Thirdmill Study Bible

Notes on Matthew 28:11-20

The Lie About Jesus' Body - Matthew 28:11-15

The Jewish leaders realized that reports about Jesus' resurrection would undermine their authority so they bribed the guards to say that Jesus' body had been stolen.

Matthew 28:16

The eleven. This refers to Jesus' original twelve disciples minus Judas Iscariot who had killed himself after betraying Jesus (Matt. 27:3-10).

Matthew 28:17

They worshiped him but some doubted. The disciples gave Jesus the honor, reverence, and praise that is due him. "Doubted" here means something more like "hesitated" because the disciples were afraid of judgment and rejection from Jesus because they had abandoned him when he was arrested (Matt. 26:56).

Matthew 28:18

All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. The theme of Jesus' authority has been emphasized throughout Matthew (Matt. 7:29; 8:5-13; 9:6; 9:33; 11:27; 12:8; 17:5). Now Jesus' authority was consummated and expanded because of his faithfulness to God even unto death, resulting in God raising him and exalting him above all other beings in the world (Phil. 2:5-11). See WCF 8.3; BC 26, 27; HC 50.

Matthew 28:19

Baptizing them in the name. Baptism is a sign of cleansing, identification, and union of a person with God. The Christian baptism is done in the Triune name of God that became the Christian orthodox expression — Father, Son, and Spirit.

Matthew 28:20

Teach them to obey. Matthew was written to record and communicate many of the things Jesus taught in order to help fulfill Jesus' command to make disciples of all nations through teaching them what Jesus' taught. See WLC 108; WSC 50; BC 19, 27, 29, 33; HC 47.

Matthew 28:20

I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Jesus was called Immanuel — "God with us" at the beginning (Matt. 1:23) and this truth is emphasized again. Jesus' disciples live awaiting the time when God is going to bring his kingdom from heaven to earth (Matt. 6:10; 24:1–25:46), which is called the end of the age.

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