1In the endG1161 G3796 of the sabbathG4521, as it began to dawnG2020 towardG1519 the firstG3391 day of the weekG4521, cameG2064 MaryG3137 MagdaleneG3094 andG2532 the otherG243 MaryG3137 to seeG2334 the sepulchreG5028. 2AndG2532, beholdG2400, there wasG1096 a greatG3173 earthquakeG4578: forG1063 the angelG32 of the LordG2962 descendedG2597 fromG1537 heavenG3772, and cameG4334 and rolled backG617 the stoneG3037 fromG575 the doorG2374, andG2532 satG2521 uponG1883 itG846. 3HisG846 countenanceG2397 wasG2258 likeG5613 lightningG796, andG2532 hisG846 raimentG1742 whiteG3022 asG5616 snowG5510: 4AndG1161 forG575 fearG5401 of himG846 the keepersG5083 shookG4579, andG2532 becameG1096 asG5616 deadG3498 men. 5AndG1161 the angelG32 answeredG611 and saidG2036 to the womenG1135, FearG5399 yeG5210 notG3361: forG1063 I knowG1492 thatG3754 ye seekG2212 JesusG2424, whoG3588 was crucifiedG4717. 6He isG2076 notG3756 hereG5602: forG1063 he is risenG1453, asG2531 he saidG2036. ComeG1205, seeG1492 the placeG5117 whereG3699 the LordG2962 layG2749. 7AndG2532 goG4198 quicklyG5035, and tellG2036 hisG846 disciplesG3101 thatG3754 he is risenG1453 fromG575 the deadG3498; andG2532, beholdG2400, he goeth beforeG4254 youG5209 intoG1519 GalileeG1056; thereG1563 shall ye seeG3700 himG846: loG2400, I have toldG2036 youG5213. 8AndG2532 they departedG1831 quicklyG5035 fromG575 the sepulchreG3419 withG3326 fearG5401 andG2532 greatG3173 joyG5479; and ranG5143 to bring wordG518 to hisG846 disciplesG3101. 9AndG1161 asG5613 they wentG4198 to tellG518 hisG846 disciplesG2532 G3101, beholdG2400, JesusG2424 metG528 themG846, sayingG3004, All hailG5463. AndG1161 they cameG4334 and heldG2902 himG846 by the feetG4228, andG2532 worshippedG4352 himG846. 10ThenG5119 saidG3004 JesusG2424 to themG846, BeG5399 notG3361 afraidG5399: goG565 tellG518 myG3450 brethrenG80 thatG2443 they goG5217 intoG1519 GalileeG1056, and thereG2546 shall they seeG3700 meG3165. 11NowG1161 when theyG846 were goingG4198, beholdG2400, someG5100 of the watchG2892 cameG2064 intoG1519 the cityG4172, and showedG518 to the chief priestsG749 all the thingsG537 that had happenedG1096. 12AndG2532 when they were assembledG4863 withG3326 the eldersG4245, andG5037 had takenG2983 counselG4824, they gaveG1325 a largeG2425 sum of moneyG694 to the soldiersG4757, 13SayingG3004, Say yeG2036 G3754, HisG846 disciplesG3101 cameG2064 by nightG3571, and stoleG2813 himG846 away while weG2257 sleptG2837. 14AndG2532 ifG1437 thisG5124 shall comeG191 toG1909 the governor’sG2232 earsG191, weG2249 will persuadeG3982 himG846, andG2532 secureG275 G4160 youG5209. 15SoG1161 they tookG2983 the moneyG694, and didG4160 asG5613 they were instructedG1321: andG2532 thisG3778 sayingG3056 is commonly reportedG1310 amongG3844 the JewsG2453 untilG3360 this dayG4594. 16ThenG1161 the elevenG1733 disciplesG3101 went awayG4198 intoG1519 GalileeG1056, toG1519 a mountainG3735 whereG3757 JesusG2424 had appointedG5021 themG846. 17AndG2532 when they sawG1492 himG846, they worshippedG4352 himG846: butG1161 some doubtedG1365. 18AndG2532 JesusG2424 cameG4334 and spokeG2980 to themG846, sayingG3004, AllG3956 authorityG1849 is givenG1325 to meG3427 inG1722 heavenG3772 andG2532 uponG1909 earthG1093. 19Go yeG4198 thereforeG3767, and teachG3100 allG3956 nationsG1484, baptizingG907 themG846 inG1519 the nameG3686 of the FatherG3962, andG2532 of the SonG5207, andG2532 of the HolyG40 SpiritG4151: 20TeachingG1321 themG846 to observeG5083 all thingsG3956 whateverG3745 I have commandedG1781 youG5213: andG2532, loG2400, IG1473 amG1510 withG3326 youG5216 alwaysG3956 G2250, even toG2193 the endG4930 of the worldG165. AmenG281.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 GLORIOUS ANGELIC ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, THAT CHRIST IS RISEN--HIS APPEARANCE TO THE WOMEN--THE GUARDS BRIBED TO GIVE A FALSE ACCOUNT OF THE RESURRECTION. ( =
Mark 16:1-
Mark 16:8;
Luke 24:1-
Luke 24:8;
John 20:1). (
Matt 28:1-
Matt 28:15)
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn--after the Sabbath, as it grew toward daylight.
