Matthew 28:17 kjv
And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
Matthew 28:17 nkjv
When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
Matthew 28:17 niv
When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
Matthew 28:17 esv
And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.
Matthew 28:17 nlt
When they saw him, they worshiped him ? but some of them doubted!
Matthew 28 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Worship of Jesus / Acknowledging His Deity: | ||
| Mat 2:2 | "...for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." | Magi worship newborn King Jesus. |
| Mat 14:33 | "Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God." | Disciples worship Jesus after He walks on water. |
| Luk 24:52 | "And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:" | Disciples worship Jesus after His ascension. |
| Heb 1:6 | "And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him." | Angels commanded to worship Christ. |
| Phi 2:10-11 | "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord..." | Universal homage and confession of Christ's Lordship. |
| Doubting / Hesitation / Unbelief: | ||
| Mar 16:14 | "Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them..." | Jesus rebukes disciples for their initial unbelief. |
| Joh 20:25 | "...Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails...I will not believe." | Thomas famously declares his doubt. |
| Joh 20:27 | "Then saith he to Thomas...be not faithless, but believing." | Jesus directly addresses Thomas's doubt. |
| Luk 24:11 | "And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not." | Disciples disbelieve the women's resurrection report. |
| Mat 14:31 | "And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" | Peter's momentary doubt while walking on water. |
| Jam 1:6-8 | "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering... A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." | Warning against spiritual wavering/double-mindedness. |
| 1 Tim 2:8 | "...lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting." | Guidance against doubting in prayer. |
| Proof of Resurrection: | ||
| Luk 24:39-43 | "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself... And he took it, and did eat before them." | Jesus proves His physical resurrection. |
| Act 1:3 | "To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days..." | Jesus showed Himself alive with many proofs. |
| 1 Cor 15:3-8 | "...that he rose again the third day... And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once..." | Paul lists multiple witnesses to the resurrection. |
| The Galilean Meeting / Divine Commissioning: | ||
| Mat 28:7 | "And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him..." | Angel instructs women to tell disciples to meet in Galilee. |
| Mat 28:10 | "Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me." | Jesus reiterates command for Galilee meeting. |
| Mat 28:18-20 | "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations..." | The Great Commission given after this meeting. |
| Act 1:8 | "But ye shall receive power... and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part..." | Empowerment for mission after Jesus' ascension. |
| God's Grace and Patience: | ||
| Rom 15:7 | "Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God." | Christ receives imperfect individuals. |
| 2 Tim 2:13 | "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself." | God remains faithful even when we lack faith. |
Matthew 28 verses
Matthew 28 17 Meaning
Matthew 28:17 describes the mixed reactions of the disciples upon their final physical encounter with the resurrected Jesus on a Galilean mountain. While the majority of them, seeing Him, immediately demonstrated their adoration and homage by worshiping Him, a discernible group among them still grappled with an understandable, though temporary, sense of hesitation or uncertainty regarding the reality of His appearance. This brief verse encapsulates the human dimension of coming to terms with a divine miracle and authenticates the historical reliability of the resurrection narrative by candidly portraying a diversity of immediate responses among the eyewitnesses.
Matthew 28 17 Context
Matthew 28 recounts the climactic events following Jesus' resurrection. After the women discover the empty tomb and receive instructions from an angel (and later, from Jesus Himself) to tell the disciples to go to Galilee, this meeting on a designated mountain takes place. Verse 17 describes the disciples' first response to seeing the resurrected Jesus, setting the stage immediately for the solemn and powerful issuance of the Great Commission in verses 18-20. The inclusion of "some doubted" provides crucial insight into the genuine, even initially struggled, acceptance of this astounding divine reality, prior to their full commission for global evangelism.
Matthew 28 17 Word analysis
"And when they saw Him" (καὶ ἰδόντες αὐτὸν, kai idontes auton): This phrase indicates a direct, visual encounter with the physical body of the resurrected Jesus by "the eleven disciples" mentioned in the preceding verse (Mat 28:16). The emphasis is on the tangible sight, distinguishing it from a spiritual vision. This physical encounter was essential for the disciples to confirm the reality of the resurrection.
