Matthew 28 | Daily Bible Reading & Reflection

Matthew 27 Devotional: Witness the trial, crucifixion, and burial of Jesus Christ. Reflect on the "Great Exchange" where the sinless Son of God died in the place of sinners to open the way to the Father.

Matthew 28 Devotional: Celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the defeat of death. Explore the empty tomb, the appearance of the risen Lord, and the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations.

Matthew Chapter 28 Introduction:

The Resurrection Victory and the Universal Mandate

Matthew 28 begins with a violent earthquake and a heavenly messenger rolling back the stone—not to let Jesus out, but to let the witnesses in. The angel’s message is the bedrock of our faith: "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said." As your Statement of Faith affirms, we believe Jesus rose bodily from the dead on the third day. The chapter concludes on a mountain in Galilee, where the risen Christ claims all authority in heaven and on earth and issues the Great Commission to His followers.

What can we learn from this today? In this chapter, we see the Sovereignty of God over death itself. The religious leaders tried to suppress the truth with bribes and lies, but the Resurrection cannot be hidden. This chapter also defines the Mission of the Church. We are not just called to believe in the Resurrection privately; we are commanded to "Go and make disciples of all nations." This mission is rooted in the authority of Christ and sustained by His promise: "I am with you always." As we follow this command, we do so by the power of the Holy Spirit, who empowers believers for service and godly living. The Gospel ends not with a "The End," but with a "Go," as the Church begins its work of proclaiming salvation to the ends of the earth.

Bible Verse

Jesus Has Risen

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

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Guards’ Report

11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The Great Commission

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Prayer

The women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy. As we enter into prayer, let us carry that same "holy joy" into the presence of our living Savior.

Prayer Theme: "All Authority in Heaven and on Earth"

Dear Heavenly Father, We praise You today for the glorious Resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ! We believe that death could not hold Him and that He is truly the King of Kings. Thank You for the empty tomb, which stands as the eternal proof that our sins are forgiven and our justification is secure through faith in Him alone.

Lord, I ask that the reality of the Resurrection would transform my perspective today. Help me to live as a "Resurrection person," full of hope and free from the fear of death. Grant me the courage to participate in the Great Commission in my own sphere of influence. Use my life to point others toward the truth of the Gospel. I thank You for the promise that You are with me always, even to the very end of the age. May I feel Your strengthening presence as I seek to obey Your commands and share Your love with a world that so desperately needs it.

We pray for the universal Church, the body of Christ. Empower us to be faithful to the mission of making disciples, baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We lift up missionaries and believers in every nation, especially those in difficult places; remind them today of Your supreme authority and Your constant presence. We pray for those who have been deceived by false reports or worldly doubts; may the light of the risen Christ break through their darkness and bring them to saving faith. Amen.

Daily Application Question

Jesus promised, "I am with you always." In what specific challenge or situation today do you need to consciously lean into the reality of Christ’s presence and authority?

Frequently Asked Questions about Matthew 28

Why did the angel roll away the stone? The stone was moved not so that Jesus could exit (He had already risen in His glorified body), but so that the women and disciples could see that the tomb was empty and believe.
What is the "Great Commission"? It is the authoritative command of Jesus to His Church to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey everything He commanded. it is the primary mission of every believer.
Why does Matthew mention the bribe given to the soldiers? It serves as historical evidence of the lengths to which the religious leaders went to hide the truth of the Resurrection, inadvertently proving that the tomb was indeed empty.

Thank you for journeying through the Gospel of Matthew with us! We have seen the King’s lineage, His teaching, His sacrifice, and His victory. May you go out today in the power of the risen Lord. We look forward to seeing you as we begin our next study in the Gospel of Mark.

Navigate the Journey

Previous: ← Matthew Chapter 27 | Next: Gospel of Mark Chapter 1 →

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