Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 28:5

"And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who hath been crucified." — Matthew 28:5 (ASV)

And the angel answered and said to the women,—

We had almost forgotten them; we had been thinking of the earthquake, and the angel, and the flaming lightning, and the frightened soldiers; but this angel's thought is all about the women.

He whose countenance was like lightning, and whose garments were white as snow, said to the women—

Let the soldiers tremble, let them lie as if dead through fright, but “Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.” Those who seek Jesus need not fear. These women were mistaken in seeking the living among the dead, yet their seeking ended in finding. They did fear, although the angel said, “Fear not.” Only Jesus can silence the fears of trembling hearts.

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye:

But I notice that they did fear, although the angel said, "Fear not." Neither men nor angels can so speak as to silence fears in trembling hearts; but Jesus can, as we shall see farther on. One word from his lips has infinitely more power than all the words of angels or of saints.

For I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

And if you and I tonight can truly say that we are on the side of Jesus, that we seek him who was crucified, then we can bear all the shame with which philosophy would gladly cover the cross, and we have no cause for fear. Ridicule and all that it brings from this ungodly generation will not hurt you.