Matthew 28 - Introduction

Mat. 28. The accounts of the four evangelists, concerning the resurrection of Christ, reconciled.

In the first place, there was a great earthquake; an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow, and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. Matthew 28:2-4. And presently, as soon as their extraordinary surprise would allow them, they ran away into the city; and then, soon after they were gone, Mary Magdalene, from her extraordinary affection, comes to the sepulcher before the other woman, while it was yet dark, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher, and finds not the body there, and then runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid him;" then Peter and John came running to the sepulcher; and Mary returns with them or comes after them as fast as she could. Peter and John went into the sepulcher, and saw the linen clothes lying, but found not the body of Christ, and not knowing what to make of things, went away again. Mr. Prince supposed that Luke speaks of this coming of Peter to the sepulcher in the 24th chapter of his Gospel, 12th verse (Luke 24:12), and supposes the word should have been rendered thus, "Now Peter also had risen, and ran to the sepulcher, and stooping down, saw the linen clothes lying by themselves, and departed wondering in himself at what was done;" but when they were gone, Mary staid behind, and would not go away. She probably staid waiting for the company of women that she expected would presently come with spices to anoint the body; but as she stood there weeping, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher, and saw two angels in white, sitting one at the head, and the other at the foot, where the body of Jesus had lain; they speak to her, and ask her why she wept; she answers, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him; and when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus." (Probably because the twilight was yet dim) Jesus asked her why she wept. She, supposing him to be the gardener, says to him, "Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith to her, Mary;" and she then knew him, and worships him. Christ bids her go and inform his disciples, etc. On which Mary went away in haste to tell his disciples, and did not wait till the women came with the spices as she intended; Mark 16:9; Mark 16:10; Mark 16:11, and John 20:1-19.

The other women, that were concerned in the design of anointing the body of Jesus, went together in order to go to the sepulcher about break of day, and came to the sepulcher about sun-rise, after Mary Magdalene was gone, whom they had not seen, nor she them; and they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher? And when they came, they found that the stone was rolled away. Mark 16:2-4, and Luke 24:1-3, "And they entered in (the angel now not appearing on the stone), and found not the body of Jesus there; and while they were much perplexed thereabout, behold two men stood by them in shining garments," and one of them of a distinguished brightness and glorious appearance, being the same, the glory and majesty of whose appearance had so terrified the keepers. He sat on the right side, clothed in a long white garment. Matthew 28:4; Matthew 28:5; Luke 24:3; Luke 24:4, and Mark 16:5. This angel on the right side is he that speaks to them, saying, "Fear ye not; I know that ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, for he is risen, as he said; come, see the place where the Lord lay; and remember how he spake unto you while he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. But go your way quickly; tell his disciples, and Peter, that he goeth before you into Galilee, there shall ye see him as he said unto you. Lo, I have told you." Matthew 28:5-7; Mark 16:6; Mark 16:7, and Luke 24:5-7, "And they remembered his words, and they came out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre, for they trembled and were amazed, nor said they anything to anyone, for they were affrighted, they came out with fear and great joy, as they ran to bring his disciples word." Matthew 28:8; Mark 16:8; Luke 24:8. "And as they went to bring his disciples word, lo, Jesus met them saying, All hail; and they came to him, and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid; go tell my brethren, that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me." Matthew 28:9; Matthew 28:10. "And they returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest."

Mat. 28:9