65 ; and Winer's Grammar, p. 288. Clark's edition.) But it is rather awkward that " I ascend " comes immediately after in the present tense. The reader must decide for himself which view he prefers.
Chrysostom says, " Methinks Mary wished still to converse with Jesus as before, and in her joy perceived nothing great in Him, although He had become far more excellent in the flesh. To lead her therefore from this idea, and that she might speak to Him with awe (for neither with the disciples doth He henceforth appear so familiar as before). He raiseth her thoughts, that she should give more reverent heed to Him. To have said, * Approach Me not as you did before, for matters are not in the same state ; nor shall I henceforth be with you in the same way,' would have been harsh and high-sounding. But the saying, ' I am not yet ascended to my Father,' though not painful to hear, was the same thing. For by saying, * I am not yet ascended,' He showeth that He hasteth and passeth thither, and that it was not meet that one about to depart thith- er, and no longer to converse with men, should be looked on with the same feelings as before."
Augustine says, " There is a spiritual meaning latent here. — Either this is so spoken, ' Touch Me not, for 1 am not yet as- cended,' that the woman is a figure of the Church of the Gen- tiles, which did not believe on Christ until He was ascended unto the Father ; — or else Jesus would have men so believe in Him, or touch Him spiritually, as knowing that Himself and the Father are one. — Mary might believe in such a way as if she thought Him unequal to the Father, which thought is for- bidden to her. ' Touch Me not ' : i. e., ' Do not believe in Me in such wise as thou art yet minded in thy thoughts of Me : let not thy perception reach only to the'thing I was made for thee, without passing beyond to that by which thou wast made. I am not yet ascended to my Father. Then shalt thou touch Me, when thou believest Me to be God not unequal to the Fa- ther."
Calvin says, " The meaning of these words is, that Christ's state of resurrection would not be full and complete, until He should sit down in heaven at the right hand of the Father. Therefore Mary did wrong in satisfying herself with having nothing more than the half of His resurrection, and desiring only to enjoy His presence in the world."
Lightfoot says, " These words relate to what Christ had spo- ken formerly about sending the Comforter, and that He would not leave them comfortless, but would come to them. Christ says to Mary, ' I must first ascend to my Father, before I can bestow those things upon you which I have promised. Do not therefore touch Me, and detain Me upon any expectation of that kind. Rather wait for my ascension, and go and tell the same thing to my brethren for their encouragement."