Luke 23:55-56

Vers. 55, 56. The embalming of Jesus having been done in haste, the women proposed to complete it. This same evening, therefore, they prepared the odoriferous herbs (ἀρώματα) and the perfumed oils (μύρα) necessary for the purpose; and the hour of the Sabbath being come, they rested.

Once more, what would be the meaning of this conduct if that very day had been Sabbatic, the 15th Nisan? Evidently it was yet the 14th; and the 15th, which was about to begin, was at once the weekly Sabbath and the first Passover day, and so invested with double sacredness, as John remarks (Luke 19:31).

Mark says, somewhat differently (Luke 16:1), that they made their preparations when the Sabbath was past, that is to say, on the morrow in the evening. No doubt they had not been able to finish them completely on the Friday before 6 o'clock afternoon.

The καί of the T. R. before γυναῖκες, Luke 23:55, is evidently a corruption of αἱ.

It has been asked how, if Jesus predicted His resurrection, the women could have prepared to embalm His body. But we have seen the answer in the case of the converted thief: they expected a glorious reappearance of Jesus from heaven after His death, but not the reviving of His body laid in the tomb.

A feeling of pious and humble fidelity is expressed in the conduct of the women, as it is described by Luke in the touching words: “ And they rested according to the commandment. ” It was the last Sabbath of the old covenant. It was scrupulously respected.