The Man of St Matthew

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

THE RESURRECTION

Chapter 28: Overview

The setting from 27,57-28,15 is the tomb.

The two sets of characters who are present both for the burial and then at the empty tomb are important because they act as a foil to each other. It is here that we find the continuity between chapters 27 and 28.

On the one hand, we have Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, 27,61 and 28,1. They are faithful disciples.
While on the other, we have the guards, established in 27,62-66 and making their excuses to the priests in 28,11-15.

We note as well the similarity between the cosmic upheavals of 28,2-3 for the resurrection with those which took place at the death of Jesus, 27,51-54.

What Matthew has done is to frame the resurrection account (28,1-10) in between the two guard episodes (27,62-66 and 28,11-15). The change of chapter and change of time makes this less obvious. We can though see how the evangelist has placed the true story of the resurrection between a determined effort by the Jewish authorities to make sure, as one commentator put it, that what has been entombed stays entombed. If necessary this would be done by bribery and by telling lies (28,12-13). This accords with the behaviour of the Jewish leaders throughout the passion story of this Gospel.

For this chapter, we read first 28,1-15, telling of the empty tomb and its consequences. This we can see forms the conclusion of the passion story.

That leaves the last five verses (28,16-20) of the Gospel as our second section. This is a special scene of its own as Jesus gives authority to the disciples to continue his mission. These verses form the conclusion to the whole Gospel, they are its colophon.

Having now seen the two parts of this chapter, let us now return to the main page.