Matthew 28:11 ¶ 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.
In verse 27:65 Pilate suggests they have a watch so make the tomb
as sure as they can. Verse 11 suggests that it was the Temple Watch as they
report to the Chief Priests and yet the bribe is said to be paid to the
soldiers so again we have the question of whether or not it was the Temple Guards
alone or a combination of the the Guards and Roman soldiers or just Roman
soldiers. However, Roman soldiers asleep at their guard duty would have
required a punishment of execution. Whatever the case, the Jews believed Jesus’
body had been taken by His followers based on this lie.
Matthew 28:16 ¶ 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 alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Verse 17 shows that not every one of the eleven were convinced
that He had risen from the dead. Some doubted. But here was the evidence
right in front of them. Jesus has risen and returned to interact with His
disciples.
For verse 18 I want to point out two different statements that
Jesus made.
Matthew 11:27 All things
are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father;
neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son
will reveal him.
Matthew 16:28 Verily I say
unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till
they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
It is through the risen Jesus that man can approach God.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto
him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but
by me.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there
salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among
men, whereby we must be saved.
The Lord Jesus Christ, the risen Saviour of mankind, is how God
achieves His ministry of reconciling mankind, whosever will, to Himself. Christ
is the bridge between Heaven and Earth, Jacob’s ladder, if you will.
We now await His return to call us, His church, out and to rule
over the kingdoms of the earth.
1Corinthians 15:52 In a
moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Revelation 11:15 And the
seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The
kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ;
and he shall reign for ever and ever.
But in the meantime we are given a task, an assignment. It is
popularly called The Great Commission. Some hyperliteralists insist that only
the chosen Apostles were called to teach all nations and this would not even
include Paul, so it is a nonsensical belief that we are not all called to this
task.
Christ references the three parts of God, popularly called the
Trinity, a word not found in the Bible. There
are other references to the three parts of God. Examples within a single verse
are;
2Corinthians 13:14 The
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the
Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
1John 5:7 For there are
three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and
these three are one.
His disciples were commanded to teach all nations teaching
them to observe all things that Christ had commanded. For you Greekophiles we have teach and
teaching from two different words in Greek so as much as many evangelicals get
twisted in knots around “make disciples of” let me just say that the command to
teach strongly suggests the making of a disciple. I don’t understand how you
can be taught truthfully and fully the doctrines set forth in the Bible and not
be wholly convinced of their truth and follow Jesus as a result.
While we are doing this Christ will always be with us. As I write
commentaries on the Bible that are seen around the world I am counting on this
promise. I can’t do it without His consent or help even as I tell people that
it doesn’t matter whether they think I’m right or wrong in my interpretations
but that they just go and do likewise.
Hebrews 13:5b …for he hath
said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
So the Gospel According to Matthew ends.
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