Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

Matthew 28

• About the Headline: “See! Elevate In An Empty Tomb!”

Sarah’s Womb was an Empty Tomb and the Messiah Came Out of It

He Is Risen

Matthew 28:¹ Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

The first day of the week after Passover is the Jewish Feast of “First Fruits”. Jesus is the “First Fruits of those who are risen from the dead.

• John 20:¹ – The Empty Tomb – Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
• John 20:¹¹ But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. ¹² And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
• Luke 24:¹ – He Is Risen – Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.
• Mark 16:² Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
• Mark 16:² Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.
• Mark 16:³ And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?”

Matthew 28:² And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.

• 30–33 AD – An earthquake, identified in the geological strata of the Dead Sea and by Roman sources, reported by the Gospels to have taken place during the crucifixion of Jesus.
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_earthquakes_in_the_Levant

Matthew 28:³ His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

Matthew 28:⁴ And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

Matthew 28:⁵ But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

Matthew 28:⁶ He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

• Why would the angel want to show where Jesus was laid?

1. To prove that He was not there.
2. To document the similarities between the empty tomb and the Ark of the Covenant.

• Mark 16:⁵ And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
• Luke 24:²³ When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. ²⁴ And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”

Matthew 28:⁷ And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

• John 20:¹⁸ Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.
• John 20:² Then she (Mary Magdalene) ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple (John), whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
• John 20:³ Peter therefore went out, and (John) the other disciple, and were going to the tomb.
• John 20:⁴ So they both ran together, and the other disciple (John) outran Peter and came to the tomb first.
• John 20:⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went (directly) into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there,
• John 20:⁸ Then the other disciple (John), who came to the tomb first, went in also (after Peter); and he saw and believed. (See: Topic: The Second Swallows Up the First)

Matthew 28:⁸ So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

• Mark 16:⁸ So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
• (After the women left: certain others arrived) Luke 24:² But they (certain others) found the stone rolled away from the tomb.
• Luke 24:⁹ Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
• Luke 24:¹² But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.
• John 10:¹⁰ Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

The Women Worship the Risen Lord

• John 20:11 But Mary (after the disciples left) stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.¹² And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
• John 20:¹⁴ …she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.
• John 20:¹⁷ Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”

Matthew 28:⁹ And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.

Matthew 28:¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

The Soldiers Are Bribed

Matthew 28:¹¹ Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened.

Matthew 28:¹² When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they (the chief priests) gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,

Matthew 28:¹³ saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’

Matthew 28:¹⁴ And if this comes to the governor’s ears (Pilate’s ears), we will appease him and make you secure.”

• Note: To make them secure means to save their lives. Soldiers who were given the duty to guard, and failed, were killed.

Matthew 28:¹⁵ So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.

• Note: There are only eleven disciples. Judas is dead.

Matthew 28:¹⁷ When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

Matthew 28:¹⁸ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Matthew 28:¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

• The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is the “Godhead”. This is why the angels say “Holy, Holy, Holy”. Once for the Father, once for the Son, and once for the Holy Spirit.
• Revelation 4:8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
• Isaiah 6:3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”

• Note: The meaning of “holy” is to be separated from sin.
• What does it mean to be baptized? This baptism is not the baptism of repentance of John the baptizer; This is a baptism of death. It is dying to one’s own will and submitting to God’s will. The person who rises out of the water illustrates his resurrection to new life. He is indwelt and sealed with the Holy Spirit. He is baptized with the Spirit.

• Reference verses:
  • Matthew 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.”
  • Mark 1:8 I  (John the baptizer) indeed baptized you with water, but He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
  • Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be “born again” (baptism of death, and born to a new spirit filled life)
    John 3:1 [The New Birth] There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” …

Matthew 28:²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

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