--- title: "Matthew 28 | Intro to Christianity" description: "Matthew 28 is the Gospel chapter on Jesus' resurrection and the Great Commission, central for understanding Christian mission in Intro to Christianity." canonical: "https://fiveable.me/introduction-christianity/key-terms/matthew-28" type: "key-term" subject: "Intro to Christianity" unit: "Unit 3" --- # Matthew 28 | Intro to Christianity ## Definition Matthew 28 is the last chapter of Matthew's Gospel, where Jesus rises from the dead and sends his followers out in the Great Commission. In Intro to Christianity, it anchors resurrection faith and Christian mission. ## What It Is Matthew 28 is the closing chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, and in Intro to Christianity it is the text students use to trace how resurrection becomes mission. The chapter moves from the empty tomb to Jesus' final appearance with the disciples, so it ties together belief, witness, and authority in one scene. The chapter opens on the first day of the week, when Mary Magdalene and another Mary visit Jesus' tomb. They find the stone moved and receive a message from an angel that Jesus has risen. That detail matters because Matthew presents the resurrection as a public claim with witnesses, not just a private spiritual feeling. The women are told to report the news to the disciples and to meet Jesus in Galilee. In the narrative, Galilee is not random geography. It is the place where Jesus first gathered followers, so returning there signals a restart after the shock of the crucifixion. Jesus then appears to the eleven disciples. Matthew emphasizes his authority, saying that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. That line sets up the Great Commission, where Jesus commands them to make disciples of all nations, baptize them, and teach them to keep his commands. For Christian theology, Matthew 28 does two things at once. It shows that Jesus is not simply remembered as a teacher who died, but as the risen Lord who sends others. It also ends with a promise: Jesus will be with his followers always, even to the end of the age. That closing promise gives the chapter its tone, because the mission is not presented as something the disciples do alone. ## Why It Matters Matthew 28 matters because it is one of the main passages Christians use to connect resurrection belief with Christian practice. If you are reading the New Testament for Intro to Christianity, this chapter shows how the resurrection is not treated as the end of the story, but as the beginning of the church's mission. It also gives you a clean example of how a Gospel writer shapes theology through narrative. Matthew does not just say, "Jesus rose." He shows the empty tomb, the angelic message, the fear and joy of the women, the meeting in Galilee, and then the commissioning of the disciples. That sequence teaches you how Christian texts often move from event to meaning. The Great Commission is one of the most quoted parts of the chapter because it names three actions that still shape Christian life: make disciples, baptize, and teach. Those verbs show up in church practice, mission work, catechesis, and discussions about Christian identity. So when a class talks about how Christianity spread, Matthew 28 is often part of the explanation. The ending promise also matters in interpretation. It frames Christian mission as something done with divine support, not just human effort. That makes the chapter useful for discussing why resurrection is such a central doctrine in Christianity and why Easter is tied to both celebration and calling. ## Connections ### Resurrection Matthew 28 is one of the clearest resurrection accounts in the New Testament. It describes the empty tomb, the angel's announcement, and Jesus' appearance to his followers, all of which support the Christian claim that death was not the final word. ### [Great Commission](/introduction-christianity/key-terms/great-commission) The Great Commission is the mission statement that ends Matthew 28. It turns the resurrection story into an instruction for the disciples, telling them to make disciples, baptize, and teach, which is why the chapter is so often discussed in church history and Christian practice. ### [Empty Tomb](/introduction-christianity/key-terms/empty-tomb) The empty tomb is the first sign the women encounter in Matthew 28. It is not the full proof by itself, but it sets up the angel's message and Jesus' later appearance, so it works as a narrative clue that something has changed. ### [Mary Magdalene](/introduction-christianity/key-terms/mary-magdalene) Mary Magdalene is one of the first witnesses in Matthew 28, which gives her a major role in the resurrection account. Her presence matters because the story begins with women as the first to hear and report the news, showing how witness is built into the chapter. ## On