What Does Matthew 28:1-6 Mean?
Matthew 28:1-6 describes the moment early on Sunday morning when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to Jesus’ tomb and found it empty. An angel of the Lord appeared, rolled back the stone with great power, and announced that Jesus had risen from the dead, just as He promised. The scene is filled with awe and wonder - death is defeated, and hope is born anew. This is the turning point of history: Jesus is alive!
Matthew 28:1-6
Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.
Key Facts
Book
Author
Matthew
Genre
Gospel
Date
Estimated between AD 80 - 90, event occurred circa AD 30 - 33
Key People
- Mary Magdalene
- The other Mary
- Angel of the Lord
- Jesus Christ
Key Themes
- The resurrection of Jesus Christ
- Divine vindication of Jesus as Lord
- Fulfillment of prophecy
- Victory over death
- The dawn of new creation
Key Takeaways
- Jesus rose as He promised - death could not hold Him.
- The empty tomb proves God’s power and faithfulness to His word.
- Resurrection brings hope: new life begins where death once reigned.
The New Day of Resurrection
The timing of the women’s visit - 'after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week' - isn’t just a detail; it marks the very moment when God’s new work in history began.
In Jewish tradition, the Sabbath ends at sundown on Saturday, so the women came early Sunday morning, just as the new day started, likely bringing spices to care for Jesus’ body as a final act of love. They weren’t expecting resurrection - they were coming to mourn, not celebrate. But God was already moving: the Sabbath rest was over, and the first day of the week became the dawn of a new creation.
This moment echoes Genesis 1: 'In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth,' but now, through Jesus rising, God is making all things new - death is undone, and life wins.
The Earthquake and the Empty Tomb: Heaven’s Vindication of Jesus
The dramatic signs surrounding the resurrection - earthquake, angelic appearance, and paralyzed guards - signal not just a miraculous event, but the breaking in of God’s final victory.
This scene overflows with apocalyptic imagery: the earth shakes as it did at Sinai when God revealed His law, and now again at the dawn of a new covenant. The angel of the Lord, radiant like lightning and clothed in snow-white light, resembles divine beings in visions like those in Daniel 7 or Ezekiel 1 - signs that heaven has invaded earth. The guards, hardened soldiers, tremble and collapse like dead men, not from battle but from holy presence, showing that no human power can stand before God’s action. These aren’t just special effects; they mark the moment when God publicly vindicated Jesus, declaring Him Lord over death and ruler of all.
In Jewish expectation, resurrection was something that would happen at the end of time for all people, not in the middle of history for one man. But here, Jesus rises as the firstfruits - Paul later calls Him that in 1 Corinthians 15:20 - meaning His resurrection is the beginning of God’s new world. The stone isn’t rolled away to let Jesus out - He could pass through locked doors later - but to let the women in, so they could see the tomb is empty and believe. That empty tomb is proof: God has acted, just as Jesus promised, and death no longer holds the final word.
He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.
The angel says, 'He has risen, as he said,' pointing back to Jesus’ own words in Matthew 16:21 and 17:23, where He foretold His death and resurrection. This isn’t surprise or improvisation - this is God fulfilling His plan. The resurrection is both a historical event and a divine declaration: Jesus is who He claimed to be.
The Heart of the Good News
The angel’s words - 'He is not here, for he has risen, as he said' - are the heart of the Christian message, a clear and joyful announcement that God has done what only He could do.
He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.
This resurrection is not just a miracle but the fulfillment of Jesus’ own promises, showing that God is faithful and death could not win. Because Jesus rose, we can trust Him with our lives and our eternity, knowing that His power is greater than any fear or failure we face.
Rooted in the Old Testament: Resurrection Foretold
This resurrection morning not only fulfills Jesus’ own promises but also brings to life what God had long ago foreshadowed in the Old Testament.
Psalm 16:10 says, 'You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption' - a cry of trust that King David could not fully experience in his own death, but which finds its true meaning in Jesus, the holy one whom God raised before decay could touch Him. The apostle Peter later points to this verse in Acts 2:31, declaring that David was prophesying about the Messiah’s resurrection, not his own.
Similarly, Hosea 6:2 says, 'After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him' - a plea for restoration that Israel never fully saw, but which God fulfills in Jesus rising on the third day, becoming the first to truly live again in a glorified body.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
Imagine carrying a heavy sense of guilt, like you’ve messed up too many times for God to really love you. That’s how many of us live - trying harder, feeling worse. But the empty tomb changes that. When the angel said, 'He has risen, as he said,' it wasn’t just about Jesus coming back to life - it was proof that His sacrifice was enough. Your sins are truly forgiven. The shame you carry? It was buried in that tomb. I remember a woman who came to faith after years of hiding her past. She read this passage and wept - because for the first time, she believed that death wasn’t the end, and neither was her failure. The resurrection means you’re not defined by your worst moments. You’re defined by His victory.
Personal Reflection
- When you face fear or guilt, do you live like Jesus is still in the tomb - or like He is truly risen and in control?
- What part of your life feels 'dead' right now? Can you bring that to the risen Jesus and ask Him to bring new life?
- The women were told to go and share the news - what’s one person in your life who needs to hear that Jesus is alive and still changing lives?
A Challenge For You
This week, when guilt or fear tries to whisper that you’re not good enough or that nothing will ever change, speak back with the truth: 'He is not here - He has risen!' Say it out loud. And take one step to share that hope - text a friend, tell a story, or simply live with more courage, knowing death has already been defeated.
A Prayer of Response
Jesus, I stand at the empty tomb in awe. You said You would rise, and You did. Thank You for proving that Your love is stronger than death and Your grace is greater than my sin. Help me live each day not in fear, but in the power of Your resurrection. Fill me with hope, courage, and the boldness to tell others that You are alive. Amen.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Matthew 27:57-61
Describes Jesus’ burial, setting the stage for the empty tomb discovery.
Matthew 28:16-20
Records the Great Commission, flowing from the resurrection announcement.
Connections Across Scripture
1 Corinthians 15:20
Paul proclaims Jesus as the firstfruits of resurrection, echoing Matthew’s victory theme.
Acts 2:24-32
Peter preaches the fulfilled promise of resurrection, linking back to David and Jesus.
John 20:1-18
John’s account of Mary at the empty tomb deepens the personal encounter with the risen Christ.