Matthew 28 is arguably constructed with two intertwine chiasms. The first covers verses 1-8, and the second goes from verse 9 through the end of the chapter.
The first follows this pattern:
A. Women arrive at grave, v 1
B. Angel descends from heaven, vv 2-3
C. Guards become like dead, v 4
B’. Angel speaks to women, vv 5-7
A’. Women leave the tomb, v 8
The length of the angel’s speech (vv 5-7) and the fact that the women pick up the fear of the guards (vv. 4, 8) might suggest an alternative structure in which vv 5-7 is central, with the contrasting responses of guards and women flanking. In that case, the first section might stretch to verse 10:
A. Women arrive at grave, v 1
B. Angel descends from heaven, vv 2-3
C. Guards become like dead men for fear, v 5
D. Angel speaks to women, vv 5-7
C’. Women leave with joy and fear, v 8
B. Jesus greets them, v 9
A’. Jesus sends women away to the disciples, v 10
On either outline, the fear of the guards is being highlighted, either by being at the center of the structure or by being contrasted with the fear-joy of the women. What makes the difference is the word of the angel. The guards see the angel and fall dead; the angel speaks to the women, announces the resurrection, and commissions them, so that the women’s fear is mingled with living joy. The see the angel of the Lord and live.
The second half of the chapter appears to be structured as follows:
A. Jesus appears to the women; they worship, v 9
B. Jesus speaks to the women: Do not fear; go, v 10
C. Guards and chief priests plot a response, vv 11-15
A’. Jesus appears to the disciples; they worship
B’. Jesus speaks to the disciples: Go, vv 18-20
Again the guards are central to the story; their fear at the angel is softened by a false report. The structure also highlights the connection between Jesus’ appearance to the women and His appearance to the disciples. In both cases, Jesus arrives; in both cases, He is worshiped; in both cases, He gives a commission beginning with the command to “Go.”
The contrast between the two sections is also important. Jesus sends the women to report to the disciples. Since His death, the women have formed the inner ring around Jesus, the nucleus of His new Israel. They have been marginalized, but after Jesus’ death they assume the center. The movement of the disciples has been in the opposite direction. After spending most of the gospel in the intimacy of Jesus’ company, they’ve scattered and fled to the edges. Now the women are being sent to the disciples so that the disciples can be gathered to form again the nucleus of the missionary church.
Perhaps we are to see here, on a micro-scale, the pattern of the later mission of the early church. Under the Old Covenant, Israel was near and Gentiles at a distance. Jesus shook the world, brought Gentile near. As Gentiles are brought close, they produce jealousy among Yahweh’s earlier intimates, the Jews, who are brought near again.