"they worshiped Him" (προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ, prosekynēsan autō): Derived from the Greek verb proskuneō (προσκυνέω), this action denotes prostration, falling down in reverence, and performing homage. In this context, especially toward Jesus, it signifies a recognition of His divine authority and sovereignty. It's an act of deep adoration and spiritual submission, acknowledging Him as God or fully God's unique Son, the Risen Lord. This worship confirms their understanding of His identity.
"but some doubted" (οἱ δὲ ἐδίστασαν, hoi de edistasan): The Greek word distazō (διστάζω) implies "to waver," "to hesitate," or "to be of two minds," rather than absolute disbelief or outright denial. It's the same word used in Mat 14:31 when Peter doubted while walking on water. This highlights an understandable human struggle to grasp such an extraordinary reality. This honest admission of initial doubt among some witnesses reinforces the historical veracity and lack of artificiality in the account. The presence of doubt, yet subsequent belief and commission, enhances the credibility of the entire narrative.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him": This combination highlights that for many, seeing the risen Christ led directly to profound adoration and worship. The sight of His glorified presence immediately affirmed His claims and His identity, moving them to an act reserved for divinity, showcasing a deeply transformative and confirming experience.
- "but some doubted": This parenthetical phrase serves as a powerful validation of the testimony. It indicates that the faith of the disciples was not blind or instant for all but sometimes emerged through an initial period of questioning or wavering. Jesus' patient approach, commissioning even those with reservations, underscores His grace and the genuine, empirical basis of their ultimate conviction in the resurrection. This natural, human reaction of hesitation contrasts with the awe of worship, presenting a full picture of diverse human responses to divine truth.
Matthew 28 17 Bonus section
- The Galilean Mountain: The specific mountain is unnamed, which is typical for Matthew's general descriptions. However, mountains in biblical narrative frequently symbolize places of significant divine encounter, revelation, and commissioning (e.g., Mount Sinai for the Law, the Mount of Transfiguration, the Mount of Olives for the ascension). This choice of setting emphasizes the gravitas and divine origin of the encounter and the subsequent Great Commission.
- Credibility Enhancement: The detail "but some doubted" acts as a counter-polemic. It directly addresses potential criticisms from skeptics who might accuse the disciples of fabricating the resurrection story for personal gain or glory. The admission of doubt among the core witnesses solidifies the authenticity of their collective testimony. It suggests that their belief was not credulous or easily manufactured but emerged from an astonishing and even challenging reality.
- Distinguishing Doubt: The Greek term distazō implies inner wavering or uncertainty, a "two-mindedness." This differs from apistia (ἀπιστία), which signifies active unbelief, a resolute refusal to believe. While unbelief is rebuked in Scripture, distazō describes a common human struggle that can precede faith, demonstrating Jesus' patience with the internal processes of His followers.
Matthew 28 17 Commentary
Matthew 28:17 offers a concise yet profoundly significant glimpse into the aftermath of Jesus' resurrection. The juxtaposition of worship and doubt among the disciples reveals a spectrum of human response to an unprecedented divine act. That "some doubted" provides a robust, self-authenticating element to the narrative; a fabricated account would likely present a uniformly fervent belief. This honest inclusion of skepticism underscores the authenticity of their experience and makes their subsequent, unwavering witness even more credible.
The disciples, appointed to spread the most significant news in human history, were themselves not instantaneously convinced with uniform clarity. This reflects God's patience and willingness to work through imperfect, questioning individuals. Jesus does not disqualify them for their hesitation; rather, He proceeds to give them the most expansive commission (the Great Commission) immediately afterward. This suggests that genuine doubt, born of profound human struggle to comprehend the miraculous, is not an unforgivable sin but a phase through which faith can ultimately be forged and deepened. It provides comfort and understanding for all who, even in their spiritual journey, wrestle with uncertainty, assuring them that honest questioning does not necessarily negate God's call or presence.