The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 591

into which t.bcsc, spiritnitl bodies entered; imply in a Jewish sense, though he knew but the context is wholly against such an only imperfeotly what was signified thereby. exposition. Appeared unto mau:y. They Tradition affirms that the centurion's name were permitted to show themselves openly was Longinne, that he became a devoted in their well-known forms to pious relations follower of Christ, pre11ohed ,he faith, and and friends, ae witnesses and proofs of the died a martyr's death. resurrection. If they bad already gone to Ver. 55.-Many women. These are men- heaven, they could not have thus appeared. tioned as witnesses of all these events It may be right to add that many of the whioh the apostles are not reoorded to have Fa there and modern oommenfatore hold that seen. Courageous and loving, they had theee resuscitated sa.ints were those to followed the procession to Oalvary, and at whom Christ preached (I Pet. iii. 19) when a distance watched the woeful proceedings he descended into hell, and that they there. Some, we know, had ventured to nccowpanied him into glory when he come closer to their dying Lord (see John Rsoended into heaven. xix. 25). Which followed (equivalent to Ver. 54.-The centurion, a.nd they that had followed) J' esus from Galilee, minister- were with him. The officer with the small ing unto him. They had accompanied hody of soldiem appointed to perform and Jesus ou hie la.et journey to the Passover take charge of the Crucifixion. St. Matthew at Jerusalem, tending him during o.11 the relates the impression which these events time, e.nd of their substance ministering to made upon the soldiers' miuds. Saw those hie wants (Luke viii 8). thing-11 that were done. Instead of this Ver. 56.-The historian mentions the reading, which bae high authority, Alford, most prominent of these pious women. Tiechendorf, Westcott and Hort read, "that Mary Magdalene (-h Ma-ylia.J.:,1vf,, the Magda- were being done," 11s the Vulgate, qUaJ 1.ene). She was a native of Magdala (eh. fieba ..t. This would point especially to the xv. 89, where see note), a small village on loud cry, in acoordance with the worda of the shore of Genneearet. Some have identi- St. Jllark, "saw that he so cried out, and fied her with the sister of Laze.rue, chiefly gave up the ghost." But there is no because, taking her to be the " sinner " sufficient reason for altering the Received mentioned in Luke vii. 87, she is related to Text; and plainly it was not merely the have behaved in a somewhat similar way closing incident that affected the soldiers, to our Lord as her namesake. Bat this ii but the whole course of events which they clearly a mistake. Of the two events, the witneeeed. They saw the darkness, the locality, the scene, the occasion, the cir- earthquake, the rending of the rocks, the cumstances, are different. Of this Mary of Divine meekneee of the Sufferer; they Magda.la we really know nothing, except heard hie le.et words, his loud cry, and that out of her J esua had cast seven devils marked his patieut death. All these things (Mark xvL 9; Luke viii. 2). That these contributed to 1;.eir awe and fear. They were demons of impurity, or that she wa1 fee.red gTeatly. TJ,is crucitied Man must be the sinful woman who anointed our Lord, something more than human, for all these there is nothing whatever to prove; though wonders to accompany hie death: will he the uotion connected with the name Me,g- not visit upon as our part in his crucifixion? dalene is so rooted in men's minds and Have we nothing to fear from hie ven- language that it is impossible to eradicate geance? 1,'ome BUeh course their apprehen- it, however erroneous it me.y be showu to sions may bo.ve to.ken. But they lee.rued he. She had probably been one who was something beyond selfish dread of possible melancholy me.d, and subject to fits; Christ danger. Truly this waa the Son (Tios, had seen the spiritual cause of this mulady, anarthrons, Soo) of God; or, according to e.nd removed it by freeing her from de- St. Luke, "Certainly tliie was e. righteous moniacal po.session. Whe.t wonder is it Man." They recognized hie innocence, and the.t she followed him from Galilee, tending acknowledged tLat he suffered unjustly. him lovingly and anxiously until the end? What the ct:nturion meant (for the words Mary the mother of J'ames andJ'oses. Some appeo.r to have been his) by calling him manuscripts read Joseph; but the Received "Son of God" is more doubtful. It may Text is correct. These two personR are have been on liie lips merely e.n affirmation mentioned e.mong our Lord's "brethren" that J eeue was holy and beloved by God; in eh. xiii. 55. The former is called" Jamee but more probably it meant much more the Lese" (Mark xv. 40), and is the than this. He knew that Christ claimed apostle of that name. Me.ry ie usually to he the Son of God, and in this hour of eapposed to be the wife of Cl09pbae (John overwhelming awe be folt that the claim xix. 25), and the sister of the mother of our was just, whatever it might mt-an. This Lord; so that these two disciples would be crucified Person was nt least a hero or a Christ's fimt cousins. The matter is shrouded demigod, or that whicb the word1 wOllld 4i difficulty, and c"nnot be decided witb dB. xxvn. 1-68.] THE GOSPEL AOCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 597