John 20:17

Touch me not, for, &c. This is a passage of well-known difficulty. At first sight the reason given for refraining from touching would seem to be more suitable to a permission to touch. It is perhaps needless to enquire whether the -for" refers to the whole of what follows or only to the first sentence, -I am not yet ascended to the Father?" In either case the meaning would be, that the Ascension has not yet taken place, although it soon will do so, whereas Mary's action assumes that it has taken place. If -for" refers to the first clause only, then the emphasis is thrown on Mary's mistake; if -for" refers to the whole of what is said, then the emphasis is thrown on the promise that what Mary craves shall be granted in a higher way to both her and others very soon. The translation -touch Me not" is inadequate and gives a false impression. The verb (haptesthai) does not mean to -touch" and -handle" with a view to seeing whether His body was real; this Christ not only allowed but enjoined (John 20:27; Luke 24:39; comp. 1 John 1:1): rather it means to -hold on to" and -cling to." Moreover it is the present (not aorist) imperative; and the full meaning will therefore be, - Do not continue holding Me," or simply, hold Me not. The old and often interrupted earthly intercourse is over; the new and continuous intercourse with the Ascended Lord has not yet begun: but that Presence will be granted soon, and there will be no need of straining eyes and clinging ands to realize it. (For a large collection of various interpretations see Meyer.)

to my Father The better reading gives, to the Father; with this -My brethren" immediately following agrees better. The general relationship applying both to Him and them, is stated first, and then pointedly distinguished in its application to Him and to them.

I ascend Or, I am ascending. The change has already begun.

my God The risen and glorified Redeemer is still perfect man. Comp. Revelation 3:12. Thus also S. Paul and S. Peter speak of -the Godand Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Comp. Eph 1:3; 2 Corinthians 11:31; 1 Peter 1:3; and see on Romans 15:6; 2 Corinthians 1:3, where the expression is blurred in the A. V.