Does Matthew 28:1 show that Christ rose from the dead on Saturday night?
Read Time: 2 min
Some believe that Christ’s resurrection took place late Saturday afternoon. They interpret the phrase “end of the sabbath” as drawing near its close and “as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week” as approaching sunset on Saturday night.
But this interpretation is not only inconsistent with the rest of Matthew’s account of the resurrection, it also does not harmonize with other Gospels. Mark writes, “Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen” (Mark 16:2).
Others believe the women were at the tomb late Sabbath afternoon and found it empty. But notice the next verse: “They said among themselves, ‘Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?’ ” (v. 3). If Jesus was gone, why would they return and ask for help to roll away the stone 12 hours later? The word “dawn,” as used in the Bible, refers to the early morning as day breaks. It doesn’t “dawn” toward sunset or darkness. The words “in the end of the Sabbath” actually belong to the preceding verse. The original biblical manuscripts didn’t contain punctuation to separate sentences. The writing was one solid line with no commas or periods or spaces!
The verse just before Matthew 28:1 also teaches us which day the women came to Jesus’ tomb. It describes how the Jewish leaders were concerned that Christ’s disciples might steal His body and “went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard” (Matthew 27:66).
But when did they approach Pilate to secure the tomb? “On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation” (v. 62). The tomb was sealed on Sabbath with guards “lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away” (v. 64). This confirms that the women could not have come to the tomb Sabbath afternoon, but rather on Sunday morning.
Key Bible Texts
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 KJV)