Tyndale Open Study NotesMatthew 28

The four gospels each emphasize different aspects of the empty tomb and resurrection appearances. Matthew focuses on three things:

1. the reunion of Jesus and his disciples in Galilee,

2. the Jewish leaders' attempt to discredit the resurrection, and

3. the importance of the ressurection for the salvation of the world.

Mary Magdalene (see Matthew 27:56): Mentioning two women as witnesses adds credibility to the story. In those times, people considered the testimony of a woman less reliable than a man. So a someone making up a false story would not have chosen women as witnesses.

• Such a bribe was against the law (see Exodus 20:16; 23:8).

• elders: See the study note on Matthew 21:23.

stole him away: Stealing from tombs was common in ancient times. So this accusation would have been easy to believe.

And this account has been circulated among the Jews to this very day: Around AD 165, the early church father Justin Martyr wrote to the Jews of his time. He wrote, “You have sent . . . men throughout all the world to proclaim, ‘A godless and lawless heresy has sprung from one Jesus, a Galilean deceiver, whom we crucified, but his disciples stole him by night from the tomb . . . and now [the disciples] deceive men by asserting that he has risen from the dead and ascended into heaven’” (Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho 108).

This false information probably increased after the disciples began preaching about the resurrection of Jesus (see Acts 2:22–36).

some doubted: This could refer to Thomas (John 20:24–29). But all eleven disciples might have experienced mixed feelings of worship and doubt (see also Matt 14:31; Luke 24:10–11; John 20:24–29).

The authority of Jesus comes from the power given to him by the Father (see Matthew 7:29; 9:6–8; 21:23–27; 26:64; John 3:35).

• go and (literally going): This is a command to make disciples. Matthew likely meant "go" as a separate command, not just as "while you go"(compare similar uses in Matthew 9:6; Acts 10:20).

• make disciples: A disciple turns from sin, trusts Jesus for salvation, and obeys his teachings.

• all nations: The gospel mission to non-Jewish (Gentile) people officially started here (see Matthew 10:5–6; 15:24; also 1:1; 2:1–12; 8:5–13; 21:43; 24:14; 26:13).

• Two parts of making disciples are baptizing and teaching (Matthew 28:20). Baptism is a public identification with Jesus and submission to him and his work of salvation (see 3:13–17; 10:32–33; 20:28; 26:28; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1–11; 1 Peter 3:21).

• in the name of: This means entering a relationship and its benefits for true believers in Christ.

• Father … Son … Holy Spirit: This phrase shows the Christian belief that the one God is three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) known as the Trinity (see also 1 Corinthians 12:4–6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:4–6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13–14; 1 Peter 1:2; Revelation 1:4–6).

teaching: The disciples are to teach people everything Jesus commanded, such as the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5–7). People should recognize the church because it obeys the commands of Jesus (5:17–20; 7:13–27). The authority and presence of Jesus establish the mission of the disciples (see also 1:23; 18:20).