Matthew Henry Commentary Luke 24:1-12

"But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came unto the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, while they were perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel: and as they were affrighted and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying that the Son of man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words, and returned from the tomb, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest. Now they were Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the [mother] of James: and the other women with them told these things unto the apostles. And these words appeared in their sight as idle talk; and they disbelieved them. But Peter arose, and ran unto the tomb; and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths by themselves; and he departed to his home, wondering at that which was come to pass." — Luke 24:1-12 (ASV)

See the affection and respect the women showed to Christ, after he was dead and buried. Observe their surprise when they found the stone rolled away, and the grave empty. Christians often perplex themselves about that which should comfort and encourage them. They look for their Master in his grave-clothes, rather than for angels in their shining garments.

The angels assure them that he is risen from the dead; he is risen by his own power. These angels from heaven bring no new gospel, but remind the women of Christ's words and teach them how to apply them. We may wonder why these disciples, who believed Jesus to be the Son of God and the true Messiah, who had been so often told that he must die and rise again and then enter into his glory, and who had seen him raise the dead more than once, should yet be so slow to believe that he had raised himself.

But all our mistakes in religion spring from ignorance or forgetfulness of the words Christ has spoken. Peter now ran to the tomb, who so recently had run from his Master. He was amazed. There are many things puzzling and perplexing to us, which would be plain and profitable if we rightly understood the words of Christ.