Matthew 28:10 Meaning: Called Brothers After Failure
Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.”
Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
Then saith Jesus unto them, Fear not: go tell my brethren that they depart into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
Then saith Jesus to them, `Fear ye not, go away, tell to my brethren that they may go away to Galilee, and there they shall see me.'
Then Jesus says to them, Fear not; go, bring word to my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there they shall see me.
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus meets the women at the empty tomb and sends a message to His disciples, calling them 'my brothers', a tender restoration after their desertion.
Context
The resurrection morning is still unfolding. The women have just seen the angel who showed them the empty tomb and told them Jesus has risen. Now, as they run to tell the disciples, Jesus himself appears to them. He greets them, and they fall at his feet in worship. In this verse, he speaks directly to their fear and gives them a message for his followers. This is the first time in Matthew's Gospel that Jesus calls his disciples 'my brothers'. The word comes as a shock: these are the ones who ran away, who denied him. And yet he uses the most intimate term he can.
Key Words
The Greek word for brothers here is adelphos. It means a sibling from the same parents, but Jesus has already redefined it: anyone who does the Father's will is his brother, sister, and mother (Matthew 12:50). Now he applies that to the very men who failed him. He does not call them servants or even disciples. He pulls them back into family.
His first words to the women are Don't be afraid. The Greek construction (mē phobeisthe) is a command to stop an action already happening. Jesus sees their trembling and steps into it. He does not scold them for being afraid. He meets their fear with his presence. And then he sends them with a public announcement: tell (apangeilate) is the same word used for proclaiming good news. Jesus gives the fearful a message to carry and calls the failed his family. That changes everything about how we come to him.
How Christians Read This Verse
Across traditions, Christians have been struck by the tenderness of this moment. Wesley notes that Jesus still owns the disciples as brothers though they so lately disowned and forsook him. Clarke calls it the first time Jesus uses that name, giving them full assurance that the past is buried. Calvin sees astonishing kindness toward deserters, and Barnes emphasizes that Christ does not disown them. The Cambridge Bible observes that Matthew alone records this appearance. Christians of every background have found here a picture of grace that does not wait for apologies but reaches out first.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume Jesus means his biological brothers, the sons of Mary and Joseph mentioned elsewhere in Matthew. In fact, the context makes clear he is speaking to the women about his disciples. And earlier in this same Gospel, Jesus redefines family as those who do the will of the Father (Matthew 12:50). So when he calls the disciples 'my brothers', he is not identifying relatives by blood. He is restoring men who had fled to a place of intimate belonging.
Living This Out
This week, maybe you are holding back from God because of something you did. You ran away when it mattered. You said the wrong thing. You stayed silent. And now you think the door is closed. But Jesus meets his friends at the tomb and calls them brothers anyway. He doesn't wait for them to clean themselves up. He gives them a message to deliver. So you can stop hiding. He is not keeping a list. He is sending you with news that changes everything. Go tell someone.
Main takeaway: The risen Jesus restores his fallen disciples, calls them brothers, and sends them to tell the world he is alive.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus' friends made a big mistake. They ran away when he needed them. But after Jesus came back to life, he called them his brothers anyway. He loved them and forgave them.
For ages 9, 12
The disciples had let Jesus down. Peter had even said he didn't know Jesus. But Jesus didn't say 'I told you so.' He said, 'Go tell my brothers.' By using that word, he showed they were still his family. He gave them a job to do: spread the news that he is alive. When we mess up, Jesus still forgives us and invites us back into his family too.
Questions People Ask
Who are 'my brothers' in Matthew 28:10?
Jesus is speaking to the women at the tomb and referring to his disciples. He had called them 'disciples' throughout the Gospel, but here he calls them 'brothers' for the first time, showing his forgiveness and restored relationship after they had abandoned him at his crucifixion.
Why did Jesus tell them to go to Galilee?
Galilee was where Jesus began his ministry and where the disciples were from. The angel had already told the women that Jesus would go before them to Galilee (Matthew 28:7). Going there allowed a quieter, more private place for Jesus to appear to the disciples and commission them, away from the turmoil of Jerusalem.
What does the word 'brothers' reveal about Jesus' forgiveness?
Calling them 'brothers' shows that Jesus fully restores the relationship. The disciples had run away and denied him, but Jesus does not treat them as servants or strangers. He welcomes them as family. This teaches us that no failure is too great for Jesus to forgive.
Why does Jesus say 'don't be afraid' to the women?
The women were terrified by the angel's appearance and now by Jesus' sudden presence. They also may have feared that Jesus would be angry or that something else was happening. Jesus calms their immediate fear and also assures them that the message they are to carry is one of peace, not judgment.
How is this verse different from the angel's message in verse 7?
The angel said 'tell his disciples,' but Jesus says 'tell my brothers.' The change in word shows deeper intimacy. The angel's message was a command. Jesus' message adds tenderness and personal restoration. He is not just giving instructions; he is rebuilding his relationship with them.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study