Matthew 28:17

17 The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.

Matthew 28:17 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 28:17

And when, they saw him, they worshipped him
With divine adoration, as the eternal Son of God; for so he was now declared to be by his resurrection from the dead, ( Romans 1:4 ) ,

but some doubted;
or "some of them", as the Syriac and Arabic versions render it; that is, some of the eleven disciples: not that they doubted now that Christ was risen from the dead; since he had appeared several times to them before this, and had given them all the proofs of the truth of his resurrection they could desire; but they, who worshipped him now in Galilee, had doubted before in Jerusalem; not only Thomas, but all of them: they looked upon the words of the women as idle tales; nor did the rest believe the two disciples, with whom Christ travelled to Emmaus: wherefore he upbraids them for their unbelief, ( Luke 24:11 ) ( Mark 16:11 Mark 16:13 Mark 16:14 ) , or else the sense is, that some of them, though they believed Christ was risen from the dead, of which they had had the strongest assurance; yet they doubted whether what they then saw on the mountain was he, or whether it was not a spirit, or a mere phantom; and therefore, as in the next verse, he "came" nearer to them, when they knew him: or else this may be understood of some of the seventy disciples, or of the five hundred brethren, who saw him at this time, and at first had some doubts of his resurrection, but were afterwards fully satisfied.

Matthew 28:17 In-Context

15 The soldiers took the bribe and did as they were told. That story, cooked up in the Jewish High Council, is still going around.

16 Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion.

17 The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.

18 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you:

19 Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.