THE RESURRECTION For the Resurrection see special article. 1-10. THE RESURRECTION AND APPEARANCE TO THE WOMEN (Mark 16:1; Luke 24:1; John 20:1). If it be remembered that a considerable number of women visited the tomb—Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, Salome (Mk), Joanna (Lk), and 'the other wom... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE END OF THE SABBATH] RV 'late on the sabbath.' Strictly speaking, the Jewish sabbath closed at sunset, but here St. M.atthew, adopting the popular method of reckoning, regards the sabbath as lasting till dawn on Sunday morning. 'Late on the sabbath' is, therefore, between midnight and dawn on... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANGEL] Mk 'a young man'; Lk 'two men.' In Mk and Lk the angel (or angels) appears inside the tomb. Such slight discrepancies harmonise well with the excited feelings which such a vision would be likely to produce. Minute and detailed agreement in independent narratives under such circumstances w... [ Continue Reading ]
HE GOETH BEFORE YOU INTO GALILEE] as, indeed, Jesus Himself had already promised (Matthew 26:32).... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS MET THEM] This appearance is peculiar to St. Matthew. ALL HAIL] A common Jewish salutation. 'How do they salute an Israelite? “All hail.”' HELD HIM BY THE FEET] viz. to kiss them. Tins was not uncommon. 'As Rabbi Janni and Rabbi Jonathan were sitting together, a certain man came and kissed th... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO GALILEE] again emphasising the importance of this meeting. The appearance to the women is not regarded by recent critics as belonging certainly to the oldest form of the tradition.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHIEF PRIESTS] These were Sadducees, hostile to any idea of a resurrection.... [ Continue Reading ]
BRIBERY OF THE GUARDS (peculiar to St. Matthew). The report of the soldiers may have had something to do with the conversion of so many priests described in Acts 6:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
ASSEMBLED] This was a packed, informal meeting of the Sanhedrin.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS DISCIPLES, etc.] A somewhat inconsistent statement, since if they were asleep, they could not know that the disciples had stolen the body. It is important, however, to notice that this fiction of the chief priests demonstrates that the tomb was empty, and that, therefore, the resurrection of Jes... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SECURE YOU] The ordinary punishment for an offence of this kind was death (Acts 12:19), but Pilate would hardly trouble himself about what the soldiers had done while under the orders of the chief priests.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ELEVEN DISCIPLES] This does not of necessity imply that no others were present, but only that the words of Jesus were mainly addressed to them. WHERE JESUS HAD APPOINTED THEM] St. Matthew does not say when Jesus made this appointment, thus indicating that he does not profess to give a full accou... [ Continue Reading ]
APPEARANCE ON A MOUNTAIN IN GALILEE (peculiar to St. Matthew, but there can be little doubt that the original ending of St. Mark, which is unfortunately lost, recorded the same appearance: see Mark 16:7). It is highly probable (see on Matthew 28:16), but is incapable of strict proof, that this appea... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WORSHIPPED HIM] Certainly with divine worship: see John 20:28. BUT SOME DOUBTED] or, as the Gk. may perhaps be more correctly translated, 'but _others_ doubted,' i.e. not the Eleven, but others who were present. The doubt may have arisen from the change which had passed over our Lord's now glor... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JESUS CAME] RV 'came to them,' viz. to resolve their doubt by giving them a close view of His person. It is worthy of notice that in all the appearances after the resurrection, our Lord allowed the disciples either to touch or to come into very close proximity to His risen body. His anxiety to r... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TEACH (RV 'make disciples of') ALL NATIONS, BAPTISING THEM (_or_ 'by baptising them')] In the clearest possible language Christ expresses His intention of founding a universal religion. It has sometimes been argued that these words cannot be authentic, because of the subsequent unwillingness of... [ Continue Reading ]
TEACHING THEM] 'Next because it is not sufficient merely to be baptised, but it is necessary also to do good works after baptism, He saith, “Teaching them to observe all things whatever I commanded you,” not one or two only, but all my commandments. Let us tremble therefore, brethren, reflecting tha... [ Continue Reading ]