What does Matthew 28:10 reveal about Jesus' authority after His resurrection? Text and Translation Matthew 28:10 : “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see Me.’” The Greek verbs are imperatives: μὴ φοβεῖσθε (“stop fearing”) and ὑπάγετε ἀπαγγείλατε (“go, report”). Both imperatives are present-tense commands that carry continuing force, signalling settled authority. Literary Context Verses 5-9 record the angel’s announcement of resurrection and the women’s first encounter with the risen Lord. Verse 10 follows immediately with Jesus’ own command. The narrative then culminates in vv. 18-20, where He openly states, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” Verse 10 functions as the first practical demonstration of that authority: He orders their fears, their movements, and their message. Authority over Fear “Do not be afraid.” Only God in Scripture has the prerogative to banish fear (Isaiah 41:10; John 14:1). By issuing the same prohibition, the risen Jesus assumes divine authority. His victory over death renders every human terror subordinate to His word (Hebrews 2:14-15). Authority to Define Family “Tell My brothers …” Before the cross, the Twelve are “disciples.” After resurrection, Jesus elevates them to “brothers,” announcing a new covenant family created by His atoning work (John 20:17; Romans 8:29). He therefore claims authority to constitute and describe the redeemed community. Authority to Direct Geographic Mission “… to go to Galilee; there they will see Me.” Galilee is where His public ministry began (Matthew 4:12-17). By summoning the disciples back there, He asserts control over their itinerary and sets the stage for the Great Commission on a mountainside He selects (v. 16). Archaeological work at Mount Arbel and surrounding ridges confirms natural amphitheaters where large groups could gather, matching the setting. Foreshadowing Universal Dominion The concise command precedes the explicit declaration of universal lordship in v. 18. Ancient rhetoricians called this praemunitio—a preparatory hint of what will soon be stated overtly. Jesus’ simple directives anticipate the cosmic scope of His coming announcement. Harmonization with Other Resurrection Texts John 20:19-23, Luke 24:36-49, and 1 Corinthians 15:6-7 describe multiple post-resurrection appearances. Matthew’s reference to a Galilean gathering aligns with the “more than five hundred brothers at once” (1 Corinthians 15:6), many of whom were Galileans. Independent attestation strengthens historicity and showcases a risen Lord who commands disciples in diverse locations, underscoring omnipresent authority. Theological Echoes in the Epistles Hebrews 2:11—“Both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one. For this reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers.” Paul and the anonymous author of Hebrews build their ecclesiology on Jesus’ self-designation in v. 10. Authority is inseparable from Christ’s priestly, kingly role (Revelation 1:5-6). Early Church Reception Ignatius of Antioch (AD 110, Letter to the Smyrnaeans 1-3) cites the Galilean command as proof that the risen Christ was bodily present, not a phantom—“He said to them, ‘Touch Me, feel Me, see that I am not a bodiless spirit.’” The apostolic fathers link obedience to this command with recognition of Jesus’ sovereign lordship. Practical Ramifications Because the risen Christ still issues the same twin commands—“Do not fear” and “Go tell”—every believer’s mission and emotional security rest on His unchallenged authority. Churches pattern their ministry on this precedent: worship flows from fearless hearts; evangelism flows from received orders. Summary Matthew 28:10 reveals that immediately upon rising, Jesus exercises divine prerogatives: quelling fear, redefining disciples as family, ordering their steps, and guaranteeing His self-revelation. These actions manifest the comprehensive authority He explicitly proclaims in v. 18, confirming that the resurrection is not merely an event to admire but the inauguration of the reign of the risen Lord to whom all allegiance is due. |
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