38: The King’s Resurrection and Great Commission (Mt 28:1-20)

I.       The Basics

A.     Setting

The gospel of Jesus Christ did not end with His death. Without His resurrection, our faith would be in vain and we would still be in our sin (1Cor 15:17). But after the Lord had suffered, died and been buried, He rose from the grave just as He had told the disciples. He had conquered death once for all and become our Savior. As the King of kings who had received authority in heaven and on earth, He commissioned His disciples to bring the gospel of salvation to the whole world until He comes again.

B.     Key Verse

            “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth’” (28:18).

II.    Observation

A.     Outline

(28:1-8)

(28:9-10)

(28:11-15)

(28:16-20)

B.     Key Words/Phrases

III. General Analysis

1. In which two places did the scenes in this chapter take place?

2a. Why is the Lord’s resurrection central to our faith?

2b. How should the Lord’s resurrection direct our daily lives?

IV.  Segment Analysis

A.     28:1-8

1. Why did the angel roll back the stone from the door?

B.     28:9-10

2. Why should the women “rejoice”? Why should you rejoice today?

C.     28:11-15

3. What do the reactions and decisions of the chief priests and elders tell us about them?

4a. What two things does the “large sum of money” indicate?

4b. Does Satan also bribe people today to keep them from telling others about the resurrection? If so, how does he do it?

5a. Why did the chief priests and elders promise the guards to appease the governor and make them secure?

5b. Why was the story of the stolen body unconvincing and illogical?

D.     28:16-20

6. What is a recurring word/theme in the Great Commission (see KJV)?

7. What is the authority that Jesus had received?

8. The word “therefore” shows a direct connection between Jesus’ authority and the commission. Explain this connection.

9a. How can we “make disciples”?

9b. What do the Lord’s words tell us about what characterizes a disciple?

10. How was the Lord’s promise to Abraham in Gen 12:3b fulfilled here?

11a. What is “the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”? Why did Jesus give such a long description when He could have just spelled out the name?

11b. “Baptizing them in the name of …” Is this command to be merely recited as a formula during baptism? What does it mean to be baptized in the Lord’s name?

12a. How does the great commission apply to you personally? How would you fulfill the great commission?

12b. Explain the Lord’s promise, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” and apply it to the commission.