Translated by Qwen.

Denis the Carthusian's Commentary on Matthew 28:8-15

Mt 28:8: And the women went out quickly from the tomb...

And the women departed quickly from the monument—that is, from the aforementioned little chamber containing the sepulcher—with fear conceived from the unusual and terrifying appearance of the angel and the greatness of the miracle, and with great joy, since they rejoiced from the depths of their hearts concerning the glorious resurrection of their Master and the fulfillment of His words.

Therefore, fear and joy can exist simultaneously in one person with respect to different objects, although pure and complete joy excludes fear, since "fear has punishment" (1 John 4:18). But the fear of these women was natural fear, which is acknowledged to be penal, although filial fear is not always penal. Running to announce to His disciples what they had heard and seen (cf. Mark 16:8).

To this seems contrary that passage in Mark: "They fled from the tomb and said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid." The answer is that they said nothing to anyone—that is, to none of the guards present there—but departed in silence.

Mt 28:9: And behold, Jesus met them on the way...

However, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene alone, according to John and Mark. For while the other women were departing from the tomb, she remained near the sepulcher, as is recorded; and then the Savior appeared to her. Having seen Him, she followed her companions, and then together with them she saw Him again.

Saying, "Ave" ("Greetings"), which is a word of comfort and friendship. But they approached and held His feet with fervent devotion, embracing and kissing His feet.

It is asked: Why did Jesus permit His feet to be held and touched by these women, when we read that He said to Mary Magdalene, wishing to do this separately, according to John: "Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father"?

The answer: He prohibited her for a mystical reason—namely, to suggest that she ought not to think of Him as she had hitherto thought. For she did not yet possess perfect faith, just as neither did the others when they prepared and brought spices to anoint Jesus, supposing that His body could suffer corruption, nor considering that it would be raised that day, being ignorant of that prophecy: "You will not give Your Holy One to see corruption" (Psalm 15:10).

And they worshiped Him, prostrate, as the only-begotten Son of God.

Mt 28:10 Then Jesus said to them: "Do not be afraid"—that is, let the fear which you have conceived depart, and let joy persevere in you. "Go, announce to My brothers"—that is, the disciples, of whom He says elsewhere: "Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me" (Isaiah 8:18), and again: "I will declare Your name to My brothers" (Psalm 21:22). He calls them "brothers" lest, on account of their previous flight or His glorification, He might seem to despise them, and so that they might approach Christ with greater confidence. "That they go into Galilee; there they will see Me."

On the Appearances of the Risen Christ:

Moreover, Christ appeared five times on the holy day of Easter:

1. First, to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9);

2. Second, to the women departing from the tomb;

3. Third, to Peter, although the location is unknown (Luke 24:34; 1 Cor 15:5);

4. Fourth, to the two disciples going to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-31);

5. Fifth, to the disciples gathered together—whom the two aforementioned disciples, returning, found assembled, saying: "The Lord has truly risen and has appeared to Simon" (Luke 24:33-34; 1 Cor 15:5). While they were speaking thus, Jesus came and stood in the midst of them, as Luke reports.

He also appeared to James the Less, who is said to have sworn not to eat until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Furthermore, after the day of the Resurrection, He appeared five times:

1. First, after eight days, with Thomas present (John 20:26-29);

2. Second, to seven disciples fishing at the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1-14)—and John describes these two appearances;

3. Third, to the eleven Apostles on Mount Tabor, concerning which appearance mention is made below;

4. Fourth, on the day of the Ascension in Jerusalem (Acts 1:1-9);

5. Fifth, on the same day, on the Mount of Olives (Luke 24:50-51).

He also appeared once to more than five hundred brothers at one time, according to the Apostle (1 Cor 15:6), which appearance some say took place on Mount Tabor when He appeared to the eleven Apostles.

Mt 28:11-15: When the women had departed...

When the women had departed from the place where they had seen Christ, in order to announce Christ's words to the disciples, behold, some of the guards of the tomb came into the city of Jerusalem (near which was the tomb, as John reports) and announced to the chief priests all things that had happened: namely, the earthquake, the appearance of the angel, their own casting down and astonishment, and also Christ's resurrection—which, on account of their unworthiness, they did not behold, but knew to have happened from the emptiness of the tomb, from which they knew no man had removed the one who had been buried.

And the chief priests, having gathered together with the elders of the Jews, having taken counsel among themselves and at the suggestion of the devil, gave a large sum of money to the soldiers so that they might conceal the truth and lie, saying to the soldiers: "Say to those who ask how the body of Jesus was removed: 'His disciples came by night and stole Him while we were sleeping.' And if this report of yours is heard by the governor Pilate, we will persuade him that what you say is true," coloring with various fictions so great and so crude a lie that anyone can easily perceive its falsity. For if they slept, they could not have known that the disciples approached and had stolen Christ; nor does it have any appearance of truth that the disciples—who had fled from Him while He was alive—would now seek Him, dead, among armed men. "And we will make you secure from the punishment of the governor, so that nothing will be imputed to you."

But they, having accepted the money, did as they had been instructed. And this story was spread abroad among the Jews—namely, that the disciples stole the body of their Master—even to the present day; indeed, they hand down these remnants [of falsehood] to their children.

CONTINUE