Matthew 28

Matthew 28:1-10

We left the Lord of life the prisoner of death. The third day or more; death’s hands are loofed; he leads his captivity captive. The Lord is risen indeed. We have here some of the evidences of that signal event. 1. The testimony of the angel, ver. 1—8. 2. His appearance himself to the woman, ver. 9, 10. 3. The confession of the adversaries that were upon the guard, ver. 11—15. 4. Christ’s appearance to the disciples in Galilee, and the commission he gave them, ver. 16—20.

a Mark xvi. 1. Luke xvii. 1. John xx. 1. b. Chap xviii. 28. c. Or had lame. 1 Dun. v. 6. d. PC. coliv. 6. Th. xviii. 14. a Chap. xii. xx. & xvii. xx. & xviii. xx. & xx. xx. 1. Chap. xxvi. xx. Ver. xx. E. Acts v. 3. & v. 4. & Pl. ii. 11. 1 Cant. iii. 4. b. John xx. pp. 16th. II. 11. 1 Vit. 7.

1. “IN the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre. 2. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. 4. And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified. 6. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said: Come, for the place where the Lord lay. 7. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and behold, he goeth before you into Galilee, there shall ye see him, lo, I have told you. 8. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear, and great joy, and did run to bring his disciples word. 9. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hell. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren, that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

The resurrection of Jesus being the grand hinge on which our hope of salvation turns, it must afford the most singular satisfaction to observe the amazing force of evidence wherewith this glorious event is asserted. Had he still lain in the grave, and had death maintained his dominion over him, our faith had been vain, and we must have perished in our sins: but, glory be to God, he hath raised up Jesus from the dead, and hath thereby begotten us to a new and lively hope. Some testimonies of this fact are here produced; many more will be found in the other Evangelists. We have,

1. The visit made to the sepulchre by those holy women who had attended Jesus to the cross and to the grave, even Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James; and they came down to see the sepulchre, if it was as they left it, bringing spices to embain the body; this was in the end of the Sabbath, as it

began to dawn towards the first day of the week. Christ had lain in the grave part of our Friday, all Saturday, which was the Jewish Sabbath, and on the Sunday morning, the third day, very early, probably about four o’clock, he arose, after dwelling among the dead about six and thirty hours; long enough to shew his death real, yet not so long as that his body should see corruption, Pl. xvi. 10.

2. As they went, and talked about the difficulty of removing the stone at the mouth of the sepulchre, which seems to have been more ponderous than they could roll away, behold! to their astonishment, there was a great earthquake, which, had the guards indeed slept, must need: have roused them; for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, as the officer of the Most High, sent to release from the streets of death the body of the Redeemer: the immense debt of our sins being now paid and cancelled, and the justice of God satisfied, the county by right became entitled to his discharge. Therefore he came and rolled back the stone from the door, thus opening the prison, whilst Jesus, as our representative, arose for our justification, as he had been delivered for our offences; and the angel sat upon it, defying all the powers of earth or hell to roll it on again; inviting there to welcome the poor women who were on their way, and striking terror and dismay into the flour-hearted soldiers. His countenance was bright as the fighting, and his women salute as suns, the emblem of purity and victory. Trembling in every limb, the guards shook like the earth which rocked under their feet, and, pale as death, with haste fled from the tremendous presence of this angelic minister.

The other Evangelists mention two angels: one sat on the stone without, and invited and led the women into the sepulchre, where they found another; the one of which stood at the feet, and the other at the head of the grave, where the body had lain.

