Matthew 28 is the closing chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, and it answers the question readers have carried through the whole book: what happened after the cross? The chapter describes the discovery of the empty tomb, the appearance of the risen Jesus to the women and then to the eleven disciples, and the Great Commission, his command to make disciples of every nation. People read it for the summary of the resurrection itself, and for the promise that closes the Gospel: Jesus is with his followers always.
Matthew 28 Summary
The chapter opens early on the first day of the week, when two women come to the tomb where Jesus had been buried. An angel has rolled back the stone, and the guards posted there are frightened into stillness. The angel tells the women that Jesus is not in the tomb because he has risen, and sends them to tell the disciples that he will meet them in Galilee. As the women run to obey, Jesus himself meets them on the road, and they worship him.
The narrative then shifts to the guards, who report to the chief priests. The priests pay them to spread a false story that the disciples stole the body, and the chapter notes that this rumor was still in circulation when Matthew wrote. The focus returns to the eleven disciples, who go to the mountain in Galilee where Jesus had told them to meet him. There they see him and worship, though some still doubt. Jesus speaks his final words in the Gospel, giving the disciples authority, a mission, and a promise of his presence.
Background and Setting
The Gospel of Matthew is traditionally attributed to Matthew, one of the twelve disciples and a former tax collector. Most scholars date the book to somewhere between the late 70s and the 90s AD, after the destruction of Jerusalem, and many think it was written for a community of Jewish and Gentile believers, possibly in Syria or Galilee. Matthew’s readers would have known the Hebrew Scriptures well, which helps explain why the Gospel often ties Jesus’s life to Old Testament patterns.
Chapter 28 is the climax of the book. The earlier chapters present Jesus as the promised King and teacher, and the Passion narrative in chapters 26 and 27 shows his death. Here the story turns to vindication and commission. The chapter brings the account full circle: the Gospel began with Jesus’s birth, and it ends with his authority over all things and his mission sent out through his followers.
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.
Matthew 28:5-6 (WEB)
The women come to the tomb expecting to tend a body, but they find an angel who speaks directly to their grief and fear. The angel’s message is short and clear: Jesus has risen, just as he said he would. The tomb is empty, and the women are invited to see the place where he had lain, so that they can be sure of what has happened.
Their response is a mix of fear and joy, and that combination runs through the whole chapter. They leave quickly, carrying the news to the disciples. Matthew shows that the resurrection is not a private comfort but a message that must be spread, and the women are the first to carry it.
Verses 9-10: 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 their way to the disciples, the women meet Jesus himself. He greets them with a word of joy, and they fall at his feet in worship. The moment confirms the angel’s message and shows that the risen Jesus is real and near. His words to them are the same words the angel used: do not be afraid.
Jesus then gives them the same command, to tell his brothers to go to Galilee. The repetition matters. The women have already received the message, and now Jesus speaks it himself, making the commission personal and direct.
Verses 11-15: The Guards and the Rumor
13 Saying, “Say that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry.”
Matthew 28:13-14 (WEB)
The guards who saw the empty tomb go to the chief priests, and the priests choose to buy silence rather than face the truth. The story they invent is that the disciples stole the body while the guards slept, an accusation that would have been hard to prove and easy to spread. Matthew records the money and the lie plainly, without drama.
The verse notes that this explanation was still being repeated in Matthew’s own day. The passage shows that the resurrection was public enough to demand an answer, and that people who did not want to believe it found ways to explain it away.
Verses 16-17: The Eleven 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 that Jesus had appointed. When they see him, they worship, but Matthew adds a note that some doubted. The honesty of that detail is striking. The Gospel does not present the disciples as flawless believers, and it does not hide their uncertainty even at the moment of the resurrection.
The presence of doubt beside worship shows that faith and questioning can exist in the same people. The chapter does not require perfect confidence before the mission can begin. It gives the mission to a group that was still learning what it meant to follow a risen Lord.
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 begins his final words by stating his authority: all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. That claim grounds everything that follows. The disciples are told to make disciples of all nations, to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to teach them to obey what Jesus has commanded.
The Gospel ends with the promise that Jesus will be with his followers always, to the end of the age. The book that opened with the name Immanuel, meaning God with us, closes with that same presence. The mission is large, but the Lord who sends his people is present with them in it.
Key Themes in Matthew 28
- Resurrection: The chapter confirms that Jesus has risen from the dead, and every event that follows depends on that fact.
- Fear and joy: The women and the disciples respond to the resurrection with both awe and happiness, showing that God’s work can unsettle as well as delight.
- Doubt and worship: Some disciples worship while others doubt, and the Gospel records both without shame.
- Authority: Jesus claims all authority in heaven and on earth, which gives weight to the command he gives.
- Mission: The disciples are sent to make disciples of every nation, and the church’s work begins from this commission.
Lessons From Matthew 28 for Today
Many readers come to this chapter during seasons of grief or disappointment, when the future looks closed. The women at the tomb expected an ending, but the angel announced a beginning. If you are waiting for something to turn around, the chapter reminds you that God often acts in ways you did not expect, and that his timing is not undone by appearances.
The Great Commission also speaks to ordinary Christians who feel unqualified. The disciples who received this command included people who still doubted. If you are asked to share your faith at work, at school, or in your neighborhood, you do not need perfect certainty before you begin. The promise that Jesus is with you always is the basis of the task, not your own strength.
Questions for Reflection
- How did the women’s mix of fear and joy at the tomb compare with your own reaction to hard or surprising news?
- Why do you think Matthew includes the detail that some disciples doubted, even while they worshiped?
- What does it mean to you that Jesus has “all authority in heaven and on earth” when you face a decision you feel unsure about?
- Who in your life might need to hear about the risen Christ, and what is one practical step you could take this week?
- How does the promise “I am with you always” change the way you think about serving God in a difficult season?
A Prayer From Matthew 28
Lord Jesus, you rose from the grave and showed yourself alive to those who loved you. Thank you that the tomb is empty and that your word has proved true. When I feel fearful or uncertain, remind me that you have all authority and that you are near. Give me courage to share what I have seen of you, even when my faith feels small. Be with me in my daily work and in the people I meet, as you promised to be with your church always. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who sees Jesus first after the resurrection in Matthew 28?
In Matthew’s account, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to the tomb and are the first to hear the news. On their way to tell the disciples, they meet Jesus himself. Matthew does not describe a separate appearance to the male disciples before this.
What is the Great Commission?
The Great Commission is the command Jesus gives at the end of Matthew 28 for his followers to make disciples of all nations. It includes baptizing new believers and teaching them to obey Jesus’s commands. The passage ends with his promise to be with them always.
Why did the chief priests pay the guards to lie?
The chief priests wanted to deny that Jesus had risen, so they paid the guards to say the disciples had stolen his body. Matthew presents this as a deliberate attempt to hide the truth. The rumor was still being repeated when the Gospel was written.
