What does Matthew 28:7 mean?

Angels often serve as messengers. The declaration given by this angel is perhaps the most powerful message ever given to humanity. Jesus had been dead, crucified, and buried in this tomb (Matthew 27:50–61). The women hearing the message had come to add burial spices to a corpse. Instead, the angel told them Jesus had risen from the dead. The tomb was empty because Jesus was alive. The door was open so people could see that this was true (Matthew 28:1–6).

Now the angel gives the women a message to deliver. He tells them to go quickly to tell the disciples this news. The women are to tell them that Jesus is alive and going before them to Galilee. They will see Jesus there, the angel says.

The disciples and the women were now in Jerusalem, where the Passover had been held and Jesus had been crucified and resurrected. The region of Galilee was in northern Israel. It was where most of Jesus' ministry had taken place and where the disciples had spent most of their time with Him. Before He died, Jesus had told them He would go before them to Galilee (Matthew 26:32).