Matthew 28: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ -

Matthew 28 Foundations Commentary

Big Idea

Jesus rose from the dead, proving His victory over sin and death, revealing Himself as the living King, and commissioning His followers to make disciples with His authority and presence.

Introduction: The Morning That Changed Everything

History is filled with important mornings.

The morning a war ends.

The morning a child is born.

The morning a prisoner is set free.

But no morning compares to the one recorded in Matthew 28.

Just days earlier, Jesus had been arrested.

Mocked.

Crucified.

Buried.

His followers were grieving.

The disciples were scattered.

Hope seemed lost.

The stone was sealed.

The guards were posted.

The tomb was secured.

From every human perspective, the story was over.

But God was not finished.

What happened on that Sunday morning changed everything.

Death would be defeated.

The grave would be conquered.

And the risen King would launch a mission that continues to this day.

Matthew’s Gospel began with a promise:

“Immanuel—God with us.”

It ends with another:

“I am with you always.”

Between those promises stands an empty tomb.

And because the tomb is empty, everything is different.

The Empty Tomb (Matthew 28:1–7)

At dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary made their way to Jesus’ tomb.

These women had witnessed His crucifixion.

They had watched His burial.

They knew exactly where His body had been placed.

There would be no confusion about the location.

Then the earth shook.

An angel descended from heaven.

The stone was rolled away.

The guards trembled in terror and collapsed in fear.

Everything about the scene announced that God was at work.

The angel’s message is one of the most important declarations ever spoken:

“He is not here. He has risen, just as he said.”

Notice the emphasis.

Just as He said.

Jesus had repeatedly predicted His death and resurrection.

Now His words were proven true.

The stone was not rolled away so Jesus could escape.

The risen Christ needed no help leaving the tomb.

The stone was rolled away so others could see that the tomb was empty.

Death had lost its grip.

The grave had been defeated.

The King was alive.

Christianity Stands on a Living Savior

The resurrection is not merely a comforting idea.

It is a historical reality.

Jesus did not remain in the tomb.

He rose.

The Women Meet the Risen King (Matthew 28:8–10)

The women leave quickly.

Matthew says they are filled with both fear and great joy.

That combination makes perfect sense.

They have just witnessed something beyond human explanation.

They are overwhelmed.

Excited.

Amazed.

And then Jesus Himself appears.

Imagine the moment.

The One they watched die is standing before them.

Alive.

Not a vision.

Not a memory.

Not wishful thinking.

Jesus is physically present.

The women fall at His feet and worship Him.

Their response reveals an important truth.

The resurrection did not merely restore Jesus to life.

It confirmed His identity.

He is the risen King worthy of worship.

And what does Jesus say?

“Do not be afraid.”

Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly speaks those words to His people.

And now the risen Christ speaks them once again.

Fear no longer has the final word.

Death no longer has the final word.

Jesus does.

The Risen Jesus Meets His People Personally

Christianity is not merely believing facts about Jesus.

It is knowing the living Christ.

The Savior who rose from the grave still meets His people today.

The Truth and the Lie (Matthew 28:11–15)

While the women carry the good news, the guards carry another report.

They tell the religious leaders everything that happened.

The leaders now face a choice.

Believe the evidence.

Or suppress the truth.

Sadly, they choose deception.

They bribe the soldiers and create an alternative explanation.

The disciples stole the body.

Yet the story quickly falls apart.

If the guards were asleep, how could they know who took the body?

Why would trained Roman soldiers risk admitting such failure?

And how could frightened disciples overpower armed guards and move the stone?

The religious leaders refuse to follow the evidence because their hearts are already hardened.

Matthew reminds us that this false explanation continued circulating long after the resurrection.

Even today, people search for alternatives to the resurrection.

But every alternative must answer the same question:

Why was the tomb empty?

The simplest explanation remains the biblical one.

Jesus rose from the dead.

Unbelief Often Finds Reasons Not to Believe

The issue is not always evidence.

Sometimes the issue is willingness.

The resurrection demands a response.

