This is the last chapter of the book of Matthew, the first book of the New Testament. The Gospels — the four accounts of the life of Jesus — were written quite a few years after Jesus died. This commentary on Matthew chapter 28 explains that the great mission we are called to fulfill, the main reason we were called of God on this earth, is to tell others that they have a hell to shun and a heaven to gain.
This last chapter of the book of Matthew speaks about the resurrection of Jesus, which tells us that you and I can be resurrected when Jesus returns to take us to heaven. The resurrection of Jesus proves that He did raise up His body after they killed the temple. Jesus raised Himself from the dead. Jesus is all-powerful — when things go wrong, Jesus has all power on your behalf. This commentary on Matthew chapter 28 tells us that if we do not work for God in telling others about His love, our life was worthless and vain.
Matthew 28:1
“In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.”
This is excellent proof that the Sabbath is still binding. Many Christians teach that there are no more commandments. But the Bible never says that — it only says we are not under the condemnation of the law. In Luke 23, the last chapter, it says that the apostles rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.
Luke 23:56 — “And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.”
Why would the apostles rest on the Sabbath after Jesus died if the Sabbath had been changed? Why did they return on Sunday, the first day of the week, if Sunday had become the rest day? It proves the Sabbath was never changed. The Sabbath was given to all humans in Eden, 1,500 years before there was ever a Jew.
The Sabbath was kept by all the apostles throughout their lives. John says he was in the Spirit on the Sabbath, 90 years after Jesus. Why was John still keeping the Sabbath? We are not saved by keeping the commandments — yet we cannot be saved without keeping the Ten Commandments through the righteousness of Jesus. The apostles came to see the tomb of Jesus on Sunday because it was a working day and they could perform work at the tomb. But they did not yet understand that Jesus had told them He would rise again.
Matthew 28:2
“And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.”
It was time for Jesus to rise from the grave. An angel came — perhaps God sent an angel in case people, or Satan himself, would attempt to prevent the resurrection of Jesus.
This is also a witness of Jesus raised up from the dead, to be welcomed by the hosts of heaven, who welcomed their Commander with great love and worship. This commentary on Matthew chapter 28 tells us that Jesus gained the victory against sin. He lived a sinless life, and now we have hope that if we are faithful through the righteousness of Jesus, we too will one day be raised up to go to a land where there are no more tears, no more suffering, and no more death.
Matthew 28:3
“His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow.”
This is like Moses, who reflected the glory of God and whose face shone so brightly that people were afraid to look at him. Earth is dim — in heaven, the glory and light of God’s presence must be astounding. Angels are far more powerful than humans. We remember that one angel in the times of Israel killed many thousands of Assyrians in a single moment.
Matthew 28:4
“And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.”
Men need to understand that God is real, even if we do not see Him. Many live as if God did not exist, not understanding that all our thoughts, words, and actions are noted. Those who do evil will one day have to meet God. But many humans are not very responsible — they postpone what they cannot see, as if the day they will meet God will never come.
This commentary on Matthew chapter 28 tells us that one day we will all meet Jesus at the judgment. If we resemble His character of humility, love, kindness, sincerity, and honesty, we will be able to enter heaven. If we are legalists, proud, selfish, dishonest, filled with unbelief, rude, and unkind, we will never enter heaven.
Matthew 28:5
“And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.”
The fear that a message from God brings to the lost gives comfort to the humble and honest followers of Jesus. The same angel who freed Peter from jail in the book of Acts struck the proud Herod in a very different way.
Acts 12:21–23 — “And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.”
Matthew 28:6
“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
The unbelief of the apostles — who had thought Jesus would reign on earth — now needed to be addressed, for they had suffered a great disappointment. But it was explained to them. The difference between a false prophecy and a disappointment is this: God sometimes allows His followers not to see the full light, hiding certain facts by His hand, and then in His time He explains the truth.
In the first angel’s message of 1844, the messenger William Miller thought that the cleansing of the sanctuary in Daniel 8:14 referred to the return of Jesus. When the time came, the people were greatly disappointed. But it was not a false prophecy — the calculations are correct, as even a child can count and confirm. The very next day, God gave a vision to Hiram Edson and explained that the cleansing of the sanctuary referred not to the earth, but to Jesus passing in 1844 from the holy place to the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary.