Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 28
Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary
Matthew 28
Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary
Matthew 28
"Now late on the sabbath day, as it began to dawn toward the first [day] of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre." — Matthew 28:1 (ASV)
“After the Sabbath” is a general time indicator; i.e., the women would not walk far during the Sabbath; so they waited until after the Sabbath. But by then Saturday night was drawing on; so early on the first day of the week they “went to look at the tomb.”
"And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it." — Matthew 28:2 (ASV)
The clause introduced by “for” either suggests that the violent earthquake came with the “angel of the Lord” or was the means the angel used to open the tomb. The stone was rolled back, the seal broken, and the soldiers made helpless —not to let the risen Messiah escape, but to let the first witnesses in.
"His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow:" — Matthew 28:3 (ASV)
The clause introduced by “for” either suggests that the violent earthquake came with the “angel of the Lord” or was the means the angel used to open the tomb. The stone was rolled back, the seal broken, and the soldiers made helpless —not to let the risen Messiah escape, but to let the first witnesses in.
"and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men." — Matthew 28:4 (ASV)
The clause introduced by “for” either suggests that the violent earthquake came with the “angel of the Lord” or was the means the angel used to open the tomb. The stone was rolled back, the seal broken, and the soldiers made helpless —not to let the risen Messiah escape, but to let the first witnesses in.
"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)
The angel speaks words that allay the women’s fears. While the empty tomb by itself is capable of several explanations, this explanatory word of revelation narrows the potential interpretations down to one: Jesus had risen from the dead (v.6), a truth to be confirmed by personal appearances. Matthew also ties in the Resurrection with Jesus’ promises—“as he said” (cf. 16:21; 17:23; 20:18–19). The women are invited to see the place where Jesus lay and commanded to go “quickly” to give his disciples the joyous message. Jesus had promised to go ahead of his disciples into Galilee ; the angel now reminds them of this.
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