Matthew 28:17
in Matthew 28When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And when they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted.
KJV
And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
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This verse in Matthew 28
Commentary
17 notes on this verse(Hom. Æst. in Fer. vi. Pasch.)b. The Lord appeared to them in the mountain to signify, that His Body which at His Birth He had taken of the common dust of the human race, He had by His Resurrection exalted above all earthly things; and to teach the faithful that if they desire there to see the height of His Resurrection, they must endeavour here to pass from low pleasures to high desires. And He goes before His disciples into Galilee, because Christ is risen from the dead, the first fruits of them that slept. (1 Cor. 15:20.)
This site's exposition
to the mountain Jesus had designated
on Matthew 28:16-17
The eleven go to "the mountain Jesus had designated," obeying the word given through the angel at verse 7 and through Jesus at verse 10. They worship with the verb used of the magi at 2:2, yet "some doubted," and in the next verse Jesus comes to them all.
This site's exposition
but some doubted
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown hold none of the eleven doubted after the meetings in Jerusalem, and place the doubters among others present on the mountain. Albert Barnes counts disciples like Thomas among them. He reads the doubt as the mark of honest men, persuaded only by the evidence.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
(Verse 16, 17.) However, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. After the resurrection, Jesus is seen on a mountain in Galilee and is worshipped there; although some doubt, their doubt strengthens our faith. Then he shows himself more clearly to Thomas and shows him the wound in his side from the spear and the nails in his hands.
After His Resurrection, Jesus is seen and worshipped in the mountain in Galilee; though some doubt, their doubting confirms our faith.
"Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, and some worshipped, and some when they saw Him doubted." This seems to me to be the last appearance in Galilee, when He sent them forth to baptize. And if "some doubted," herein again admire their truthfulness, how they conceal not even their shortcomings up to the last day. Nevertheless, even these are assured by their sight.
This is more fully told by Luke; how when the Lord after the Resurrection appeared to the disciples, in their terror they thought they saw a spirit.
The Medieval Church1 voice
And it was necessary that he appear to them, because witnesses had to be given for so great a work. But he himself gave witnesses not only by hearing, but also by sight; 1 John 1:2: what we have seen and heard (...) this we …
9 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Therefore the eleven foremost disciples, together with all the others who followed Christ, worshipped Him; "but some doubted." In all likelihood this should be understood in the following sense: the eleven disciples went to Galilee and the eleven worshipped Him. "But some" of the seventy, …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Now was the time that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once, 1 Cor. xv. Some think that they saw him, at first, at some distance, above in the air, ephthe epano -- He was seen above, of five hundred brethren (so they read it); which gave occasion to some to doubt, till he came nearer (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
His incarnation was a mystery; so was this second incarnation (if we may so call it), this new making of the body of Christ, for his exalted state; it was therefore made in secret. Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. Christ gave such proofs of his resurrection as were corroborated by the scriptures, and by the word which he had spoken ( Luke xxiv.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
And when, they saw him, they worshipped him,....
The Nineteenth Century5 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
They worshipped him - Paid him honour as the Messiah. But some doubted - As, for example, Thomas, Joh 20:25. The disciples had not expected his resurrection; they were therefore slow to believe. The mention of their doubting shows that they were honest men that they were not easily imposed on that they had not previously agreed to affirm that he had risen - that they were convinced only by the strength of the evidence.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
And when they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted--certainly none of "the Eleven," after what took place at previous interviews in Jerusalem.
These verses form the conclusion of the Gospel of St. Matthew. They begin by showing us what absurdities blind prejudice will believe, rather than believe the truth; they go on to show us what weakness there is in the hearts of some disciples, and how slow they are to believe; they finish by telling us some of the last words spoken by our Lord upon earth—words so remarkable that they demand and deserve all our attention. Let us observe in the first place the honour which God has put on our Lord Jesus Christ.
These verses form the conclusion of the Gospel of St. Matthew. They begin by showing us what absurdities blind prejudice will believe, rather than believe the truth; they go on to show us what weakness there is in the hearts of some disciples, and how slow they are to believe; they finish by telling us some of the last words spoken by our Lord upon earth—words so remarkable that they demand and deserve all our attention. Let us observe in the first place the honour which God has put on our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord says, “All power is given unto me in heaven and ” This is a truth which is declared by St. Paul to the Philippians: “God has highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name” ( Philippians 2:9 ). It is a truth which in no wise takes away from the true notion of Christ’s divinity, as some have ignorantly supposed. It is simply a declaration that, in the counsels of the eternal Trinity, Jesus, as Son of Man, is appointed heir of all things; that he is the Mediator between God and man; that the salvation of all who are saved is laid upon him, and that he is the great fountain of mercy, grace, life and peace. It was for “this joy set before him” that he “endured the cross” ( Hebrews 12:2 ). Let us embrace this truth reverently and cling to it firmly. Christ is He has the keys of death and hell; Christ is the anointed priest, who alone can absolve sinners; Christ is the fountain of living waters, in whom alone we can be cleansed; Christ is the Prince and Saviour, who alone can give repentance and remission of sins. In him all fullness dwells. He is the way, the door, the light, the life, the shepherd, the altar of refuge. “He that hath the Son hath life; he that hath not have the Son of God hath not life.” ( 1 John 5:12 ). May we all strive to understand this!
But some doubted - That is, Thomas only at first doubted. The expression simply intimates, that they did not all believe at that time. See the same form noticed on Mat 26:8 (note), and Mat 27:44 (note).
The words behind it
7 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἰδόντες | idontes | having seen | G1492 → | 374 times |
| αὐτὸν | auton | Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| προσεκύνησαν | prosekunesan | they worshiped | G4352 → | 60 times |
| οἱ | hoi | some | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἐδίστασαν.¶ | edistasan | doubted. | G1365 → |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἰδόντεςhaving seen
idontesG1492 →374 times
αὐτὸνHim
autonG846 →5565 times
προσεκύνησανthey worshiped
prosekunesanG4352 →60 times
οἱsome
hoiG3588 →19766 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ἐδίστασαν.¶doubted.
edistasanG1365 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 16:28Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
it leads to
- Luke 9:27
But I tell you truthfully, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
- Mark 9:1
Then Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God arrive with power.”
- John 8:52
“Now we know that You have a demon!” declared the Jews. “Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet You say that anyone who keeps Your word will never taste death.
- Luke 9:27
Through
John 5:23so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
it leads to
- 1 John 2:23
Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.
- Luke 10:16
Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”
- 1 John 2:23
Through
Psalms 2:12Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in your rebellion, when His wrath ignites in an instant. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.
it leads to
- Psalms 40:4
Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, who has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
- John 5:23
so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
- Psalms 84:12
O LORD of Hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in You!
- Psalms 40:4
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies17
On this chapter
About Matthew

This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Matthew; Jerome, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew; John Chrysostom, Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 90; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Remigius of Rheims, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Matthew and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Matthew.