3. The women being come to the sepulchre, were at first affrighted at the sight, (Mark xvi. 5.) but the angel kindly accosting them, endeavoured to silence their fears. Fear not ye; whatever terrors seize the sinners in Zion, the redeemed of the Lord need not tremble; for I know that ye seek Jesus that was crucified, and they who seek a crucified Jesus, have nothing to fear; have every thing to hope: none ever fought his face in vain. He is not here, that you should any longer believe his couple with tears: no; he is risen for your everlasting comfort, as he said he should, on the third day. Then graciously inviting them to come and see the place where the Lord lay, that they might be convinced he was not there, he probably led the way into the sepulchre, whither they followed him, and saw the other angel, mentioned John xx. 12. And hereupon the angel dismisses them with a message to the disconsolate disciples; Go quickly, and be the messengers of this glad news; tell his disciples, more dejected and despairing, he is risen from the dead, to their surprise and joy; and behold, for the confirmation of your own faith and theirs, he goeth before you into Galilee, where you and they must follow him, and there shall ye see him, converse with him, and receive the fullest assurance of his resurrection. Lo! I have told you; remember to deliver these tidings, and be assured of the truth of what I have spoken.

4. Agitated with surprise and joy at what they had seen and heard, and eager to communicate the glad news, they ran to the disciples; and in the way Jesus himself met them, and with kindest salutation accosted them, All hell, all peace, happiness, and joy be with you! With howless reverence they call themselves instantly at his feet, and in a transport of love embraced them, adoring him as their risen Lord and Saviour. Then Jesus, further to confirm their hearts, and remove every fear, both them not be afraid; they need apprehend neither danger nor delusion, but must deliver the message his angel had put into their mouths. Go tell my brethren; by such an endearing name was he pleased to distinguish his disciples; that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. Nate, (1.) Christ is not ashamed to call his servants brethren; yea, though their unfaithfulness hath made them unworthy of such a relation, he will not disown them. (2.) Faith in a risen Redeemer effectually silences a sinner’s fears: in him we see the great salvation accomplished, and are filled with joy and peace in believing.

5. ¶ Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 12. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers. 13. Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15. So they took the money, and did as they were caught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

Matthew 28:11-15

The resurrection of Jesus is proved by a cloud of unexceptionable witnesses, among whom his very enemies held a distinguished place.

1. The

2. The guard who had fled, had juff reached the city as the women were on their return thither; and some of them, probably the officers who commanded the detachment, went directly to the chief priests; and to their astonishment related all that had passed; the earthquake, the descent of the angel, the removal of the stone, and the rising of Jesus; and if any thing could ever have shocked their obdurate hearts, one should conceive the report of such incontestable eye-witnesses of the fact would have convinced them of their wickedness, and turned them to the Lord. But they were determined in impenitence and unbelief, and therefore given up to a reprobate mind. Hereupon.

3. The chief priests and elders consulted together, and resolved to support what they had done at all events, and therefore to invent the most plausible pretext to evade the evidence of the resurrection of Jesus, knowing the powerful effects of money, and how ready men are to fell the truth, nay, their very souls for it, they bribed high all the guard to tell a lie as abused as wicked, that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while they slept. And as the men might justly apprehend such a confessed criminal neglect in them, as sleeping upon guard, might be attended with rigorous punishment if it came to the governor’s ears, the rulers engage to interpose their influence, and to save them harmless. But the whole contrivance was so barefaced a sham, that it carried its own confutation, except to such as choke their own delusions. Can it be conceived, that where the truth was so important, and death the penalty of neglect, that a centinel would sleep? But if one man may be supposed to be overtaken, would a whole band of men be all asleep at once? If they had been so, would those timid disciples, who had fled at the first approach of danger, when their Master was alive, now dare rush into the jaws of death, to rescue his corpse? Could such a number of them as was requisite to roll away the stone, and remove the body, have been able to accomplish such a thing without waking one of the numerous holt that lay around the tomb? and if they slept, how could they possibly know that his disciples came and stole him away? Nay, their very living to support the fasthood, was a full proof against them; for, had they slept as they pretended, these very priests had been the first to have had them put to death for their neglect, instead of interwelling themselves to screen them from punishment.

