The resurrection and the women’s message

28:1 Now after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 28:2 Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. 28:3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 28:4 The guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him. 28:5 But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 28:6 He is not here, for he has been raised, just as he said. Come and see the place where he was lying. 28:7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there.' Listen, I have told you!" 28:8 So they left the tomb quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 28:9 But Jesus met them, saying, "Greetings!" They came to him, held on to his feet and worshiped him. 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. They will see me there." The Guards' Report

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Matthew shows Jesus’ resurrection as God’s public vindication of the crucified Messiah. The women find the tomb empty, hear the angel’s message, meet Jesus himself, and are sent to tell the disciples to go to Galilee.

Matthew ties this scene to the burial account. The same women who watched where Jesus was laid now come to the tomb after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week. This link helps show that the empty tomb is not a rumor. It is part of a continuous witness from burial to resurrection.

Then God acts in a striking way. There is a great earthquake. An angel of the Lord comes down from heaven, rolls away the stone, and sits on it. The angel does not raise Jesus by moving the stone. Matthew has already said that Jesus had been raised. The stone is rolled away so the empty tomb can be seen. The earthquake and the angel’s shining appearance show that this is God’s action, not a human trick.

The guards are terrified and become like dead men. They were placed there to stop any deception, but they cannot stop God’s work. The one who was crucified is now alive. Matthew sets this up as a clear reversal.

The angel speaks to the women and tells them not to be afraid. He says he knows they are looking for Jesus, the one who was crucified. Then he says, “He is not here, for he has been raised, just as he said.” This keeps the cross and resurrection together. The same Jesus who suffered and died is the one who is alive again. It also shows that Jesus’ own words have come true.

The angel tells them to come and see the place where Jesus was lying, and then to go quickly and tell his disciples that he has been raised and is going ahead of them into Galilee. The order matters. They see first, then they speak. Their message is not blind guesswork. It is witness.

The women leave quickly with fear and great joy. Both belong in the scene. Resurrection brings awe, but also joy. On the way, Jesus meets them. They take hold of his feet and worship him. This is a real encounter with the risen Jesus, not just a feeling or vision. At the same time, their response is worship, because Jesus is worthy of honor.

Jesus repeats the words “Do not be afraid.” He also tells them to go and tell his brothers to go to Galilee, where they will see him. Calling the disciples “my brothers” is important. They had failed him, but the risen Jesus restores them and gathers them again.

So this passage presents the resurrection as a real historical event and as God’s public vindication of Jesus. The sealed tomb is opened, the women are sent as witnesses, and the risen Jesus meets them bodily. The first resurrection message moves straight into reassurance, worship, restored fellowship, and renewed obedience.

• God raised the crucified Jesus and publicly vindicated him.
• The stone was rolled away to reveal the empty tomb, not because Jesus needed help leaving it.
• The women are presented as continuous witnesses from burial to empty tomb to appearance.
• Matthew keeps the cross and resurrection together: the risen one is Jesus who was crucified.
• The sequence is deliberate: come and see, then go and tell.
• The risen Jesus restores failed disciples and calls them “my brothers”.

• Do not separate this scene from Matthew 27:62-66; the guarded and sealed tomb is the background for its force.
• Do not build a precise timeline of the exact moment of resurrection from these details; Matthew emphasizes revelation, witness, and commission.
• Do not reduce Galilee to a mere travel note, but do not force extra symbolism beyond Matthew’s own purpose.
• Do not treat the women’s role here as a modern slogan; in this passage they are eyewitnesses and obedient messengers.
• Do not weaken “he has been raised” into a vague statement; here it highlights God’s action in vindicating Jesus.

Matthew shows that God vindicates the rejected Messiah by raising him from the dead. The earthquake, angelic message, empty tomb, and bodily appearance all show that heaven has acted to reverse the human verdict on Jesus and to begin the renewed mission that will continue in Galilee.

Trust Jesus not only as the one who was crucified, but as the one God raised and vindicated. Receive what God has done, then speak it faithfully and urgently. Hear the repeated “Do not be afraid” as resurrection comfort for those who belong to Christ. If you have failed the Lord, remember that the risen Jesus restores his people and calls them back into obedient fellowship and service. Keep the cross and resurrection together in Christian confession and proclamation.

Related commentary links will be expanded as this tier is built.