the AP Exam A quiz question or passage ID task may ask you to identify Matthew 28 as the resurrection chapter and explain why it matters for Christian mission. You might need to connect the empty tomb to the angel's message, or explain how the Great Commission turns belief into action. If you get a short-answer prompt, mention both the resurrection and the command to make disciples, because Matthew links them tightly. In a discussion post or essay, this chapter often shows up when you are explaining why Easter is not just about Jesus rising, but about the start of the church's outreach and teaching. ## Matthew 28 vs Gospel of John Matthew 28 and the Gospel of John both include resurrection material, but they are not the same account. Matthew 28 ends with the Great Commission and emphasizes the angel at the tomb and the disciples in Galilee, while John includes different post-resurrection encounters and a different narrative focus. ## Key Takeaways - Matthew 28 is the final chapter of Matthew's Gospel, and it centers on Jesus' resurrection and the Great Commission. - The chapter begins with women discovering the empty tomb and hearing from an angel that Jesus has risen. - Jesus' appearance to the disciples in Galilee confirms his authority and sends them into mission. - The Great Commission links resurrection faith to baptism, teaching, and making disciples of all nations. - For Intro to Christianity, this chapter is a core text for understanding why Easter and Christian mission belong together. ## FAQs ### What is Matthew 28 in Intro to Christianity? Matthew 28 is the last chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, and it tells the resurrection story. It moves from the empty tomb to Jesus' appearance to the disciples and ends with the Great Commission. In Intro to Christianity, it is a major text for talking about resurrection and mission. ### Why are the women important in Matthew 28? The women, including Mary Magdalene, are the first witnesses to the empty tomb and the angel's message. That makes them the first people in Matthew's account to hear that Jesus has risen. Their role shows that the resurrection is announced through witnesses, not just through abstract theology. ### What is the Great Commission in Matthew 28? The Great Commission is Jesus' instruction to his disciples to make disciples of all nations, baptize them, and teach them to obey his commands. It is the chapter's closing command, so it connects the resurrection to the spread of Christianity. Many classes use it to explain why Christian mission is central to the New Testament. ### Is Matthew 28 the same as Easter Sunday? Matthew 28 is the biblical chapter that includes the resurrection discovery on the first day of the week, which Christians connect with Easter Sunday. Easter is the celebration, while Matthew 28 is one of the main texts behind it. So they are related, but one is a chapter and the other is a feast day. ## Related Study Guides - [3.3 The crucifixion and resurrection](/introduction-christianity/unit-3/crucifixion-resurrection/study-guide/osFins0O1xaaMDKz) ## About This Document Canonical Fiveable pages are available as Markdown at the same path plus `.md`. - [llms.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms.txt): index of Fiveable's sections and URL patterns - [llms-full.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms-full.txt): complete subject and unit listing - [MCP server](https://fiveable.me/mcp): call Fiveable as tools instead of fetching pages (`https://fiveable.me/api/mcp`) - [MCP server for AP teachers](https://fiveable.me/mcp/teachers): a teacher's classes, assignments and AP-rubric grading (`https://fiveable.me/api/mcp/teacher`) ## Structured Data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"LearningResource","@id":"https://fiveable.me/introduction-christianity/key-terms/matthew-28#resource","name":"Matthew 28 | Intro to Christianity","url":"https://fiveable.me/introduction-christianity/key-terms/matthew-28","learningResourceType":"Concept explainer","educationalLevel":"AP® / High School","about":{"@id":"https://fiveable.me/introduction-christianity/key-terms/matthew-28#term"},"audience":{"@type":"EducationalAudience","educationalRole":"student"},"dateModified":"2026-07-03T02:22:26.563Z","isPartOf":{"@type":"Collection","name":"Intro to Christianity Key Terms","url":"https://fiveable.me/introduction-christianity/key-terms"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Fiveable","url":"https://fiveable.me"}},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","@id":"https://fiveable.me/introduction-christianity/key-terms/matthew-28#term","name":"Matthew 28","description":"Matthew 28 is the last chapter of Matthew's Gospel, where Jesus rises from the dead and sends his followers out in the Great Commission. 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