Matthew 28:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.

NIV: He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

NASB: He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.

CSB: He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

NLT: He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.

KJV: He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

NKJV: He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

The angel at Jesus' tomb is speaking to some women who have come to add burial spices to Jesus' body (Matthew 28:1–5). They had wondered who would roll away the large stone for them. They were present when Jesus was initially buried (Matthew 27:61), so they know there is an extremely large stone closing the entrance. They may not have known that the tomb had been sealed and guarded (Matthew 27:62–66). Arriving, they find the stone already rolled away and a terrifying-looking angel present.

The angel has told the women not to be afraid, the kind of comment angels often need to make when first speaking to human beings (Luke 1:11–13; 2:9–10; Acts 10:3–4). He knows they are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. Then he adds these immortal words: "He is not here, for he has risen, as he said." These words hold the hope of Christianity for the world. Jesus had defeated death. He had died for the sins of humanity, and He had been resurrected to eternal, immortal life.

The phrase "as he said" is crucial. That Jesus knew He would be resurrected and told His followers ahead of time was another confirmation that He was truly the Son of God. It was more evidence that He fully participated in the events that led to His terrible death and glorious resurrection.

In Matthew's gospel, Jesus declared on three occasions that He would be killed and then be raised "on the third day" (Matthew 16:21; 17:23; 20:18–19). Commentors often debate the minute details of how long Jesus was in the grave. Such debates miss the point of an obvious prophecy, and even more obvious miracle. Even on the shortest possible time scale, Christ would have died on Friday, the first day. His body would have lain in the tomb on Saturday, the second day. He was resurrected on Sunday, the third day.

The angel offers evidence to the women of Jesus' resurrection. He points to the place where Jesus' body had previously been. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, at least, witnessed Joseph of Arimathea placing Jesus' body there (Matthew 27:61). Now it is clearly gone. The empty tomb is the hope of eternal life for all who believe in Jesus.

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.