281 Now after the Sabbath , as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week , Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave . 2 And behold , a severe earthquake had occurred , for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3 And his appearance was like lightning , and his clothing as white as snow . 4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men . 5 The angel said to the women , " Do not be afraid ; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified . 6 "He is not here , for He has risen , just as He said . Come , see the place where He was lying . 7 "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead ; and behold , He is going ahead of you into Galilee , there you will see Him; behold , I have told you." 8 And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples . 9 And behold , Jesus met them and greeted e them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, " Do not be afraid ; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee , and there they will see Me."
11 Now while they were on their way , some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened . 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted e together , they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers , 13 and said , "You are to say , 'His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep .' 14 "And if this should come to the governor's ears , we will win him over and keep you out of trouble ." 15 And they took the money and did as they had been instructed ; and this story was widely spread among the Jews , and is to this day .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 28:1-15
Commentary on Matthew 28:1-8
(Read Matthew 28:1-8)
Christ rose the third day after his death; that was the time he had often spoken of. On the first day of the first week God commanded the light to shine out of darkness. On this day did He who is the Light of the world, shine out of the darkness of the grave; and this day is from henceforward often mentioned in the New Testament, as the day which Christians religiously observed in solemn assemblies, to the honour of Christ. Our Lord Jesus could have rolled back the stone by his own power, but he chose to have it done by an angel. The resurrection of Christ, as it is the joy of his friends, so it is the terror and confusion of his enemies. The angel encouraged the women against their fears. Let the sinners in Zion be afraid. Fear not ye, for his resurrection will be your consolation. Our communion with him must be spiritual, by faith in his word. When we are ready to make this world our home, and to say, It is good to be here, then let us remember our Lord Jesus is not here, he is risen; therefore let our hearts rise, and seek the things that are above. He is risen, as he said. Let us never think that strange which the word of Christ has told us to expect; whether the sufferings of this present time, or the glory that is to be revealed. It may have a good effect upon us, by faith to view the place where the Lord lay. Go quickly. It was good to be there, but the servants of God have other work appointed. Public usefulness must be chosen before the pleasure of secret communion with God. Tell the disciples, that they may be comforted under their present sorrows. Christ knows where his disciples dwell, and will visit them. Even to those at a distance from the plenty of the means of grace, he will graciously manifest himself. The fear and the joy together quickened their pace. The disciples of Christ should be forward to make known to each other their experiences of communion with their Lord; and should tell others what God has done for their souls.
Commentary on Matthew 28:9-10
(Read Matthew 28:9-10)
God's gracious visits usually meet us in the way of duty; and to those who use what they have for others' benefit, more shall be given. This interview with Christ was unexpected; but Christ was nigh them, and still is nigh us in the word. The salutation speaks the good-will of Christ to man, even since he entered upon his state of exaltation. It is the will of Christ that his people should be a cheerful, joyful people, and his resurrection furnishes abundant matter for joy. Be not afraid. Christ rose from the dead, to silence his people's fears, and there is enough in that to silence them. The disciples had just before shamefully deserted him in his sufferings; but, to show that he could forgive, and to teach us to do so, he calls them brethren. Notwithstanding his majesty and purity, and our meanness and unworthiness, he still condescends to call believers his brethren.
Commentary on Matthew 28:11-15
(Read Matthew 28:11-15)
What wickedness is it which men will not be brought to by the love of money! Here was large money given to the soldiers for advancing that which they knew to be a lie, yet many grudge a little money for advancing what they know to be the truth. Let us never starve a good cause, when we see bad ones so liberally supported. The priests undertook to secure them from the sword of Pilate, but could not secure these soldiers from the sword of God's justice, which hangs over the heads of those that love and make a lie. Those men promise more than they can perform, who undertake to save a man harmless in doing a wilful sin. But this falsehood disproved itself. Had the soldiers been all asleep, they could not have known what passed. If any had been awake, they would have roused the others and prevented the removal; and certainly if they had been asleep, they never would have dared to confess it; while the Jewish rulers would have been the first to call for their punishment. Again, had there been any truth in the report, the rulers would have prosecuted the apostles with severity for it. The whole shows that the story was entirely false. And we must not charge such things to the weakness of the understanding, but to the wickedness of the heart. God left them to expose their own course. The great argument to prove Christ to be the Son of God, is his resurrection; and none could have more convincing proofs of the truth of that than these soldiers; yet they took bribes to hinder others from believing. The plainest evidence will not affect men, without the work of the Holy Spirit.