4. The bribe extorted from the heathen soldiers an early compliance: they took the money, and laid and did as they were taught. And this fearless story being inadvertently propagated by the priests, was readily followed by those who wished to be deceived, and continued long after to be commonly reported among the Jews, to render the disciples odious, and prevent the effects of their ministry. Now, (1.) Money is the grand bait for the goodest crimes: the raging love of that once rooted in the heart, (wallows up every consideration of truth, honesty, and justice. (2.) No outward evidence is sufficient to overcome the infidelity of the heart, without the powerful operations of the Holy Ghost. Were we to chuse what proofs we would, greater could not be given than these men beheld, and yet not one of them was convicted. No signs or wonders will convince those who reject the gospel. (3.) A malicious lye once raised, in its consequences is often fatally extensive; but we to the author!

5. ¶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain, where Jesus had appointed them. 17. And when they few him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18. And Jesus came, and spake unto them, saying, ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19. ¶ ‘Go ye therefore and reach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and to, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Matthew 28:16-20

According to the directions of their Master, the eleven Apostles went into Galilee to the mountain appointed, having summoned a general meeting of all the disciples, whose number amounted to above five hundred. There Jesus again appeared unto them, and, fully convinced now of his being the Son of God, they paid him divine adoration. But from among them still doubted, weak and wavering, and scarce able to credit the testimony of their senses: so very slow of heart were they to believe, and so little disposed to be credulous in a matter of such infinite importance. But Jesus soon removed all their doubts, conversing familiarly with them, and giving them the most indubitable proofs of the identity of his person, and the certainty of his resurrection. Hereupon, as he was now about to take his farewell of earth, he unveils them with his authority, sends them out under his influence, directs them in their work, and assures them of his blessing on their labours.

1. He asserts the authority with which he is invested, and in virtue of which he puts them in trust with his gospel. All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. At Mediator, he had received the universal sovereignty; angels, principalities, and powers above were made subject unto him; and on earth all things and persons were put under his government; which was a most encouraging consideration to them who were about to go forth in his name, since his support would make them more than conquerors. Now, When we are discouraged with the view of our own weakness and insufficiency, we should look by faith to the all-sufficiency of Jesus, and be comforted.

2. He gives them a commission out of the plenitude of his power. Go ye therefore, and all who shall in succeeding ages be put in trust with the same gospel, teach all nations; for all respect of persons and people is now at an end: the salvation purchased is a common salvation, and whosoever will, let him come. They are to carry the glad tidings into all lands, and make disciples every where; baptizing them, and their household who should be converted by their ministry, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, admitting them by this rite into the visible communion of the church, on the protection of their faith in the eternal Father, Son, and Spirit, the one God, to whose worship and service they are hereby dedicated: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; declaring to them the riches of the grace, and the extent of the privileges of the gospel; with all the mighty obligations to obedience, refuting from faith, which worked by love; enjoining the word of Jesus as the only rule of duty, to which nothing is to be added, and from whence nothing must be diminished; and urging the disciples to adorn the doctrine they profess by that conscientious observance of all those moral duties and positive ordinances which may prove the truth of the grace which is in them, bring glory to God, and credit to their holy religion.

3. He assures them of his constant spiritual presence, to teach, comfort, and prosper them in all their labours of love. Lo! I am with you; be assured of it, as the most undoubted truth, though my bodily presence be removed, my Spirit shall abundantly supply that loss; in all difficulties and dangers I will support you; in all emergencies I will direct you; I will give you success in all your labours, and confolation in all your sufferings; and that always, even to the end of the world. Not only all your days shall you find me near to help you, but to the end of time your successors in the ministry shall experience my continual support and blessing, in the preaching that gospel you deliver unto them. Amen. Verily I say unto you, who am the faithful and true witness, I will fulfill my promises. Or this may be the Evangelist’s word, expressing his own, and the church’s faith and prayer, that so it may be, and so we believe it shall be. What Christ hath promised, we may confidently expect to receive, and pray in faith, nothing doubting.