is rejected and the remnant attached to Christ, called His brethren, are sent to the nations. This has had no fulfillment. It has given place to the gospel that calls out the church. After the church is caught up, this testimony will go forth before the Lord comes with His Saints.
What a strengthening word to them. “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.” They could count on His presence and protection and provision for all their need in the midst of the upheavals of their time. And, beloved children of God, have we not the same promise and the Spirit to make it all good to us? “I will not leave you comfortless (orphans); I will come to you.” (John 14:1818I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (John 14:18); Heb. 13:55Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)). Our ever-present Saviour known to our faith will not fail us.