Matthew 28:1 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.
As we begin this chapter, we
should realize that at this point in time, the disciples had no understanding
of the resurrection, grace, or that the gospel would be taken to the
Gentiles. When the women discovered that
Jesus had risen, they were totally surprised as were Peter, James, John, and
the rest of the original Apostles. Jesus
had taught them for three and a half years and they had not believed the heart
of His message.
When I started this
commentary, I was really hoping I would not get to this verse, but here we are.
It begins by referring to the
end of the Sabbath (Gr. Sabbatoon-Sabbatwn).
Then, the English refers to
“the first day of the week” (Gr. eis mian Sabbatoon-eiV mian Sabbatwn). As you can see that English
phrase translates the same word in two different ways. Sabbatoon
is first translated Sabbath, and then the identical word is translated “day of
the week.”
What is wrong with that
picture?
This verse should have been
translated, “After the close of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first
Sabbath [leading to Pentecost], Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see
the sepulchre.”
“The first day of the week”
refers to the first of the Sabbaths leading to Pentecost. Matthew was a Jew and knew that the Jewish
Christians of his day would understand his reference. Modern Gentile Christians don’t have a clue.
This scene happened at dawn
of the weekly Sabbath, Saturday. At dawn He had already been raised. He was
resurrected according to the Jewish calendar, and not according to the Gentile
calendar. Christ was raised at the beginning of the Jewish day, sundown.
There is no admonishment to
worship on or reverence Sunday above the true Sabbath.
Matt 12:40
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the
Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
The Jewish day begins at
sunset.
Let’s review the crucifixion
timeline for Gentiles:
Last supper Monday
Crucified Tuesday
Buried: on
Tuesday evening at sunset.
1st day Tuesday
night til Wednesday night
2nd day Wednesday
night til Thursday night
3rd day Thursday
night til Friday night, the start of the Sabbath
Resurrection Sabbath, the
first of the Sabbaths leading to Pentecost.
During the days in the tomb,
Jesus was working, preaching to spirits in prison.
1 Pet 3:18-20
18 For Christ also hath once
suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God,
being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and
preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were
disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah,
while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
At Sunset Friday evening
Christ was raised from the dead and rested on the Sabbath. On the true day of rest, the Sabbath, He met
the women as they came to the tomb.
So, why do we worship on
Sunday?
The answer is, by imperial
decree!
He superimposed Christianity
on that scene, and issued an imperial decree that all Romans should worship on
the “venerable day of the sun,” in honor of the Sun---not the Son.
On that traditional Sabbath,
Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” went to see Jesus’ tomb.
Matthew 28:2-7
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the
angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from
the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment
white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and
became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear
not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen,
as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth
before you into
An earthquake signaled the
rolling away of the stone that covered the tomb entrance. An angel came. His appearance was as lightening, and his
garment was extremely white, which indicated that he served in righteousness.
The
The angel spoke to the women
who had come to anoint Jesus’ body. He
told them, “Don’t be afraid! I know that
you are looking for Jesus, Who was crucified. He isn’t here. He has risen, as
He said. So, come, see the place where the Lord was laid. Now, go quickly, and
tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead. He will meet you in
Matthew 28:8-10
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his
disciples word.
9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold,
Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and
worshipped him.
10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell
my brethren that they go into
They quickly left filled with
fear and joy, and ran to tell Jesus’ Apostles.
On the way, they met Jesus and fell at his feet to worship Him.
Jesus told them, “Don’t be
afraid. Go, and tell my brothers that
should go to
Matthew 28:11-15
11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch
came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests
all the things that were done.
12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and
had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and
stole him away while we slept.
14 And if this come to the
governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
15 So they took the money, and did as they were
taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
As they disciples were going
to meet the risen Christ, some of the “watch (from the Greek koustoodia-koustwdia),” or
Many sermons have been
delivered and may books written saying that those men were Roman soldiers and
the seal on Christ’s tomb was a Roman seal.
That is not true!
