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

28 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.

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 Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

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 Galilee, and there shall they see me.

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.

16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

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 always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

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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