Matthew 27:57 - 28:20

About the Text

(57) Where is Arimathea? Also called Ramatha by ancient historians, it was a Jewish city about 20 miles northwest of Jerusalem.

(60) What did ancient tombs look like?From archeological excavations, tombs of the wealthy were like large caves with interior space the size of a modern bedroom with a low ceiling. There were often shelves carved into the walls, or rock tables, were the bodies were laid. Such tombs often housed several bodies from the same family. The opening of the tomb was a little over half the size of our modern doors - you had to watch your head when entering. This opening was sealed with a rock which was shaped into a six or seven foot wheel. This rock could only be moved by several men, who rolled it to cover the mouth of the cave.

(65) How did a guard keep the tomb from being broken into? The guard was actually made up of several men (see 28:4, the number of men is in the plural). Being Roman soldiers, they faced the death penalty if they failed to secure the tomb. Also, they placed a seal on the tomb, meaning that they put a leather strap around the large rock that would break and signal the guards if anyone tried to move the rock.

(12) Why weren't the soldiers executed for their failure to guard the tomb? If they were, they would have still told the truth about Jesus' miraculous resurrection just prior to their execution. But the chief priests, intent on destroying the Christian movement, to this opportunity to spread another lie about Jesus, by offering the guards their lives back and big money if they would just spread the false rumor.

(17) How did the disciples worship Jesus? Simply by falling down on their knees and humbly bowing down before Him. The original Greek word behind the word " worship" in verses 9 and 17 is " proskeneuo," from which we derive the English word " prostrate." This word for " worship" literally means to bow down before a deity. We, too, must worship Christ in this way - by humbly bowing down before Jesus Christ after hearing or seeing what He so powerfully did for us. That is why listen to a preacher - to hear what God has done. And that is why we sing, pray, and kneel - to humbly respond to Him.

(19) What exactly is a " disciple" ? It is a student. We are make students for Jesus.

(19) What did Jesus mean by " all nations" ? Jesus commissions us, the church, to bring the story of Jesus Christ to everyone in the world, spreading the message in every language, to every tribe, to every city, to every culture, to every country. God has " lost sheep" in every nation that He wants to bring home.

Insights

• God uses the tactics of the wicked to boost His own plan for believers. (62-66)
• The power of God brings joy to the righteous but panic to the wicked. (1-17)
• The power of Jesus Christ evokes believers to spread the gospel. (18-20)
  

The Bottom Line

Go. That's it. Go. The most wonderful thing happened 2,000 years ago: Jesus Christ took the punishment that we fear but deserved, erased our sins, earned for us a new life of love, joy, hope, and peace with God, and miraculously rose from the dead to prove all that He claimed is true. Believe in Christ, and you will have this new life. And if you are a believer, spread this good news.

Key Memory Verse

" Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19)