The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 652

In the end all nations will be won, and "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."-W. F. A. Vera.1-10.-Le,eon, of the Rea!M'f'eceioo. The f'our evangelists concur in settina forth the three successive steps in the evidence by which our Lord's incredulou~ followers were at length porsuaded of the reality of hie resurrection. These are : 1. 'fhe fact of the ■epulchre being found empty. 2. The testimony of the angels wh0 were seen in it. 8. The appearances of our Lord himself. On these points we shall not now particularly dwell, but direct attention to certain side-lights which the narra- tdve affords. Thus it teaches us-- I. THAT THEBB ARB IIPIRITUAL BEHIND THE MECHANICAL AGENCIES IN NATURE. 1. Thie i& evident in the angel'& work. (1) The earthquake is attributed to him. "Behold, there was an earthquake;/or an angel of the Lord," etc. The rolling a.way of the stone, in like manner, is ascribed to him. ")N'hatcver mechanical agencies were in commission here, angelical energy was behind them. (2) This is not the sole example ef the exertion of such energy in the production of physical effects. Angels smote the Sodomites with blindness, and brought down a. torrent of fire and brimstone upon the oities of the plain (see Gen. xiL 11, 13). They brought the pestilence upon Israel in tbe days of David, by which seventy thousand were destroyed, and in the days of Hezekiah they smote a hnndred and eighty-five thousand Assyria.ns (see 2 Sam. xxiv. 16; 2 Kings xix. 35). .An angel dissolved the chain that bound Peter in Herod's prison, and made the doors fly open before him (see Acts xii. 6-11). (:\) Within narrower limits human spirits exert energy in the material world. The micro- cosm, the body, responds to the will. Through the medium of the body we act upon the macrocosm around. We change the course of rivers, tunnel mountains, cut water- ways through continents, modify climates, alter the flora and fauna of a country, give direction and development to instincts in animals. (4) The universe is dual, viz. spiritual and material. These complements mutually act and react. The spiritual ca.nnot be divorced from the physical. Any system of natural philosophy that fails to recognize this is essentially deficient. (5) One grand use of miracles is to force this truth upon our consideration. A miracle is not necessarily an inversion of the laws of :ruture, though to a limited knowledge such may appear to be the case. It is rather the evidence of the presence behind materialism of a superior spiritual agency. "The works which none other did" (see John xv. 24). 2. In the manner in which he impressed the senses. (1) He rendered himself visible. The watch saw him, and were io consequence stricken with terror. This terror was deepened by their having felt the earthquake and seen the rolling away of the stone. He sat upon the stone in tranquil triumph in their presence, as if defying the armies of earth and hell to replace it or to hinder the resurrection of the Redeemer. The women also saw him. His appearance generally was that of a young man (see Mark xvi. 15). But his counte- mance, or rather his whole form, was bright," like lightning." His raiment was white as snow-whitened by the lightning-brightness tmnsmitted from his Person. This white radiance was the emblem at once of purity, joy, and triumph, and eminentl1 suitable to the tidings he bore (cf. Acts L 10; x. 30). (2) lie rcn,lered himself audible. He used the voice and language of humanity to give to the women comfort, instruction, and direction. (3) Whether, however, these visual and audible impres- s~ns were made upon the physical organs of the witnesses or upon the spiritual senses in them corresponding, is not certain, though the presumption is that the physical senses were addressed, since mechanical force was undoubtedly exerted in producing the earthquake and in the removal of the stone. We should ever recognize God in nature. JL 'l'HAT THE RESURRECTION-DODY IS ENDOWED WITH ETHERIAL PROPERTIES. 1. Buch waa the case with the body of Jesus, (1) His resurrection was not witnessed lly the watch. They felt the earthquake; they saw the angel; they witnessed the rolling away of the stono; but Jesus they saw not. Note: He does not reveal himself to the incredulous and disobedient. lle did not appear even to the women until he had first tried their faith and obedience by his ministering angel. (2) The resurrection of Jesus appears to have taken pince before the stone was rolled away. Taking the carrative as it lies before us in Matthew, the women appear to have seen the angel roll ~way the stone and seat himself upon it, and witnessed also tho effect of the vision JIIATTBBW-Il, 2 V  658 THE .:rvSPEL AOCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [011. uvm. 1-20.