Matthew 28
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Resurrection Morning
28 After the Sabbath,(A) as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it.(B) 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow.(C) 4 The guards were so shaken from fear of him that they became like dead men.
5 But the angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.(D) 6 He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.(E) 7 Then go quickly and tell His disciples,(F) ‘He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”(G)
8 So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell His disciples the news. 9 Just then[a] Jesus met them and said, “Good morning!” They came up, took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him.(H) 10 Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.”(I)
The Soldiers Are Bribed to Lie
11 As they were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 After the priests[b] had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money 13 and told them, “Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole Him while we were sleeping.’ 14 If this reaches the governor’s ears,[c] we will deal with[d] him and keep you out of trouble.”(J) 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day.(K)
The Great Commission
16 The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them.(L) 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped,[e] but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.(M) 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples(N) of[f] all nations,(O) baptizing(P) them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember,[g] I am with you always,[h] to the end of the age.”(Q)
Footnotes
- Matthew 28:9 Other mss add as they were on their way to tell the news to His disciples
- Matthew 28:12 Lit After they
- Matthew 28:14 Lit this is heard by the governor
- Matthew 28:14 Lit will persuade
- Matthew 28:17 Other mss add Him
- Matthew 28:19 Or and disciple; lit and instruct
- Matthew 28:20 Lit look
- Matthew 28:20 Lit all the days
Matthew 28
The Message
Risen from the Dead
28 1-4 After the Sabbath, as the first light of the new week dawned, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to keep vigil at the tomb. Suddenly the earth reeled and rocked under their feet as God’s angel came down from heaven, came right up to where they were standing. He rolled back the stone and then sat on it. Shafts of lightning blazed from him. His garments shimmered snow-white. The guards at the tomb were scared to death. They were so frightened, they couldn’t move.
5-6 The angel spoke to the women: “There is nothing to fear here. I know you’re looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said. Come and look at the place where he was placed.
7 “Now, get on your way quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He is risen from the dead. He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.’ That’s the message.”
8-10 The women, deep in wonder and full of joy, lost no time in leaving the tomb. They ran to tell the disciples. Then Jesus met them, stopping them in their tracks. “Good morning!” he said. They fell to their knees, embraced his feet, and worshiped him. Jesus said, “You’re holding on to me for dear life! Don’t be frightened like that. Go tell my brothers that they are to go to Galilee, and that I’ll meet them there.”
11-15 Meanwhile, the guards had scattered, but a few of them went into the city and told the high priests everything that had happened. They called a meeting of the religious leaders and came up with a plan: They took a large sum of money and gave it to the soldiers, bribing them to say, “His disciples came in the night and stole the body while we were sleeping.” They assured them, “If the governor hears about your sleeping on duty, we will make sure you don’t get blamed.” The soldiers took the bribe and did as they were told. That story, cooked up in the Jewish High Council, is still going around.
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16-17 Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.
18-20 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
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