Matthew 28

Mat. 28. The accounts of the four evangelists, concerning the resurrection of Christ, reconciled. In the first place, there was a great earthquake; an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow, and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. Matthew 28:2-4. And presently, as soon as their extraordinary surprise would allow them, they ran away into the city; and then, soon after they were gone, Mary Magdalene, from her extraordinary affection, comes to the sepulcher before the other woman, while it was yet dark, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher, and finds not the body there, and then runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid him;” then Peter and John came running to the sepulcher; and Mary returns with them or comes after them as fast as she could. Peter and John went into the sepulcher, and saw the linen clothes lying, but found not the body of Christ, and not knowing what to make of things, went away again. Mr.

Prince supposed that Luke speaks of this coming of Peter to the sepulcher in the 24th chapter of his Gospel, 12th verse (Luke 24:12), and supposes the word should have been rendered thus, “Now Peter also had risen, and ran to the sepulcher, and stooping down, saw the linen clothes lying by themselves, and departed wondering in himself at what was done;” but when they were gone, Mary staid behind, and would not go away. She probably staid waiting for the company of women that she expected would presently come with spices to anoint the body; but as she stood there weeping, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher, and saw two angels in white, sitting one at the head, and the other at the foot, where the body of Jesus had lain; they speak to her, and ask her why she wept; she answers, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him; and when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.” (Probably because the twilight was yet dim) Jesus asked her why she wept. She, supposing him to be the gardener, says to him, “Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith to her, Mary;” and she then knew him, and worships him. Christ bids her go and inform his disciples, etc. On which Mary went away in haste to tell his disciples, and did not wait till the women came with the spices as she intended; Mark 16:9; Mark 16:10; Mark 16:11, and John 20:1-19. The other women, that were concerned in the design of anointing the body of Jesus, went together in order to go to the sepulcher about break of day, and came to the sepulcher about sun-rise, after Mary Magdalene was gone, whom they had not seen, nor she them; and they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher? And when they came, they found that the stone was rolled away. Mark 16:2-4, and Luke 24:1-3, “And they entered in (the angel now not appearing on the stone), and found not the body of Jesus there; and while they were much perplexed thereabout, behold two men stood by them in shining garments,” and one of them of a distinguished brightness and glorious appearance, being the same, the glory and majesty of whose appearance had so terrified the keepers. He sat on the right side, clothed in a long white garment. Matthew 28:4; Matthew 28:5; Luke 24:3; Luke 24:4, and Mark 16:5. This angel on the right side is he that speaks to them, saying, “Fear ye not; I know that ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.

Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, for he is risen, as he said; come, see the place where the Lord lay; and remember how he spake unto you while he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. But go your way quickly; tell his disciples, and Peter, that he goeth before you into Galilee, there shall ye see him as he said unto you. Lo, I have told you.” Matthew 28:5-7; Mark 16:6; Mark 16:7, and Luke 24:5-7, “And they remembered his words, and they came out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre, for they trembled and were amazed, nor said they anything to anyone, for they were affrighted, they came out with fear and great joy, as they ran to bring his disciples word.” Matthew 28:8; Mark 16:8; Luke 24:8. “And as they went to bring his disciples word, lo, Jesus met them saying, All hail; and they came to him, and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid; go tell my brethren, that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.” Matthew 28:9; Matthew 28:10. “And they returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.”

Mat. 28:9

Matthew 28:9

Mat. 28:9. It may be pleasant and profitable to consider the various passions that these women felt in their hearts on this occasion. Christ was a person exceeding dear to them ; and they lately had their hearts filled and overwhelmed with sorrow, upon the occasion of the cruel and ignominious death that they with their own eyes had seen Christ put to. See Matthew 27:55; Matthew 27:56. And they never expected to see Him alive any more; and they had with great art prepared precious ointment to anoint His body, and doubtless were much vexed that they could not have opportunity to do it, by the reason of the Sabbath coming on, till the third day after His death. And now they come very early, - the first day of the week, - greatly engaged in their minds to do it.

But when they come there they find the sepulcher empty; they could not find the body of Jesus, as John informs us, and had the sorrow of the disappointment in their design of anointing His body, added to the sorrow for His death; while they stood here disappointed and sorrowful, not knowing what to do, two angels appeared to them and told them that Christ was risen and was alive. This filled them with surprise and joy.

For it did not only take away their concern for their disappointment in not finding the body of Jesus in the sepulcher, but brought the unexpected and unspeakably joyful news that Christ, their dear Lord, was alive again. How suddenly did this turn them from the deepest sorrow to overflowing joy! It is said, in verse 8….How eager were they to impart the joyful news to their fellow-disciples, who were sharers in their sorrow for His death; and as they ran, Christ Himself met them, and in a friendly manner saluted them; and what a new surprise was this! Now they see with their own eyes the truth of what the angels had told them. How did it heighten their joy, now to see their dear Lord Himself, whom they had so lately seen put to so cruel a death, and never expected to see more, meet them alive, saluting them in a sweet and cheerful manner! and how do they express their joy and love to their risen Lord! They come and hold Him by the feet and worship Him. They express their joy, and testify their respect to Him, in the most dear, humble, and adoring manner.