A Trinity Sunday Reflection on Matthew 28:16–20

“And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.”
— Matthew 28:16, KJV

This is Trinity Sunday, and in this extended passage all three members of the Godhead appear.

The risen Son stands before his disciples.

He sends them to baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

He promises his continuing presence: “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”

We have a text surrounded by mighty words, deep assurances, and world-changing events.

We come to the time of commissioning. Jesus is about to send his people into all the world. His parting words are not words of retreat, but of mission. They are to go with purpose, courage, boldness, humility, and spiritual power. They are to announce the Kingdom of God, make disciples, baptize, teach, and reproduce in others the life they have received from him.

It is easy to miss three little words that seem strangely out of place:

“…but some doubted.”

The majority worshipped him.

That made sense.

He had been dead, and he was alive. Not only that, but his mission was alive. His people had been revived. The future had opened before them. Jesus had been gloriously validated.

But some doubted.

Who doubted?

What did they doubt?

Frankly, I do not know the answer.

The word carries the sense of hesitation, wavering, or uncertainty. It may not describe full-blown unbelief as much as reluctance, inner conflict, or divided response. In the context of the verse, the hesitation seems connected to the worship also described there. They saw him. They worshipped him. But some hesitated.

Some held back.

Some were not yet ready to fall completely at his feet.

But why?

The question could be argued from here to Heaven, and we might still not reach consensus. Perhaps Matthew leaves the matter open because he wants us to ask a better question.

Not merely, “Why did they hesitate?”

But:

Why do we hesitate?

Why do we hesitate to pay homage to Jesus?

Having seen what we have seen, experienced what we have experienced, and believed what we have professed to believe, why do we withhold our praise, our worship, our obedience, and our surrender?

What keeps us from falling at his feet and declaring him Lord of our lives?

On Trinity Sunday, we are reminded that Christian faith is not merely belief in an idea about God. It is encounter with the living God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Father sends.

The Son saves and commissions.

The Spirit empowers and indwells.

And still, sometimes, we hesitate.

We hesitate to worship without reservation.

We hesitate to obey without conditions.

We hesitate to go where Jesus sends us.

We hesitate to trust the promise that he is with us always.

Yet Jesus does not cancel the commission because some are hesitant. He does not wait until every disciple feels brave, certain, articulate, and spiritually impressive. He speaks to worshippers and waverers alike.

“All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

“Go ye therefore…”

“Lo, I am with you alway…”

The authority is his.

The mission is his.

The presence is his.

The power is his.

Our calling is to worship, trust, go, teach, baptize, and bear witness.

Even with trembling knees.

Even with unanswered questions.

Even while we are being healed of hesitation.

So ponder that today.

Where are you still holding back?

Where are you hesitating to give Jesus full homage?

Where are you called to worship him not only with your words, but with your obedience?

The risen Christ still stands before his people.

The Triune God is still at work.

And the promise still holds:

“I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”

Amen.