John Calvin Commentary Matthew 27:55

"And many women were there beholding from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:" — Matthew 27:55 (ASV)

And there were also many women there. I consider this to have been added to inform us that, while the disciples had fled and were scattered in every direction, the Lord still kept some of their company as witnesses.

Although the Apostle John did not depart from the cross, he is not mentioned; but praise is given to the women alone, who accompanied Christ until death. This is because their extraordinary attachment to their Master was more strikingly displayed when the men fled trembling.

For they must have been endowed with extraordinary strength of attachment, since, although they could render him no service, they did not cease to treat him with reverence, even when exposed to the lowest disgrace.

And yet we learn from Luke that not all the men had fled, for he says that all his acquaintances stood at a distance. But not without reason do the Evangelists give the chief praise to the women, for they deserved preference over the men.

In my opinion, the implied contrast suggests a severe rebuke of the apostles. I speak of the majority of them; for since only one remained, the three Evangelists, as I mentioned earlier, take no notice of him.

It was extremely disgraceful for chosen witnesses to withdraw from that spectacle on which the salvation of the world depended. Accordingly, when they later proclaimed the gospel, they must have borrowed the chief portion of the history from women.

But if Providence had not miraculously prepared a remedy against a great evil, they would have deprived themselves, and us with them, of the knowledge of redemption.

At first sight, we might think that the testimony of the women does not possess equal authority. But if we duly consider by what power of the Spirit they were supported against that temptation, we will find that there is no reason for our faith to waver, since it rests on God, who is the real Author of their testimony.²⁹²

Yet let us observe that it proceeded from the inconceivable goodness of God that the gospel, which speaks of the expiation by which God has been reconciled to us, should come even to us.

For during the general desertion of those who should have run before others, God encouraged some from the midst of the flock who, recovering from the alarm, would be witnesses to us of that history, without belief in which we cannot be saved.

Concerning the women themselves, we will soon have another opportunity to say something. For now, it may be sufficient to briefly note one point: that their eagerness for instruction led them to leave their country and constantly learn from the lips of Christ, and that they spared neither toil nor money, so that they might enjoy his saving doctrine.

²⁹² “Qui est à la verité l’Autheur de ce tesmoignage des femmes;” — “who is in reality the Author of this testimony of the women.”;” — “who is in reality the Author of this testimony of the women.”