The King’s Final Commission (Matthew 28:16–20)

Matthew now takes us to a mountain in Galilee.

The eleven disciples gather.

When they see Jesus, they worship Him.

Yet Matthew honestly notes that some still struggle with doubt.

That detail is encouraging.

These are not fearless superheroes.

They are ordinary people learning to trust an extraordinary Savior.

Then Jesus speaks.

His final recorded words in Matthew are filled with authority.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

The resurrection has confirmed what was always true.

Jesus is King.

Not merely over Israel.

Not merely over the church.

Over everything.

Every nation.

Every ruler.

Every power.

Every authority.

Then comes the command:

“Go and make disciples of all nations.”

This is not merely a call to gain converts.

It is a call to make disciples.

People who trust Jesus.

Follow Jesus.

Obey Jesus.

And help others follow Jesus.

The mission includes going.

Baptizing.

Teaching.

Helping others grow into mature followers of Christ.

The work continues until Jesus returns.

Then Jesus closes with a promise that echoes throughout the ages:

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The disciples are being sent into a difficult world.

But they will not go alone.

The risen King goes with them.

The Great Commission Is Built on the Great Presence

Jesus does not simply give a mission.

He gives Himself.

Matthew 28 and the Gospel

Matthew 28 is the triumphant conclusion to the story Matthew has been telling from the beginning.

The baby born in Bethlehem.

The promised Messiah.

The suffering servant.

The crucified King.

Is now the risen Lord.

The resurrection validates everything Jesus claimed.

His teachings are true.

His sacrifice was accepted.

His victory is complete.

Without the resurrection, the cross would be a tragedy.

With the resurrection, the cross becomes a triumph.

Because Jesus lives, forgiveness is available.

Because Jesus lives, death is defeated.

Because Jesus lives, hope is secure.

And because Jesus lives, His mission continues through His people.

The resurrection is not merely the ending of the gospel story.

It is the beginning of a new one.

Theological Themes

The Resurrection of Christ

Jesus physically rose from the dead, proving His victory over sin, Satan, and death.

The Authority of Christ

The risen Jesus possesses all authority in heaven and on earth.

The Mission of the Church

Believers are called to make disciples of all nations.

The Presence of Christ

Jesus promises to remain with His followers until the end of the age.

Victory Over Death

The resurrection guarantees that death does not have the final word.

Truths and Lessons for Today

1. The Resurrection Changes Everything

Because Jesus lives, death is defeated and hope is secure.

🡲 Application: Face life’s challenges with confidence, knowing your Savior is alive and reigning.

📖 “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” (Matthew 28:6)

2. Jesus Is Worthy of Worship

The women fell at His feet because the risen Christ deserves our complete devotion.

🡲 Application: Make worship more than a Sunday activity. Let your entire life reflect Christ’s worth.

📖 “They clasped his feet and worshiped him.” (Matthew 28:9)

3. Every Believer Is Part of the Mission

The Great Commission belongs to every follower of Jesus.

🡲 Application: Ask God to show you who He wants you to disciple, encourage, or point toward Christ.

📖 “Go and make disciples of all the nations.” (Matthew 28:19)

4. Jesus Is With You

The risen Christ never sends His people out alone.

🡲 Application: Step forward in obedience with confidence, trusting His presence in every season.

📖 “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

Conclusion

Matthew’s Gospel ends with an empty tomb and an open mission.

The stone has been rolled away.

The grave has been conquered.

The King is alive.

And the good news is ready to go to the nations.

The story that began with a baby in Bethlehem ends with a risen King reigning over heaven and earth.

Yet it is not really an ending.

It is a beginning.

The disciples are sent.

The church is born.

The mission continues.

And Jesus remains with His people every step of the way.

Because the tomb is empty, hope is alive.

Because the King lives, the mission moves forward.

Because Jesus reigns, the future belongs to Him.

Memorable Summary Statement

“The tomb is empty, the King is alive, and His followers are sent into the world with His authority, His mission, and His presence.”

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