Matthew 28 - IVP New Testament Commentaries

The Risen Christ

The Gospel concludes with the resurrection and the commissioning of the disciples. The gospel is good news because it doesn't end with the cross; following Jesus demands from us all that we are and have, but it gives us a new and eternal life in return. The narrative of the resurrection paves the way for the commissioning: the witness of the women contrasts starkly with the fearful falsehood of the guards and provides a positive model for the witness of the church.