The Book of Matthew
Matthew was taught by Dr. James Modlish

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

 

Intro: Here we come to the last chapter in Matthew's gospel. This chapter gives details about what happened after the Resurrection, and before Christ's accession. The other three Gospel - Mark, Luke, John each give a slightly different viewpoint, each giving more details about what took place. Some critics and scholars would say that the Bible could not possibly be God's word since each Gospel gives a different viewpoint of what took place. These critics never give thought to the fact that God allowed each writer to write in his own style, and that God gave each writer what HE was suppose to write (2 Pet. 1:20-21). They never seem to remember the verses that say -

"But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established." (Mt 18:16)

This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. (2 Co 13:1)

28:1 First day of the week is Sunday, after 6pm Jewish time is 6pm - 6pm while Gentile time runs 12am -12am.

A. "very early in the morning" - Mk. 16:2

B. "very early in the morning" - Lk. 24:1
C. "early, while it was yet dark" - Jn. 20:1

The sun had not yet come up, and Mary Magdalene along with Mary - the mother of James and Salome were already coming to the sepulcher with the spices to anoint the body.

28:2 This earthquake takes place before the women arrive. Some time after the Sabbath was over but before the women come the resurrection had already happened. This is certain to have happened on the first day of the week, after the regular weekly Sabbath; fulfilling the 3 day - 3 night requirement in scripture (Matt. 12:40). This is the second earthquake in 3 days (27:51).

Matthew's gospel is the only one of the four that mention the earthquake, brought about by the Angel of the Lord descending. The angel rolls back the stone, and the tomb is open when the women come. (Matt. 28:3-4; Mk. 16:5)

Order of appearance of Angels:

[1]. John 20:14
[2]. Matt. 28:8
[3]. 1 Cor. 15:5
[4]. Lk. 24:13
[5]. Lk. 24:36
[6]. Jn. 20:24
[7]. Jn. 21:1
[8]. 1 Cor. 15:6-8

28:4 Examples of men who shook before God:

[1]. Eliphaz - (Job 4:14)
[2]. Moses - (Heb. 12:21)
[3]. Ezekiel - (Eze. 12:18)
[4]. Many Men - (Dan. 10:5-7)
[5]. The guard - (Matt. 28:4)
[6]. Paul - (Acts 9:6)
[7]. The jailers - (Acts 16:29)

In (Matt. 28:11) the men split when the Angel shows up.

28:5 "Fear not" - these words are spoken 61 times throughout the Bible, as a means of comfort to people who are troubled over an event that has taken or will take place.

28:6 "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said." These are great words of comfort to the Christian is counting on eternal life. No other religious leader has ever come out of the grave but Jesus Christ. Paul states it this way - "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." (1 Cor. 15:19) "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins." (1 Cor. 15:17)

28:7 Risen from the dead - ahead of the resurrection (Mk. 9:9-10). The angels refresh the memories of the women about Christ's resurrection (Lk. 24:7-8).

Acts mentions how Christ showed himself alive with many infallible proofs. The new Bibles change this "many proofs", "convincing proofs", etc.. The scriptures says they are INFALLIBLE.

10 Proofs of the Resurrection:

[1]. Proof from Scripture - (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Job 19:25; Psa. 16:10; Dan. 12:2; Matt. 28; Mk. 16; Lk. 24; Jn. 20-21; Acts 2:27).
[2]. Proof from Fact - (1 Cor. 15:5-8; Jn. 21:14; Rev. 1:12-18)
[3]. Proof from peoples absurd unbelief in the resurrection - (1 Cor. 15:12-19)
[4]. Proof from declaration of fact - (1 Cor. 15:20-22)
[5]. Proof from Prediction - (1 Cor. 15:23-56)
[6]. Proof from the inconsistency of people who deny it - (1 Cor. 15:29) - people were getting baptized for the dead since they didn't believe in the resurrection. Somehow they believed this would make a difference, but only the resurrection of Christ can do that!
[7]. Proof from faith and consecration of people who sacrificed all for it - (1 Cor. 15:30-34)
[8]. Proof from nature - (1 Cor. 15:33-34)
[9]. Proof from the absolute necessity of an immortal body - (1 Cor. 15:50-54) You will need an immortal body in order to inherit the Kingdom and other promises
[10]. Proof from fulfillment of prophecy - (1 Cor. 15:54-57) final victory over death!

See notes in Dake's Annotated Bible (New Testament pg. 188.1)

28:8 "did run" - only if Christians today would run to tell the good news to the world that Christ is risen and can save them from their sins.

28:9 "All hail." - This is a greeting that has joy attached to it. Notice the disciples response - "…and worshipped him." The women are overjoyed that Christ is risen.

Christ never refused worship while he was on earth before his crucifixion, and after his resurrection. This sure puts a damper on Jehovah Witness doctrine, which teaches Jesus was Michael the Archangel. They never know how to handle the verse in Hebrews that states:

"And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him." (Heb 1:6)

If Christ was Michael the Archangel, then he would be involved in self worship. God commands "ALL" angels, even Michael to worship his son!!!

28:10 "My brethren" - His disciples. See (Mk. 16:7) The angel says Disciples and Peter, which shows Christ is aware of how Peter must of felt after denying him. Things get patched up between them.

28:11 "some of the watch" - Guards that were supposed to be watching the grave to make sure that the body was not stolen.

28:12-15 Here we have "Hush Money" being given out so as to destroy the faith of those that believe in the resurrection. Since they could do nothing to stop it, they consort with each other to discredit the account. This is gonna be hard to do in light of the fact that over 500 people saw him alive at one time, in one place (1 Cor. 15:5-6).

28:16 More details are given in Mark and John about his appearances to the disciples.

[1]. First to Peter (Lk. 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5)

[2]. The Two on the road to Emmaus (Lk. 24:13-31)

[3]. To Those in the upper room, excluding Thomas (Lk. 24:36-43; Jn. 20:19-24

[4]. About 8 days later to the 11 disciples with Thomas present (Jn. 20:24-29)

[5]. Then to over 500 people at Galilee (Jn. 21)

28:17 "But some doubted" - Here we have a direct reference to Thomas (Jn. 20:24-9). Thomas makes the greatest eyewitness statements ever recorded in scripture concerning Christ's deity.

28:18 All Power - This Power is given to him by God The Father. This power is over heaven and earth. Satan is a second rate power, but people try to put him in the number one position by worshipping him.

See Bible Believers Commentary on Matthew "All Power" (pg. 727) by Dr. Peter S. Ruckman.

28:19 This is the Great Commission! It is different from the one in Mark 16. The one in Mark 16 is in Jerusalem before Christ's appearance in Galilee.

"in the name of" - this is name (singular) not (plural) names. The only "Name" that matches all three is Lord.

[1]. The Father is Lord - (Jude 5)
[2]. The Son is Lord - (Phil. 2:11)
[3]. The Holy Spirit is Lord - (2 Cor. 3:17)

The name mentioned in (Acts 2:38)… Jesus Christ, is given to Israel in view of the fact they crucified their Messiah.

28:20 Teaching to observe all things that Christ commanded his disciples - this means the whole New Testament from (Matthew 1:1-Revelation 22:21). We are to obey all his commands throughout the New Testament.

"the end" - usually a reference to the tribulation, not the church-age (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 3:6,14)

"world" - this is word is used for an "age".

"AMEN" - So Be It!

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