toward the first day of the week--Luke (
Luke 24:1) has it, "very early in the morning"--properly, "at the first appearance of daybreak"; and corresponding with this, John (
John 20:1) says, "when it was yet dark." See on
Mark 16:2. Not an hour, it would seem, was lost by those dear lovers of the Lord Jesus.
came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary--"the mother of James and Joses" (see on
Matt 27:56;
Matt 27:61).
to see the sepulchre--with a view to the anointing of the body, for which they had made all their preparations. (See on
Mark 16:1-
Mark 16:2).
And, behold, there was--that is, there had been, before the arrival of the women.
a great earthquake; for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, &c.--And this was the state of things when the women drew near. Some judicious critics think all this was transacted while the women were approaching; but the view we have given, which is the prevalent one, seems the more natural. All this august preparation--recorded by Matthew alone--bespoke the grandeur of the exit which was to follow. The angel sat upon the huge stone, to overawe, with the lightning--luster that darted from him, the Roman guard, and do honor to his rising Lord.
3 His countenance--appearance.
was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow--the one expressing the glory, the other the purity of the celestial abode from which he came.
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men--Is the sepulchre "sure" now, O ye chief priests? He that sitteth in the heavens doth laugh at you.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye--The "ye" here is emphatic, to contrast their case with that of the guards. "Let those puny creatures, sent to keep the Living One among the dead, for fear of Me shake and become as dead men (
Matt 28:4); but ye that have come hither on another errand, fear not ye."
for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified--Jesus the Crucified.
6 He is not here; for he is risen, as he said--See on
Luke 24:5-
Luke 24:7.
Come--as in
Matt 11:28.
see the place where the Lord lay--Charming invitation! "Come, see the spot where the Lord of glory lay: now it is an empty grave: He lies not here, but He lay there. Come, feast your eyes on it!" But see on
John 20:12.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples--For a precious addition to this, see on
Mark 16:7.
that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee--to which those women belonged (
Matt 27:55).
there shall ye see him--This must refer to those more public manifestations of Himself to large numbers of disciples at once, which He vouchsafed only in Galilee; for individually He was seen of some of those very women almost immediately after this (
Matt 28:9-
Matt 28:10).
Lo, I have told you--Behold, ye have this word from the world of light!
8 And they departed quickly--Mark (
Mark 16:8) says "they fled."
from the sepulchre with fear and great joy--How natural this combination of feelings! See on a similar statement of
Mark 16:11.
and did run to bring his disciples word--"Neither said they anything to any man [by the way]; for they were afraid" (
Mark 16:8).
Appearance to the Women (
Matt 28:9-
Matt 28:10).
This appearance is recorded only by Matthew.
9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail!--the usual salute, but from the lips of Jesus bearing a higher signification.
And they came and held him by the feet--How truly womanly!
10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid--What dear associations would these familiar words--now uttered in a higher style, but by the same Lips--bring rushing back to their recollection!
go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me--The brethren here meant must have been His brethren after the flesh (compare
Matt 13:55); for His brethren in the higher sense (see on
John 20:17) had several meetings with Him at Jerusalem before He went to Galilee, which they would have missed if they had been the persons ordered to Galilee to meet Him.
The Guards Bribed (
Matt 28:11-
Matt 28:15).
The whole of this important portion is peculiar to Matthew.
11 Now when they were going--while the women were on their way to deliver to His brethren the message of their risen Lord.
some of the watch came into the city, and showed unto the chief priests all the things that were done--Simple, unsophisticated soldiers! How could ye imagine that such a tale as ye had to tell would not at once commend itself to your scared employers? Had they doubted this for a moment, would they have ventured to go near them, knowing it was death to a Roman soldier to be proved asleep when on guard? and of course that was the only other explanation of the case.
12 And when they were assembled with the elders--But Joseph at least was absent: Gamaliel probably also; and perhaps others.
and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers--It would need a good deal; but the whole case of the Jewish authorities was now at stake. With what contempt must these soldiers have regarded the Jewish ecclesiastics!
13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept--which, as we have observed, was a capital offense for soldiers on guard.
14 And if this come to the governor's ears--rather, "If this come before the governor"; that is, not in the way of mere report, but for judicial investigation.
we will persuade him, and secure you--The "we" and the "you" are emphatic here--"we shall [take care to] persuade him and keep you from trouble," or "save you harmless." The grammatical form of this clause implies that the thing supposed was expected to happen. The meaning then is, "If this come before the governor--as it likely will--we shall see to it that," &c. The "persuasion" of Pilate meant, doubtless, quieting him by a bribe, which we know otherwise he was by no means above taking (like Felix afterwards,
Acts 24:26).
