Matthew 28:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

NIV: After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

NASB: Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb.

CSB: After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb.

NLT: Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.

KJV: In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

NKJV: Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

We last saw these two women sitting opposite Jesus' tomb. They watched as Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus (John 19:39–40) wrapped Jesus' body, placed it in the tomb, and rolled a large stone in front of it (Matthew 27:59–61). They had followed Joseph from the cross to the grave, likely ready to assist with the body if needed. There was a hurry to get Jesus' body into the tomb before the Sabbath began at sundown. It would have been a violation of the law to be handling the body and doing that work on the Sabbath. The women wanted to know where Jesus' body was so they could return after the Sabbath and complete the preparations of Jesus' body for burial.

In the meantime, on the Sabbath, Pilate had agreed to allow the chief priests and the Pharisees to post some of the temple guard of Roman soldiers to guard the tomb (Matthew 27:62–66). They wanted to prevent Jesus' followers from stealing His body and claiming that He had been resurrected, as He said He would be (John 2:19–22).

Now it is around dawn on Sunday morning. The Sabbath would have ended at sundown the evening before, but the darkness would have prevented the women from coming to the tomb before sunrise. Matthew says that Mary Magdalene and the "other Mary" have gone to the see the tomb. The other Mary is described by Matthew as the mother of James and Joseph (Matthew 27:56). She might have been the "wife of Clopas" mentioned in John 19:25. Mark's account reveals that a woman named Salome was with them (Mark 16:1) and they brought spices to anoint Jesus' body. Salome is probably the mother of Jesus' disciples James and John, the "sons of Zebedee" (Matthew 27:56).

Matthew 28:1–10 describes how two of Jesus' women followers learn of Jesus' resurrection. Before they arrive at the tomb on Sunday morning, an angel from heaven descends and rolls back the large stone. This is accompanied by an earthquake. The Roman soldiers faint. The angel tells the women Jesus is risen from the dead. Jesus meets the women, and they worship Him. He sends them to tell His brothers He has been resurrected from the dead and that they should go to Galilee. They will see Him there.

An angel of the Lord descends from heaven and rolls the stone from Jesus' tomb. The guards faint. The angel sits on top of the stone and waits. Two women, followers of Jesus, arrive and are told that Jesus is risen from the dead. Jesus then meets them and tells them to give the news to His brothers. The chief priests bribe the guards to say Jesus' followers stole His body. Jesus meets the disciples on a mountain in Galilee and commissions them to make disciples of people from all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey Jesus' commands. Jesus promises to be with them always.

Matthew 28 follows the dark events of the crucifixion in the previous chapter and brings Matthew's story of Jesus to a close. An angel descends from heaven and rolls back the stone. The guards faint. The angel tells two women Jesus is risen and then Jesus meets them. The Jewish religious leaders bribe the guards to lie and distribute a story that His followers took the body. Jesus meets His disciples in Galilee and commissions them to make disciples of people from all nations on earth, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all of Jesus' commands.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.