Matthew 28 1

Matthew 28:1 kjv

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Matthew 28:1 nkjv

Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

Matthew 28:1 niv

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

Matthew 28:1 esv

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.

Matthew 28:1 nlt

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.

Matthew 28 verses

Matthew 28 1 Meaning

Matthew 28:1 begins by establishing the precise time of the resurrection discovery: after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn. It then identifies the first witnesses, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, and their purpose: to observe or visit the tomb. This verse sets the stage for the greatest event in salvation history – the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Matthew 28 1 Context

Matthew 28:1 follows the climax of Jesus' crucifixion and burial. Chapter 27 ends with Jesus' body being laid in Joseph of Arimathea's tomb, a great stone rolled against its entrance, and a guard placed by Pilate to secure it, at the insistence of the chief priests and Pharisees (Mt 27:57-66). This measure was taken to prevent the disciples from stealing the body and claiming a resurrection. Thus, the tomb was meticulously secured, setting up the incredible discovery by the women. The period "after the Sabbath" highlights the Jewish calendar system, where the Sabbath (Saturday) was a day of mandatory rest. The actions in Matthew 28:1 signify the immediate transition from the solemn period of the crucifixion and Sabbath rest to the dawn of a new, epoch-making day.

Matthew 28 1 Word Analysis

• Now after the Sabbath, (Ὀψὲ δὲ σαββάτων - Opse de sabbaton):

  • Ὀψὲ (Opse): "Late, at the end of, evening." Here, it signifies the end of the Sabbath day, not strictly in the evening, but in relation to the new day beginning. Jewish days ran from sunset to sunset.
  • σαββάτων (sabbaton): Genitive plural of sabbaton, meaning "Sabbaths" or "a Sabbath." The phrase opse de sabbaton points to the interval after the Sabbath had concluded at sunset on Saturday, moving into the first hours of the new week.

• as it began to dawn (τῇ ἐπιφωσκούσῃ - tē epiphōskousē):

  • "As it was dawning" or "drawing on." This Greek word describes the earliest breaking of light, the very first glimmers before sunrise. It indicates that the discovery was made at the threshold of a new day, just as light was beginning to conquer the darkness.

• toward the first day of the week, (εἰς μίαν σαββάτων - eis mian sabbaton):

  • Literally "into one of Sabbaths" or "to the first [day] of the Sabbaths." This is a common Hebrew idiom used in Greek for the first day following the Sabbath, which is Sunday. This marks the sacred shift from the Jewish Sabbath to the day of Christian worship.

• Mary Magdalene (Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνή - Maria hē Magdalēnē):

  • A prominent female follower of Jesus, noted for being delivered from seven demons (Lk 8:2) and her devotion, having been present at the cross (Mt 27:56, Jn 19:25) and burial (Mt 27:61). She is often considered the most prominent of the women present.

• and the other Mary (καὶ ἡ ἄλλη Μαρία - kai hē allē Maria):

  • Likely Mary the mother of James and Joses, also present at the crucifixion (Mt 27:56). The presence of two women serves as confirmation of the event, though ancient legal testimony prioritized male witnesses, God chooses faithful women to be the first heralds.

• came (ἦλθον - ēlthon):

  • A simple past tense verb, indicating their definite arrival at the tomb.

• to see the tomb (θεάσασθαι τὸν τάφον - theasasthai ton taphon):

  • θεάσασθαι (theasasthai): "To look at, behold, gaze upon, observe closely." It implies more than a casual glance; a purposeful and focused observation. Their original intention was likely to complete burial rites (e.g., anointing with spices, Mk 16:1, Lk 24:1) that had been interrupted by the onset of the Sabbath.
  • τὸν τάφον (ton taphon): "The tomb, sepulchre." Refers to the rock-hewn burial chamber.

• Word-Group Analysis:

  • "Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week": This phrase is highly significant. It precisely times the pivotal event, highlighting that it occurred at the very transition from the Sabbath (a day of rest and culmination of Old Covenant activity) to the first day of the new week – symbolizing new creation, new beginnings, and ultimately, the dawn of a new covenant inaugurated by the Resurrection. This specific timing also establishes the historical anchor of the resurrection.
  • "Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb": This grouping emphasizes the faithful devotion of these women who, despite grief and potential danger (the presence of guards was unknown to them), came early to the tomb. Their purpose, though based on earthly mourning (to anoint a body), was divinely repurposed to make them the first human witnesses of the empty tomb and, subsequently, the risen Lord (in later verses of chapter 28). This choice of female witnesses, particularly Mary Magdalene, who had been heavily afflicted, highlights God's preference for the humble and faithful to carry forth His greatest message.

Matthew 28 1 Bonus Section

The strategic timing of the resurrection's discovery "at dawn" parallels God's activity at creation when "the light began" on the first day (Gen 1:3-5). This parallel reinforces the theological understanding of Jesus' resurrection as the commencement of a new creation. Humanity, redeemed from the old covenant and sin, begins anew with Christ. The focus on women as the first witnesses is critical. In a time when male testimony held greater legal weight, the Gospels consistently present women as the primary observers of the resurrection, testifying to the veracity of the account, as this choice would not have been fabricated to gain immediate credibility. It highlights that God does not rely on human societal norms to declare His truth.

Matthew 28 1 Commentary

Matthew 28:1 is the gate through which the climax of Christian faith is revealed. The timing, "after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week," is profoundly significant. The Sabbath, a day of rest and completion, signifies the close of the Old Covenant period and the finished work of Jesus' suffering. The transition to "the first day of the week" and "dawn" heralds a new beginning, a new creation. This day, Sunday, would come to be recognized as the Lord's Day (Rev 1:10), commemorating the resurrection and marking the Christian worship day, distinct from the Jewish Sabbath.

The women, Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary," are presented as the first on the scene. Their presence underscores their faithful devotion and courage. In a culture where women's testimony might not be fully credited, their role as the first witnesses is a powerful divine irony, demonstrating God's pattern of choosing the weak or overlooked to shame the strong and to herald His truth. Their intention, "to see the tomb," was a somber one, likely to complete the burial rituals (like anointing Jesus' body with spices), unaware of the momentous event that had already transpired within. This verse thus functions as a quiet but poignant beginning, setting the stage for the dramatic revelation of the empty tomb and the subsequent angelic announcement that will transform sorrow into unparalleled joy.