15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught--thus consenting to brand themselves with infamy.
and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day--to the date of the publication of this Gospel. The wonder is that so clumsy and incredible a story lasted so long. But those who are resolved not to come to the light will catch at straws. JUSTIN MARTYR, who flourished about A.D. 170, says, in his Dialogue with Trypho the Jew, that the Jews dispersed the story by means of special messengers sent to every country.
16 JESUS MEETS WITH THE DISCIPLES ON A MOUNTAIN IN GALILEE AND GIVES FORTH THE GREAT COMMISSION. (
Matt 28:16-
Matt 28:20)
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee--but certainly not before the second week after the resurrection, and probably somewhat later.
into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them--It should have been rendered "the mountain," meaning some certain mountain which He had named to them--probably the night before He suffered, when He said, "After I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee" (
Matt 26:32;
Mark 14:28). What it was can only be conjectured; but of the two between which opinions are divided--the Mount of the Beatitudes or Mount Tabor--the former is much the more probable, from its nearness to the Sea of Tiberias, where last before this the Narrative tells us that He met and dined with seven of them. (
John 21:1, &c.). That the interview here recorded was the same as that referred to in one
place only--
1Cor 15:6 --when "He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remained unto that day, though some were fallen asleep," is now the opinion of the ablest students of the evangelical history. Nothing can account for such a number as five hundred assembling at one spot but the expectation of some promised manifestation of their risen Lord: and the promise before His resurrection, twice repeated after it, best explains this immense gathering.
17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted--certainly none of "the Eleven," after what took place at previous interviews in Jerusalem. But if the five hundred were now present, we may well believe this of some of them.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations--rather, "make disciples of all nations"; for "teaching," in the more usual sense of that word, comes in afterwards, and is expressed by a different term.
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost--It should be, "into the name"; as in
1Cor 10:2, "And were all baptized unto (or rather 'into') Moses"; and
Gal 3:27, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ."
20 Teaching them--This is teaching in the more usual sense of the term; or instructing the converted and baptized disciples.
to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I--The "I" here is emphatic. It is enough that I
am with you alway--"all the days"; that is, till making converts, baptizing, and building them up by Christian instruction, shall be no more.
even unto the end of the world. Amen--This glorious Commission embraces two primary departments, the Missionary and the Pastoral, with two sublime and comprehensive Encouragements to undertake and go through with them.
First, The MISSIONARY department (
Matt 28:18): "Go, make disciples of all nations." In the corresponding passage of Mark (
Mark 16:15) it is, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." The only difference is, that in this passage the sphere, in its world-wide compass and its universality of objects, is more fully and definitely expressed; while in the former the great aim and certain result is delightfully expressed in the command to "make disciples of all nations." "Go, conquer the world for Me; carry the glad tidings into all lands and to every ear, and deem not this work at an end till all nations shall have embraced the Gospel and enrolled themselves My disciples." Now, Was all this meant to be done by the Eleven men nearest to Him of the multitude then crowding around the risen Redeemer? Impossible. Was it to be done even in their lifetime? Surely not. In that little band Jesus virtually addressed Himself to all who, in every age, should take up from them the same work. Before the eyes of the Church's risen Head were spread out, in those Eleven men, all His servants of every age; and one and all of them received His commission at that moment. Well, what next? Set the seal of visible discipleship upon the converts, by "baptizing them into the name," that is, into the whole fulness of the grace "of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," as belonging to them who believe. (See on
2Cor 13:14). This done, the Missionary department of your work, which in its own nature is temporary, must merge in another, which is permanent. This is
Second, The PASTORAL department (
Matt 28:20): "Teach them"--teach these baptized members of the Church visible--"to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you," My apostles, during the three years ye have been with Me.
What must have been the feelings which such a Commission awakened? "WE who have scarce conquered our own misgivings--we, fishermen of Galilee, with no letters, no means, no influence over the humblest creature, conquer the world for Thee, Lord? Nay, Lord, do not mock us." "I mock you not, nor send you a warfare on your own charges. For"--Here we are brought to
Third, The ENCOURAGEMENTS to undertake and go through with this work. These are two; one in the van, the other in the rear of the Commission itself.
First Encouragement: "All power in heaven"--the whole power of Heaven's love and wisdom and strength, "and all power in earth"--power over all persons, all passions, all principles, all movements--to bend them to this one high object, the evangelization of the world: All this "is given unto Me." as the risen Lord of all, to be by Me placed at your command--"Go ye therefore." But there remains a
Second Encouragement: "And lo! I am with you all the days"--not only to perpetuity, but without one day's interruption, "even to the end of the world," The "Amen" is of doubtful genuineness in this place. If, however, it belongs to the text, it is the Evangelist's own closing word.
