John Gill Commentary Matthew 27:61

"And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre." — Matthew 27:61 (ASV)

And there was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
The wife of Cleophas, and the mother of James and of Joses:

sitting over against the sepulchre ;
observing where the body of Christ was put, and how it was laid; for they intended to prepare spices and ointments to anoint it with; and were mourning for the death of Christ: for sitting was a mourning posture, which now they were allowed, the body being taken down from the cross, and interred by leave of the governor;

for, for one that died as a malefactor, they might not use the outward signs of mourning: the canon is this ^F23; for such they do not mourn, but they grieve; and there is no grieving but in the heart:'' hence these women before stood, (John 19:25) , but now they sat.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F23: Misn. Sarhedrin, c. 6. sect. 4.