Matthew 28
COMMENTARY:
: 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come see the place where the Lord lay.(1453 “risen” [egeiro] means to arouse, to awake, cause to stand up, raise to life, or rouse.)
DEVOTION: This is the best statement a believer can find in the New Testament. Jesus Christ is not in the grave. HE is not dead. HE is alive.
The angel at the tomb was talking to the women who have come to anoint the body of Jesus. They thought HE was still dead. They had heard HIM say that HE was going to rise from the dead on the third day but they didn’t seem to believe HIS statement.
Well they were wrong. HE did come alive again. HE would appear to the disciples later that day. HE appeared to Mary that same day. HE made many resurrection appearances to help those who were followers understand that they were serving a Savior that was alive.
Many still are not followers of the LORD because that can’t seem to get their head around the fact that Jesus was killed and that HE was alive after three days. Some scholars are still going around our nation saying that HE didn’t really say things or do things that the Bible says HE did. They want to cast doubt in the belief of a Savior that is alive. They are wrong.
We need to understand the basics of our faith if we are to share it with others. The basic teachings of the Gospels are that Jesus was born, lived on this earth for about thirty three years, died on the cross, and rose from the grave on the third day. HE is now in heaven making intercession for those who are believers. We are to pray to the Father through the Son under the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus sent a comforter to us in the person of the Holy Spirit. HE will guide us in all truth regarding Jesus Christ and our ministry.
HE HAS RISEN!!! HE HAS RISEN INDEED.
CHALLENGE: Jesus is not in the tomb. HE is alive and we need to spread the truth of HIS resurrection first in our thinking and then to others. IF we don’t believe in a risen Savior we can’t teach others this truth.
: 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. (1321 “taught” [didasko] means instruct, to be or become informed of instructions, teach, to communicate skills, instill doctrine inot one, or to explain or expound a thing.)
DEVOTION: Would you lie if someone gave you enough money? Here we see the religious leaders giving the soldiers money to lie. They didn’t want the soldiers to tell the real story. They knew that if the real story were told many people would believe in Jesus.
So what did they do to keep their power in the Roman government? They had the soldiers lie, so that, they kept their status with the political world they were living in. They were protecting themselves rather than teaching the truth. Truth wasn’t important to them.
Today we have many religious people lying to those they influence because it there is money in it. There are television and radio programs that promise blessings for donations. We have individuals going around the world saying that they will heal everyone who has enough faith to be healing when in reality they are just looking for money.
Does God heal people today? Yes. James tells us that we are to call the elders of the church together and anoint those who ask for it. It is to be a church elder activity and not a side show. God is working through the local church to reach and encourage believers.
Check out each sermon you hear with what the Word of God states. Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom regarding your support of any ministry.
CHALLENGE: Support your local church first and foremost. Make sure it is a Biblical church. If not find one locally that is Biblical.
: 17 And when they saw him, they worshiped him: but some doubted. (4352 “worshipped” [proskuneo] means to kiss the hand towards one, in token of respect, to prostrate by kneeling in to do homage to someone or to fall on the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence.)
DEVOTION: In this gospel of Mathew we find that eight times that people came to Jesus and worshipped HIM. This verse is taking place after HIS resurrection from the dead. The women fell down and paid HIM homage when they saw HIM on their way to tell the disciples about the resurrection.
While the women were going to the disciples the guards went to the religious leaders who paid them to lie. They reported that they were sleeping and the disciples came and stole the body of Jesus. This is what the Jews teach today. They are still waiting for their Messiah.
After the women give the report of the resurrection of Jesus to the disciples they head out to meet HIM on the mountain. Once they see HIM they fall down and showing profound reverence for HIM. Jesus give them the Great Commission to go and witness to the world of HIS resurrection.
The last part of the verse gives us an example of what is happening today. Some of the disciples who followed Jesus and saw HIM on the mountain STILL doubted.
Can we imagine seeing all that they saw and still doubting who Jesus is. It seems unreal but that happened according to Matthew. It is so sad. Some people will not follow Jesus even after seeing all HIS miracles and HIS resurrection from the dead.
No wonder we have people today who doubt the truth of the Word of God. Jesus tells Thomas in another Gospel that those who did not see HIM and yet believed were going to be blessed.
Doubt in the place of great testimony is still happening today. We can see someone follow Jesus and have dramatic changes happen in their lives and some will still doubt the truth of the resurrection.
Are we really worshipping Christ and the power of HIS resurrection in our lives in front of others? When we go to church are we acting like part of the bride of Christ waiting for the bridegroom?
We have all gone to a wedding where we have watched the eyes of the groom as the bride walks down the aisle. There is a twinkle in their eyes toward each other. Is this true when we give our love to Christ each day? Is there a twinkle in our eyes when we tell others the good news of the Gospel? Let’s not be part of the crowd that come doubting and calling themselves HIS disciples.
CHALLENGE: Show the twinkle in your eye when you tell others about Jesus. We are not to be doubting!!
: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen. (5083 “observe” [tereo] means keep, reserve, watch, preserve, hold fast, to attend to carefully, to guard, obey, pay attention to, to watch over, or to conform one’s action or practice to.)
DEVOTION: One of the major omissions in many of our Bible believing churches is the education of new believers.
We seem to be excited about individuals placing their faith in Jesus Christ by coming forward in church, making a commitment in Sunday School or at special meetings. Once they have made that commitment we instruct them in order to be baptized but then once they are baptized and in the church membership we assume that they will grow on their own by personal study and listening to the Sunday messages in Sunday School and church.
Sad to say many believers remain baby Christians for most of their life. They don’t understand their responsibility to reach others, give to the work of the LORD, or use their gifts in the local church. Many just come to church and sit in the pew for an hour and think they have fulfilled their commitment to the LORD.
Jesus told the disciples to teach new believers to obey all the commands HE had given them. That takes a lot of time. Follow up classes should go through the basics of the twelve doctrines, use of Spiritual gifts in the local church, outreach into the community, Bible memorization and a personal walk with the LORD. All these are basic to growth in the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Spiritual foundation is necessary if a Christian is going to grow.
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