Matthew 28:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.

NIV: His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

NASB: And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

CSB: His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.

NLT: His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.

KJV: His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

NKJV: His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

Matthew has described an angel descending from heaven and rolling back the large stone that was sealing Jesus' tomb (Matthew 27:60, 66). The angel's appearance is shocking. Matthew says that he looked like lightning, with clothes as white as snow. This kind of fiery white light seems to be the garb of heavenly beings. Matthew described Jesus in a similar fashion when He was revealed in His glory to Peter, James, and John: "His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light" (Matthew 17:2).

The appearance of angels in the Old Testament often provoked great fear from the humans who saw them. An almost universal part of angels' spoken messages to people is reassurance not to be afraid (Luke 1:11–13; 2:9–10; Acts 10:3–4). Terror was obviously the experience of the soldiers guarding the tomb, as the following verse reveals (Matthew 28:4).

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.

Accessed 5/18/2024 7:28:56 PM