But, how do we know they were
The Greek word means watch or
guard. It is used in the Bible only to
describe the
Unfortunately, some translate
the Greek word in light of faulty tradition rather than pure biblical
Greek. The Greek word is only found
three times in the Bible.
Matt 27:65
Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch (Gr. koustoodia-koustwdia): go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
Matt 27:66
So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing
the stone, and setting a watch
(Gr. koustoodia-koustwdia).
Matt 28:11
Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch (Gr. koustoodia-koustwdia) came into the city, and shewed
unto the chief priests all the things that were done
There is NO historical evidence that Roman soldiers were ever placed
under Jewish control! And those who guarded the tomb were acting under Jewish
authority.
The Guards were bribed to say
that Jesus’ disciples stole His body. The Jewish religion of those days was run
by some very despicable people. That lie
is still circulating among some Jews to the very day.
As I said before, if they
were Roman soldiers they would have been executed for cowardice with no appeal.
Several years ago, while
speaking with a Rabbi, I said, something extraordinary happened at that time,
meaning the time of Jesus crucifixion and resurrection. I went on to ask, “Surely, you will admit
that something extraordinary happened?”
His answer was, “I don’t have
to admit anything!”
There is an old saying,
“Ignorance is bliss.” And I must admit
that some people are very happy in their ignorance.
Matthew 28:16-17
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into
17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but
some doubted.
Judas was dead, and there
were eleven Apostles left. They went to
a mountain in
No matter who tells the
story, the women were the first to see the risen Christ.
Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spake
unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in
heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I
have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world. Amen.
When they met with Jesus, He
told them “All power (Gr. exousia-ἐξουσία/authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go and teach all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and the Son,
and the Holy Ghost. Teach them to observe all those things I have commanded
you. And, I shall be with you always,
even to the end of the age. Amen!”
That is a command to all
Christians. The great commission is the great turning point in all human
history! Until that moment the message was focused on Jews alone! But now, we
are to go into the entire world teaching and preaching what He has commanded. We are not to invent a new teaching! “As you
go” preach and teach Christ Jesus and Him risen! He is our message! The Trinity is a focus in
the Greek text of verse 19 as we read “The
Father and The Son and The Holy Ghost.” That use of the
Greek definite article identifies each as “God!”
“Lo, I am with you
always!” That is a statement of absolute
security in Christ!
Some Church historians
believe that Matthew was written originally in Hebrew and not in Greek. Matthew was a Jew, as were all the original
Apostles. That early translation from
Hebrew to Greek seems to be apparent in the writings of Eusebius the Bishop of
Caesarea, the father of Church history. Seventeen times in his writings, he
refers to verse 19 and quotes it as, "Go disciple ye all the nations in my
name" The traditional translation is given only five times within the
writings of Eusebius.
It is at the name of Jesus, Yahsua, that every knee shall bow and every tong shall
confess. It is in Him that we have the
assurance of salvation, reconciliation to the Father.
Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (KJV)
Baptizing (Gr. baptizontes-baptizonteV) speaks of total immersion! It does not refer to a slight sprinkling.
Unfortunately, many Christians have be sprinkled (Greek root word: rantizo-rantizo), and due to denominational misunderstanding have
been deprived of baptism.
However, true baptism is
immersion in Christ Jesus! Baptism in water is not the end of the baptisms
taught in the Bible.
Heb 6:1-2
1 Therefore leaving the
principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again
the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of
eternal judgment.
Among the baptisms is a
baptism in the Holy Spirit and into Christ Jesus Himself.
Acts 19:1-7
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at
Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and
finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And
they said unto him, We have not so much as heard
whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye
baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying
unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him,
that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and
they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.
Romans 6:3-4
3
Know ye not, that so many of us as
were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore
we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up
from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life.
These men were baptized in
the name of Jesus are spoken of by Eusebius.
That was the water baptism. However, still they had not been baptized
(immersed) in the Holy Ghost. It was not
until Paul laid hands on them that the Holy Ghost came upon them and in
response to His coming on them, they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
The regenerational baptism
has no power. It is only in the
believer’s baptism into Christ that we find true baptism!
Go in His peace!
Amen!